Most major-brand parchment paper today does NOT contain PFAS. The mainstream coating is silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) — not a fluorinated chemical. The concern is older or unspecified papers that use Quilon, a chromium-based coating that some manufacturers historically combined with fluorinated compounds. The safe path: look for "silicone-coated," "Quilon-free," or choose an unbleached brand like If You Care, Reynolds Kitchens, or PaperChef that explicitly declares its coating.
Parchment paper lives in a strange blind spot in the non-toxic-kitchen conversation. People spend weeks researching PFAS-free baking sheets and ceramic cookware, then line those carefully chosen pans with parchment paper from a brand they've never scrutinized. The concern is legitimate: parchment paper touches food directly, at high heat, for prolonged periods — the exact conditions that maximize chemical migration.
So let's go through the chemistry, the brands, and the practical answers you actually need.
What is parchment paper actually coated with?
Modern parchment paper is cellulose paper (wood pulp) that has been treated with a non-stick coating to make it heat-resistant and grease-proof. Two coatings dominate the market: silicone and Quilon. Silicone (specifically polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS) is the coating used by every major reputable brand today. Quilon is an older chromium complex-based coating that was more common before the 2000s and still appears on cheaper or less-transparent products.
Silicone coating is not a PFAS chemical. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are fluorine-carbon compounds; silicone is silicon-oxygen based. The two are chemically unrelated. When a silicone-coated parchment paper says "PFAS-free," that is accurate — not marketing spin.
Quilon is also not technically a PFAS chemical. It is a chromium(III) stearate complex. However, the reason Quilon ended up in the PFAS conversation is that some manufacturers historically added fluorinated compounds to Quilon-based coatings to enhance water and oil repellency. The Quilon itself was not PFAS, but the fluorinated additives sometimes were. When a parchment paper lists no coating information at all, this is the risk you are accepting.
Does parchment paper contain PFAS?
The honest answer: major brand silicone-coated parchment does not. Some cheaper, unlabeled, or heavily discounted imported parchment paper may — because the coating chemistry is not disclosed and Quilon-plus-fluorinated-additive formulations still exist in some manufacturing supply chains.
In 2021 and 2022, advocacy organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund and Toxic-Free Future pushed for better disclosure from food packaging manufacturers, and the FDA subsequently reached voluntary agreements with major PFAS manufacturers to phase out certain fluorinated compounds in food-contact materials by 2024. This regulatory pressure has pushed the biggest brands fully onto silicone. The risk today is concentrated in products where the coating chemistry is simply not disclosed.
Generic and house-brand parchment papers — especially heavily discounted rolls from unfamiliar brands on large marketplaces — may not disclose coating chemistry. If a parchment paper's packaging or product description does not explicitly mention "silicone-coated" or "Quilon-free," the safest default is to choose one that does. The extra transparency from named brands is worth the few extra dollars per roll.
What is Quilon, and is it still used today?
Quilon is a trade name for a chromium(III) fatty acid salt complex originally developed by DuPont. It creates a hydrophobic (water-repelling) and oleophobic (oil-repelling) surface on paper. It was widely used for greaseproof paper and baking parchment from the mid-20th century onward because it was inexpensive and effective.
The main concerns with Quilon today are two-fold. First, chromium is a regulated heavy metal, and while Cr(III) — the form in Quilon — is far less toxic than Cr(VI), food safety advocates argue that any chromium migration into food during high-heat baking is undesirable. Second, as noted above, some Quilon formulations incorporated fluorinated compounds.
Quilon is still legal for food-contact use in the US. It is still used in some parchment papers, particularly those that do not clearly state their coating chemistry. The market has largely moved away from it for consumer baking parchment, but it has not disappeared entirely.
For context: the kitchen plastic detox guide covers the highest-exposure touchpoints in order of priority. Parchment paper sits below direct-heat plastics like microwaveable plastic containers in terms of risk, but it's an easy swap because the safer products cost nearly the same.
