The Smart Baker · Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
The Smart Baker Pre-Cut Parchment Sheets
Lower concern for typical parchment use, but waterproof treatment warrants caution without PFAS disclosure.
Parchment paper is traditionally treated with silicone, a non-fluorinated coating with lower PFAS risk than Teflon-family coating. However, Smart Baker doesn't publicly disclose the water/oil barrier treatment composition.
The better-graded swap
If You Care
If You Care Baking Paper, Parchment, 70 Square Feet
90/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Unbleached parchment paper, silicone-treated
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What The Smart Baker Pre-Cut Parchment Sheets is made of, ingredients and materials
The Smart Baker sheets are unbleached parchment paper coated with food-grade silicone to create a non-stick surface. Unbleached parchment avoids chlorine-based bleaching residues present in some conventional brands. However, the silicone treatment itself is applied to improve water and grease resistance, and manufacturers rarely disclose whether this involves PFAS-based aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) or silicone-only formulations. At typical baking temperatures (up to 420F), silicone coatings are generally stable, but the lack of transparency about the waterproofing treatment is the primary concern.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Silicone coating stability at elevated temperature
Food-grade silicone is thermally stable to ~450F, but undisclosed waterproofing additives may degrade faster under broiler heat or repeated high-temp exposure. No test data is available for this specific product.
Microplastic or coating particle release
Worn or damaged silicone coatings may flake into food during extended use or with abrasive cleaning. Risk is low with intact sheets but increases with age or mechanical damage.
PFAS
Industry-wide investigation has found PFAS in some parchment and food-contact coatings. The brand's silence on this suggests either non-disclosure or use of PFAS-containing treatments. This applies to the PFAS verdict separately, but warrants caution for frequent, high-heat users.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Chlorine residues (from bleaching)
The product is unbleached, so chlorine-based bleach residues are not a concern. This is a strength compared to conventionally bleached parchment papers.
Heavy metals
No recalls or reports of lead, cadmium, or dioxin contamination in parchment paper from this brand or category. Unbleached pulp generally carries lower risk than bleached alternatives.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Parchment Place has not published public certifications (such as third-party PFAS testing, FDA food-contact compliance statements, or environmental claims) regarding the chemical composition of this product. No major recalls or safety controversies are on record for this brand in publicly available databases. The silent stance on PFAS and silicone sourcing means consumers cannot verify whether the waterproofing uses legacy PFAS chemistry or modern alternatives, creating an information gap rather than evidence of hazard.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached parchment presents lower concern than some chlorine-bleached alternatives, though functionally similar. Brands like If You Care and Kirkland (Costco) publish clearer PFAS statements or use mineral-oil-based non-stick coatings instead of silicone. Silicone-coated parchment is more durable and grease-resistant than mineral-oil types but introduces the PFAS uncertainty. For consumers prioritizing transparency, those options may be preferable; The Smart Baker sits in the middle on safety clarity.
If you buy it
Use sheets only for baking (350-420F maximum); do not use under broilers, on direct heat, or for stovetop cooking, as high temperatures may degrade silicone coatings or release volatile compounds. Inspect sheets before each use for tears, flaking, or discoloration, and replace if damaged. Wash gently by hand; abrasive scrubbing or dishwasher cycles can shorten lifespan. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent silicone breakdown.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- The Smart Baker has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to The Smart Baker Pre-Cut Parchment Sheets?
- silicone-coated parchment paper
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Paper degradation and particulate shedding
- unbleached paper with silicone coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Silicone coating degradation at high heat
- bleached paper with silicone coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Paper degradation and fragmentation
More parchment paper & baking liners grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.