Reynold's · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Reynolds Kitchens Stay Flat Parchment Paper
Parchment's grease-resistance raises concern; no disclosure from brand.
This brand does not publicly disclose PFAS or coating chemistry for this parchment. Grease-resistant coatings on food paper often contain PFAS, though not always. Contact the brand directly for specifics.
The better-graded swap
If You Care
If You Care Parchment Baking Paper
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
Paper with grease-resistant coating, composition unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
PFAS
The coating identity is undisclosed by Reynolds. Fluorinated compounds (PFAS) have been standard in food-contact paper coatings; whether this product contains them is unknown. Migration into fatty or acidic foods during use is theoretically possible, particularly at elevated temperatures.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and inhalation
At temperatures above the manufacturer's recommendation or under direct flame/broiler use, paper coatings can degrade and release volatile compounds. Reynolds does not specify coating chemistry, so the identity and safety profile of any fumes is unclear.
PFAS
Even if PFAS-free, unspecified coating monomers or additives could migrate into fatty or acidic foods during extended contact or heating. The lack of ingredient transparency makes risk assessment impossible for sensitive populations.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Microplastics
No published evidence of parchment paper shedding particles into food under normal use. However, tearing, excessive folding, or use above temperature limits could theoretically cause coating flakes; Reynolds provides no guidance on this scenario.
Source, EPA ↗Bleaching agents or whitening residues in paper substrate
No specific concerns on record for Reynolds parchment paper. Food-grade paper is generally bleached to low residual levels, but ingredient disclosure would allow verification.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Reynolds Stay Flat Parchment Paper is paper substrate with a proprietary grease-resistant coating that the manufacturer does not publicly specify. The coating enables non-stick performance and moisture barrier properties that make it practical for baking. The chemical identity of this coating is the critical unknown; historically, fluorinated compounds (PFAS) have been industry standard for grease-resistance in food-contact papers, though some manufacturers have shifted to non-fluorinated alternatives without always communicating the switch.
The brand's record and disclosure
Reynolds has not published ingredient disclosure, safety data sheets, or formal PFAS testing results for this product despite repeated consumer inquiries in recent years. The company has not committed publicly to removing PFAS from formulations across its parchment line, distinguishing it from a small number of competitors who have made such pledges. Reynolds has faced no major recalls specific to parchment paper safety, but the silence on coating composition leaves users unable to make informed choices.
How it compares in its category
Parchment papers as a category are often treated as low-risk because direct food ingestion of paper pieces is rare. However, the coating is the functional component and contact surface. Some newer entrants (e.g., If You Care) market PFAS-free or plant-oil-coated alternatives with transparency; mainstream brands including Reynolds have been slower to disclose or reformulate. Stay Flat's silicone-like performance is convenient but relies on an undisclosed formulation that may or may not include PFAS.
If you buy it
Limit use to temperatures under 420F (Reynolds' stated recommended range) to avoid coating breakdown and potential fume release. Do not use for prolonged contact with acidic foods (tomato, citrus, vinegar) or fatty/oily items at room temperature for hours, as grease-resistant coatings may leach into food under those conditions. Replace the paper between uses; do not reuse sheets. If you are concerned about PFAS, contact Reynolds directly requesting coating ingredient disclosure or switch to brands with transparency on this point.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Reynold's has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation under heat stress
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth if stored damp
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
More grease-resistant deli & butcher paper 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.