Which parchment paper brands are PFAS-free and Quilon-free?
The following seven brands use silicone coatings, are unbleached or use safer bleaching methods, and are the products we actually recommend. None of these are the baking sheets themselves — for those, see our PFAS-free baking sheet guide. These are the parchment papers that line them.
The gold standard for non-toxic parchment. Unbleached (natural tan/brown color), silicone-coated, and the brand's entire identity is built around safer household products. No Quilon, no PFAS. Rated to 450°F — the highest temperature rating of any brand on this list. The roll format cuts to fit any pan, and it is widely available in stores and online. This is the one to default to when in doubt.
Silicone-coated Unbleached 450°F ratedCheck Price on Amazon →
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Reynolds shifted its consumer parchment line to silicone coating and the unbleached version clearly states this on packaging. At roughly half the price per square foot of specialty brands, it is the best value PFAS-free pick for everyday use. Rated to 425°F. Works perfectly for cookies, roasting vegetables, and lining cake pans. Reynolds also makes a bleached white version — stick to the unbleached brown roll for both coating and bleaching transparency.
Silicone-coated Unbleached Budget pickCheck Price on Amazon →
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Pre-cut half-sheet parchment eliminates the hassle of cutting and curling that comes with rolls. Katbite's heavy-duty unbleached sheets are silicone-coated, rated to 450°F, and noticeably thicker than most roll parchment — they hold their shape flat on the pan without curling at corners. Ideal for high-volume bakers or anyone who finds rolling and tearing from a dispenser annoying. Available in full-sheet, half-sheet, and quarter-sheet sizes.
Silicone-coated Pre-cut sheets Heavy dutyCheck Price on Amazon →
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PaperChef explicitly markets their culinary parchment as PFAS-free and uses silicone (not Quilon). The paper is unbleached and the brand has strong transparency about its materials — they publish coating information proactively, which is uncommon in the category. PaperChef also makes parchment cones, bags, and wraps for en-papillote cooking that maintain the same PFAS-free standard across the whole line. A good choice if you want a brand with documented commitment to safe food contact materials.
PFAS-free certified Silicone-coated Transparent brandCheck Price on Amazon →
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Beyond Gourmet (distributed by Lollicup) sources unbleached parchment with silicone coating and positions it for professional and home gourmet use. The paper is thicker than Reynolds and holds up well under extended high-heat roasting without scorching edges. If You Care and Beyond Gourmet are comparable in quality; the choice often comes down to availability and price at your local store. Both are solid picks with equivalent safety profiles.
Silicone-coated Unbleached Thick-gaugeCheck Price on Amazon →
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Wilton converted its parchment line away from Quilon and now uses silicone coating across both bleached and unbleached options. Their pre-cut baking sheet squares (10.4 × 15.4 in) are sized for standard half-sheet pans and are particularly popular for cookie baking. Wilton's sheets are slightly thinner than Katbite's but are widely available in craft and kitchen stores if you need them same-day. The PFAS-free status has been confirmed by independent retailers reviewing the product data sheet.
Silicone-coated Quilon-free Pre-cutCheck Price on Amazon →
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Same safe silicone-coated, unbleached parchment from If You Care, but in muffin/cupcake cup format. Standard paper cupcake liners are often bleached and may use sizing agents — these are none of that. They are self-standing (no tin needed for sturdy batters), naturally non-stick, and rated to the same 450°F standard. Also great for individual egg bakes, mini quiches, and portioned savory bakes. If you've been using standard white cupcake liners, this is the easiest swap on this entire list.
Silicone-coated Unbleached Muffin / cupcakeCheck Price on Amazon →
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Is bleached vs. unbleached parchment paper safer?
