This is from a conversation on the old forum:
If you enjoy baking and hate having to scrape baking trays, try a flexible non-stick baking mat or silpat. To use it, unroll the silpat and place it over a baking sheet. Place your cookies or pastries on top and bake it in the oven as you normally would. After baking, remove the mat. Clean it with soap and water as needed. Roll it up and store it away.
The mat can withstand temperatures of up to 580 degrees. It can be used roughly 3000 times before it needs to be replaced.
Depending upon where you buy these, silpats cost anywhere between $18 and $30.
Is a silpat made of silicone? This sounds like a wonderful tool. I guess you buy these in kitchen or cooking stores?
A silpat nonstick baking sheets is made of woven glass coated with food-standard silicone. It is made by the Demarle Corporation.
It is available in selected stores throughout the country. The website includes information on finding the store closest to you.
The main thing to remember about this product is to NOT USE A KNIFE on its surface. In culinary school, we once spread polenta on top of silpats. Cookie cutters were used to cut out decorative shapes (which were later fried), but some students wanting to create their own shapes used knives.
These students ruined the silpats and the chef instructors were really annoyed.
I have used my silpat for baking cookies, danishes, rolls, and biscuits. I have used it to roll pie dough. I have also used it in the production of chocolate covered strawberries.
Cleaning it is simple! It only needs to be rinsed, washed lightly with soap, and rinsed again.
Unlike a sheet of waxpaper, you may use the silpat over and over and over – up to 3000 times if you take care of it.