
When it comes to food storage products at your local supermarket, there are a lot of options! In addition to staples like plastic wrap and aluminum foil, there’s also parchment paper, wax paper, and freezer paper. I’ll admit that up until recently, I didn’t know much about the differences between these materials, or which one I should use for particular foods.
I finally got fed up with being mystified in the food storage aisle, so I decided it was high time to learn a thing or two about the best uses for food wraps in the kitchen. Those who have been wondering the same things will have answers to your questions by the end of this post!
And if you know of any great ways to use any of the food storage materials listed here, I’d love to hear about it—leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
Check out a brilliant hack for keeping parchment paper in place in the video below!
The 5 Best Food Storage Materials To Use In Your Kitchen

1. Parchment Paper
Because parchment paper can withstand temperatures up to 420°F, it’s ideal for baking and other kitchen tasks. For instance, you can roll out a piece of dough between two sheets of parchment paper and the paper will easily peel away when you’re ready to use it.
Parchment paper is also useful because it’s great at retaining moisture. Many people use parchment paper to create individual pouches for cooking fish or chicken and veggies together. The parchment paper keeps the moisture inside the pouch, steaming the food and keeping it from drying out. The paper may get saturated with moisture during this process, but it stays strong and makes cleanup easy!

2. Wax Paper
Wax paper is a lightweight paper coated in a thin layer of food-grade wax. It is similar to parchment paper in that it can help prevent food from sticking to various surfaces, but unlike parchment paper and other materials, it CANNOT withstand high temperatures. In fact, it can easily catch fire in an oven, so you don’t want to put it in there!
One advantage of wax paper is that it is often more affordable than other options. Since it’s cheap, you can use it to line your counters when working with messy foods like chocolate, sprinkles, and breadcrumbs.
Wax paper is also breathable, which makes it a great choice for wrapping and storing cheeses and sandwiches. Moisture can pass through the paper and prevent cheeses and breads from getting slimy or soggy.

3. Aluminum Foil
Unlike wax paper, aluminum foil is NOT breathable. Its impermeability makes it great in the freezer, because it protects food from drying out while preventing potential odors from permeating into your frozen foods.
But the most useful part about aluminum foil is its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. Use it to cover roasts in the oven, or to wrap up racks of ribs. Or you can just make your life a little easier by lining pans with it, making cleanup a breeze.

4. Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is great for covering up bowls or containers that are going into the fridge to help keep food fresh. Some brands make a “microwave-safe” plastic wrap that you can use to control splattering when reheating things in your microwave. (If it doesn’t clearly state that it’s safe to put in your microwave, don’t—better safe than having to clean up a melted plastic mess!)
Another useful application for plastic wrap is to use it for “sous vide” cooking. Wrap a piece of chicken or fish tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, ensuring that the plastic wrap forms a well-sealed pouch. Submerge the pouch in water that is just barely simmering, and leave it in until your chicken or fish is cooked through. Moist and delicious!
Related: 9 Of The Best Ways To Use Plastic Wrap Around The House