"Unbleached" and "PFAS-free" are two different attributes that often coincide but are not the same thing. Bleaching refers to how the paper fiber is treated — chlorine bleaching produces dioxin byproducts, though modern ECF (elemental chlorine-free) bleaching significantly reduces this. PFAS-free refers to the non-stick coating chemistry, which is a separate step in manufacturing.
A bleached paper can be silicone-coated (e.g., Wilton's white parchment sheets). An unbleached paper can theoretically be Quilon-coated, though in practice, brands transparent enough to leave the paper unbleached tend to also use silicone coatings. For maximum confidence, choose unbleached + silicone-coated. This eliminates both the dioxin concern from bleaching and the Quilon/PFAS concern from the coating.
| Brand | Coating | Bleached? | Max Temp | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| If You Care | Silicone ✓ | Unbleached ✓ | 450°F | Roll |
| Reynolds Unbleached | Silicone ✓ | Unbleached ✓ | 425°F | Roll |
| Katbite | Silicone ✓ | Unbleached ✓ | 450°F | Pre-cut sheets |
| PaperChef | Silicone ✓ | Unbleached ✓ | 420°F | Roll + wraps |
| Beyond Gourmet | Silicone ✓ | Unbleached ✓ | 425°F | Roll |
| Wilton | Silicone ✓ | Bleached (white) | 450°F | Pre-cut sheets |
| Generic / unlabeled | Unknown / Quilon risk | Often bleached | Varies | Roll / sheets |
Can parchment paper leach chemicals into food at high temperatures?
At temperatures under 425°F, well-made silicone-coated parchment papers do not leach detectable chemicals into food under normal use conditions. Silicone is highly stable at baking temperatures; it's the same material used in silicone baking molds rated to 500°F+. Extensive food-safety testing by the FDA and European EFSA has cleared silicone for high-heat food contact use.
The risk increases when parchment is used above its rated temperature or in direct flame contact. At 450°F+ the paper fiber itself begins to pyrolyze (break down), and silicone coating at extreme temperatures may release trace silicone oligomers. This is why temperature ratings exist — they are meaningful limits, not conservative estimates.
"Silicone-coated parchment is genuinely safe for baking. The exposure risk is concentrated in unlabeled papers that may still use fluorinated additives — not in the named brands on this list."
One scenario worth flagging: air fryers. Air fryers reach 400°F in the basket area, but the fan can blow loose parchment up against the heating element, which exceeds 500°F. This is a fire risk, not just a chemical risk. Use parchment in an air fryer only when it is fully covered by food and never during the preheat cycle. Purpose-built perforated air fryer parchment liners (available from If You Care and Katbite) are the safest format for this use case.
Building a non-toxic kitchen from scratch?
Parchment paper is step one. The Complete Plasticproof Guide covers 80+ swaps across every room — cookware, food storage, water filtration, and more — with the science behind each recommendation.
What temperature is parchment paper safe to use?
Silicone-coated parchment papers are rated between 420°F and 450°F depending on brand. The rating is for the maximum oven temperature you can safely bake at with the paper in the oven, with food covering it. The most important limits:
- Under 400°F: Completely safe for all the brands listed here. This covers most cookie baking (325–375°F), roasting vegetables (400°F), and most bread and pastry work.
- 400–425°F: Safe for all brands listed. This is the most common roasting temperature for proteins and root vegetables.
- 425–450°F: Safe for If You Care (450°F), Katbite (450°F), and Wilton (450°F), but approaching the limit for Reynolds (425°F) and PaperChef (420°F). Watch for paper edges beginning to brown at these temperatures.
- Above 450°F: No parchment paper is rated for this. Use aluminum foil for high-heat searing on sheet pans, pizza baking directly on stones, or broiling.
The paper scorching at the edges before the food is done is usually a sign the oven runs hotter than its dial suggests — common in many home ovens. An oven thermometer is a useful diagnostic tool if you frequently push toward the upper temperature range.
What can I use instead of parchment paper?
