King Arthur Baking · Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
King Arthur Pre-Cut Natural & Unbleached Baking Parchment Paper
Lower concern option, but no PFAS transparency; ask the brand directly.
Parchment paper typically uses silicone or mineral oil for grease-resistance rather than fluorochemicals, making it lower concern than Teflon-type coating-coated cookware. King Arthur doesn't disclose PFAS testing or absence.
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
unbleached cellulose paper with silicone or mineral-oil-based release coating
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.
Silicone or mineral oil coating stability at temperature
Unbleached Chef does not specify which release agent is used. Silicone-based coatings are stable to ~500°F, but mineral oil can volatilize or migrate into fatty foods above 350°F if the coating is thin or degraded. No independent testing data available for this brand's specific formulation.
Coating degradation and particle shedding
Repeated heating or mechanical damage can cause the release layer to flake or peel, introducing paper fibers and coating fragments into food. This is a wear issue, not a chemical toxicity issue, but common to all parchment products and depends on user handling.
PFAS
While unbleached parchment is inherently lower-PFAS-risk than fluorinated non-stick coatings, the brand does not disclose whether the silicone or mineral oil coating contains any PFAS-based processing aids or repellents. Direct contact with the manufacturer is recommended if PFAS status is a decision factor.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Bleach byproducts (dioxins, chlorine residues)
Unbleached formulation avoids the chemical processing associated with whitening, significantly reducing theoretical dioxin contamination risk that exists in some standard parchment papers. No contamination reported for this product.
Heavy metals
Unbleached wood pulp is lower-risk for heavy metal accumulation than recycled fiber sources. No contamination reported for this brand, though the brand provides no testing evidence to confirm absence.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is unbleached cellulose paper (wood pulp) coated with either food-grade silicone or mineral oil to create a non-stick release layer. Unbleached means it skips chlorine-based whitening, reducing exposure to bleach byproducts like dioxins that can accumulate in food-contact items. The silicone or mineral oil coating is the critical component, both are heat-stable and generally recognized as safe by FDA when used as food-contact substances, though the specific formulation and any additives in the coating remain undisclosed by the brand.
The brand's record and disclosure
Unbleached Chef provides minimal public safety documentation. The brand does not publish ingredient lists, coating composition, or PFAS testing results on their website or packaging. No third-party certifications (NSF, FDA clearance letters, or independent lab reports) are readily available. No recalls or regulatory actions are on record for this specific product. The silence on PFAS and coating chemistry is notable given that many parchment competitors now voluntarily disclose these details.
How it compares in its category
Unbleached parchment paper sits in the middle tier of the category. It avoids the bleach chemical exposure of standard white parchment and sidesteps the PFAS concern of coated (fluorinated) alternatives marketed as extra-durable. However, it lacks the transparency of premium brands that publish third-party testing or disclose silicone type. Most mainstream competitors (Reynolds, If You Care) also do not disclose PFAS status, making this product neither a leader nor an outlier in transparency.
If you buy it
Use below 420 degrees Fahrenheit (silicone and mineral oil both break down at higher sustained temps); parchment is not recommended for broiling or direct flame. Replace if the coating shows visible peeling, graying, or sticking, as this indicates degradation and potential fiber/coating particle shedding into food. Store in a dry, cool location to prevent mold growth or moisture absorption that can weaken the paper. Do not reuse sheets multiple times; single-use reduces the risk of accumulated heat damage to the coating.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- King Arthur Baking has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Parchment Paper & Baking Liners
If You Care
Parchment Baking Paper
bleached paper with undisclosed grease-resistant coating
Coating degradation and leaching
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
bleached paper with silicone coating
Paper degradation and fragmentation
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached paper with silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation at high heat
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
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.