5. Freezer Paper
Freezer paper is coated with a thin layer of food-grade wax, but only on one side—think of it as wax paper on one side and parchment paper on the other. It was designed to be used for freezing meat, with the waxed side against the meat itself. The wax prevents moisture loss and protects the surface of the meat, while the unwaxed exterior can be written on to label and date the item.
Freezer paper makes a great crafting material, too! The “shiny” (waxy) side of can serve as a temporary adhesive when heated with an iron. Quilters often use freezer paper for appliqués, cutting a shape out of freezer paper and then ironing the shape, wax-side down, to their chosen fabric. They can then cut around the paper, and even peel it off and reuse it several times.
Another crafty application for freezer paper is to use it as a stencil. Cut away a design from a piece of freezer paper, iron it wax-side down to a t-shirt, pillowcase, or tote bag. Then you can spread a layer of fabric paint onto your item, and when the freezer paper is removed, your shape will be perfectly painted on your item.
What’s your go-to food storage material and what do you use it for?
For those of you who are new to using aluminum foil and parchment, I just found boxes of pre cut sheets at my local Dollar Tree. If you’re like me and don’t use them often, this is a great and inexpensive way to keep them around the house.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.l told my mom about the cereal bags a few years ago. They are great for freezing baked goods. I use Parchment paper a lot for baking. It’s also less messy and make it easier for cleaning afterwards.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I save cereal bags to separate meat patties such as sausage or beef before freezing. They are also useful to put cookies on when freezing. Lots of uses for these instead of the trash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I remember back in the Fifties we would sprinkle crayon shavings, made with a pencil sharpener, onto a piece of wax paper in an “inspired” design, cover with another sheet of wax paper, and use a warm iron to stick them together. We’d tape the resulting artwork on a window after cutting the edges to neaten them, and the light would come through, a bit like a kaleidoscope. Simple pleasures for young kids.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How fun!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bee’s wrap is also a good alternative. It’s bee’s wax coated muslin, and can be purchased, or there are online tutorials for making your own. The warmth of your hands melts the wax enough to make it stick to itself. It’s best for room temperature or cool items, and don’t use it on meat. Wash gently in cool soapy water and rinse well. I just hang mine from skirt hanger with clips or a regular hanger and clothes pins in the shower. The wax can be renewed, but the original coating can last up to a year or more. And it smells faintly like honey, yum, without imparting that smell to your food.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Now I know the difference between wax paper and parchment paper, and the different uses for other papers too. Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, You’ve given me a lot to think about. I would never have thought of wrapping a piece of meat in a few layers of plastic wrap and then simmering it in hot water. Haven’t used freezer paper for stencils either. Great idea. I enjoyed this post very much.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You mention using wax paper for cheese. I use to use wax paper, but actually found parchment paper more breathable. So the cheese doesn’t “sweat” (gross) and get slimy. I usually buy the unbleached kind of parchment. So, perhaps that’s why it works for me better than the wax paper. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that the parchment paper will absorb the moisture that the cheese gives off, and so the cheese stays dry.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love your tips, recipes and comments for so many things that I would NEVER have thought of! Thank you so much
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There is always something(s) of great interest to enjoy in your blog. Having moved to Utah for my retirement I now have time to craft, be a better home maker and enjoy my sewing and cooking projects. Thanks for all your wonderful information.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use waxed paper to cover things I’m reheating in the microwave. Seems to work well without the concerns for heating plastic wrap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.“How To Choose The Right Wrap For The Job” – So I read the title and think “How many wraps can there possibly be?” First off, I think of tortilla wraps for sandwiches, etc. And boy I am confused looking at the first picture. Then my second thought is the clothing-wrap, you know, for around your shoulders. Again, how many wraps can there possibly be? Then it suddenly dawns on me what you are talking about. Boy did I feel stupid. In my defense, I read this Sunday morning BEFORE my morning coffee. Wonderful ideas too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mavis, I thought the exact same thing! I thought ‘tortilla wraps or a shoulder wrap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My mom has a great use for used wax cereal bags. They are a wonderful size for a block of cheese. Rinse, dry, and reuse. Cheese stays fresh and it’s quick to rewrap. Mom’s know best!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So clever!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.With just the two of us at home, the cereal liners are used for our garbage. I use the plastic bags that I put my broccoli or apples into when I buy groceries, they are great for garbage, too. Since others in the store may have handled those types of bags, I would not use those bags to store food again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is a great post!! I’m bad at commenting so I apologize for that but please know I love getting these emails and seeing what tidbits of wisdom you share with us. Thanks for your hard work and effort behind each post!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you Sara!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Reynolds non stick foil is amazing. I line my baking sheet with it. Even breaded pork chops slide right off!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use glad plastic wrap and I dislike it so much, was wondering what else I could use to cover bowls, etc. I don’t care for it because it’s hard to cut off the wrap from the box and it sticks to itself. I’m open to suggestions.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A wonderful trick to make plastic wrap easier to handle: Keep it in the FREEZER!
It really works -the cold removes the “stick to itself” static while retaining the “cling to other stuff”.
Of course,you’ll want to work relatively quickly and return it immediately to the freezer when done. I’m pretty sure I saw this on TV years ago, been passing it along ever since.
Also: use the little pop-in tabs built into the packaging. Once depressed they hold the cardboard core inside the box allowing for free unrolling.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I really like Stretch Tite-it seals and stays!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I had never heard the freezer trick for plastic wrap, and might try it in the future. In the meantime, my husband and adult children never could make the stuff work because it just ended up a twisted mess. I realized while watching them that their problem was that they were tearing it off the roll and then trying to place it over the bowl or whatnot. I have always pulled the wrap the length I want and placing it while on the bowl while it is still attached to the roll and in a smooth rectangle THEN tearing it off. Then I pull it tightly onto the bowl if not tight enough. Works every time. I just wish it would stick to plastic!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the Costco Kirkland Signature brand of plastic food wrap. The slide cutter that comes with it is hidden
in the center core of the roll and you need to remove it and attach to the rim of the box. It cuts every time.
I put my box in the first drawer under the counter for easy access without even taking it out of the drawer.
I place it as the second item behind the tinfoil or wax paper so that it is easy to roll off what I need. I am
usually able to pull off what I need and place it over my bowl (or whatever) and then just cut it off and wrap
it on. All this without removing the wrap from the drawer. When the box is getting empty it is a lot harder
to do this.
Really love and appreciate all the tips that others share on this site. Thank you!!!!
You could try this DIY wrap! http://jillee.co/2cI8PM2
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This seems like a very exciting & fun wed site , I love trying new things! Can’t wait to recieve mine, I am bedridden and this will help keep my depression at bay! Thank you for allowing these articles ar no cast, GOD BLESS
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Best of luck to you Maria, thanks for stopping by the website!
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