For most baking tasks, silicone-coated parchment is already the best option — it is heat-stable, food-safe, inexpensive, and single-use (no cross-contamination). But there are practical alternatives:
- Silicone baking mats (Silpat-style): Reusable, PFAS-free, rated to 480°F. Best for cookies, pastries, and anything you bake frequently enough to justify the initial cost (~$20–$30). They do not work for wrapping or parchment-paper packet cooking.
- Aluminum foil: Not non-stick but safe at all oven temperatures including broiling. For sheet-pan proteins, lining with foil then spraying with oil is the high-heat workaround. Foil is also the correct answer for broiler use.
- Well-seasoned cast iron or stainless steel pans with oil: Zero paper needed for most roasting and searing tasks. Aligns perfectly with the broader eliminate-plastics-from-the-kitchen approach.
- Stainless baking sheets with no liner: Works fine for sheet-pan meals where you want fond (the brown bits) and don't need easy release. Not ideal for delicate cookies or fish.
Which PFAS-free baking sheet pairs best with this parchment?
Unbleached silicone-coated parchment on a natural aluminum or steel baking sheet is the gold-standard setup. No PFAS. No coatings to chip. No hidden chemicals at baking temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most major-brand parchment paper does not contain PFAS. Mainstream brands use silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) coating, which is not a fluorinated chemical. The risk is with cheaper or unlabeled papers that may use Quilon — which in some formulations historically included fluorinated compounds. If the packaging doesn't say "silicone-coated" or "Quilon-free," choose a named brand that does.
Quilon is a chromium(III) fatty acid complex developed by DuPont for non-stick and grease-resistant coatings on paper. It is not itself a PFAS chemical, but some historical Quilon formulations were combined with fluorinated compounds. Today, major consumer parchment brands have moved to silicone, but Quilon may still appear on unspecified products. When in doubt, choose explicitly silicone-coated parchment.
The safest PFAS-free parchment papers in 2026 are: If You Care Unbleached Parchment, Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment, Katbite Heavy Duty Unbleached Sheets, PaperChef Culinary Parchment, Beyond Gourmet Unbleached Parchment, Wilton Parchment Baking Sheets, and If You Care Parchment Baking Cups. All use silicone coating (not Quilon or PFAS).
Bleached parchment paper has two concerns: chlorine bleaching can leave dioxin residues (most modern brands use ECF or oxygen bleaching instead), and the coating chemistry is separate. A bleached paper can still be silicone-coated and PFAS-free. For maximum confidence, choose unbleached AND silicone-coated. The unbleached variety is the tan or brown colored paper, not white.
Most silicone-coated parchment papers are rated to 425–450°F. If You Care and Katbite rate to 450°F; Reynolds rates to 425°F. Above their rating, the paper may scorch. Never use parchment for broiling (500°F+) — use aluminum foil instead. For air fryers, ensure food covers the paper fully before starting so it can't fly up and hit the heating element.
Yes, with caution. Parchment is safe in air fryers at normal cooking temperatures (350–400°F), but it must be weighted down by food before the fan starts — never put loose parchment in a preheating air fryer. Purpose-built perforated air fryer liners from If You Care and Katbite are designed specifically for this use and include holes for proper air circulation.
Sources
- U.S. FDA. "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food Packaging: Voluntary Agreements with Manufacturers." FDA.gov, 2023.
- Environmental Defense Fund. "Toxic Substances in Food Packaging: PFAS and Paper." EDF Report, 2021.
- Toxic-Free Future. "Grease-Proof Paper Products and PFAS: What We Know." 2022.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). "Risk to human health related to the presence of PFAS in food." EFSA Journal, 2020; 18(9):6223.
- DuPont / Chemours product datasheets on Quilon chromium complex coatings for paper treatment.
- FDA 21 CFR § 177.2600: "Rubber articles intended for repeated use" (silicone polymer food contact clearance).
- If You Care product specification sheet: "100% unbleached, silicone-coated parchment paper — PFAS-free."