Best silicone baking mats
Looking for a less wasteful alternative to baking parchment and tin foil? Look no further than silicone baking mats – we put a selection to the test.
Swap endless rolls of baking parchment for an easy to use, reusable baking mat that will last the test of time. We should all be committed to using fewer single-use products, and one of the quickest and easiest ways to use less is to look at the items we use every day. For regular baking parchment or even tin foil users, a fabulous alternative comes in the form of a silicone baking mat.
Not only do baking mats do away with the need for baking parchment and tin foil, they also replace oils and non-stick sprays.
Available in two main styles, the silicone baking mats on this list fall into two categories: woven canvas or fibre glass sheets with a silicone coating, or single sheets of silicone. Though there isn’t too much difference between the two, we found when testing that foods cooked on mats that were a single sheet of silicone needed a few minutes longer in the oven.
For macaron, cookies, eclair and meringue cooks, many of the brands on this list have mats with stencils for a range of delicious patisserie to ensure even, professional-quality results. These mats are also ideal for rolling out pastry for tarts and pies. Many of the mats we tested are also freezer, microwave and dishwasher-safe, too.
So how long does a silicone baking mat last? There’s no real answer to this question as it depends on how often you use it. We’ve seen warranties range from one year to three years, so not only are they a great eco alternative, they will also save you money in the long run.
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For even more of the best baking equipment, read our best brownie tins, best piping bags, best springform cake tins, best loaf tins, best tart tins and best bundt tins reviews. For the very best cakes, breads and meringues, the best stand mixer reviews showcase all the must-have kit.
Best silicone baking mats at a glance
- Best silicone baking mat: Silpat silicone baking mat, £17.95
- Best versatile baking mat: Bake-O-Glide silicone confectionary mat, £20
- Best Silpat alternative silicone baking mat: Amazon Basics silicone baking mat, £11.35
- Best silicone baking mat with guides: Lakeland silicone cookie and macaron baking mat, £9.99
- Best budget silicone baking mat: Masterclass flexible non-stick silicone baking mat, £15.99
Best silicone baking mats to buy 2024
Silpat silicone baking mat
- Available from Divertimenti (£19), Amazon (£17.95)
Best silicone baking mat
Score: 5/5
When it comes to silicone baking mats, Silpat proves the original is always best. Made from silicone and fibreglass, this has been the mat of choice for chefs and home cooks alike since it was first invented in 1965 in France, and where it's still made to this day.
Silpat mats are famed for their high quality performance and this one didn't disappoint in test, producing evenly baked, soft cookies that were easy to remove from the mat.
Nifty but simple features, like the diagonally cut corners, were a welcome addition that made removing the mat from the pan very easy. Although this mat costs more than many of the cheaper examples available, we believe it's worth every penny.
Available from:
Divertimenti (£19)
Amazon (£17.95)
Bake-O-Glide silicone confectionary mat
- Available from Bake-O-Glide (£17.95), Ocado (£20)
Best versatile baking mat
Score: 5/5
From American brand Bake-O-Glide, this silicone baking mat doesn’t look too dissimilar to the Silpat mat. The only major visual difference is the lack of diagonally cut corners.
We particularly rated this mat for its versatility. It can withstand temperatures from -40C up to 250C, meaning it’s freezer-safe. There are also mats available with macaron, cookie and meringue stencils on.
All our test cookies were evenly baked and spread very minimally on the mat. Our only gripe was the needless plastic packaging.
Available from:
Bake-O-Glide (£17.95)
Amazon Basics silicone baking mat
Best Silpat alternative silicone baking mat
Score: 4.5/5
These Amazon Basics silicone baking mats are similar in design to the Silpat. Rather than a red trim, these feature a grey exterior and they have the same cut corners as the Silpat.
A good variety of different-sized baking mats and mats with macaron stencils are available in this range, though we tried out the standard 30cm x 40cm pack of two. They’re oven-safe up to 250C.
In test, these baking mats performed well, producing the still-gooey cookies we were looking for. The underside was fully cooked and each cookie released easily from the mat. Do be aware, though, that we noticed a distinct chemical smell coming from the mat after we’d cooked on it.
Lakeland silicone cookie and macaron baking mat
Best silicone baking mat with guides
Score: 4.5/5
This striking, bright blue double-sided baking mat is a fabulous choice for those who like to get creative with macaron flavours or always have a batch of cookies on the go. Similar in style to the ProCook, this mat is also made from a single sheet of silicone. It has small circles on one side that are perfect for macarons, with rings of varied sizes on the other side – ideal for cookies or mini pies.
It measures 30cm x 40cm and was a perfect fit in our standard baking tray. For added ease, this mat is also freezer, microwave and dishwasher-safe.
The test cookies were a little undercooked after the designated 11 minutes, but only needed another minute to cook through. Each cookie was evenly baked and easy to remove from the mat. It also comes with a three-year warranty.
Masterclass flexible non-stick silicone baking mat
Best budget silicone baking mat
Score: 4.5/5
We found this silicone baking mat a few millimetres thicker than the others on this list, but loved it for its versatility. It can go in the microwave, fridge or freezer, and it's even dishwasher-safe. Masterclass also claims the mat will last up to 1000 uses.
This mat was a snug fit in our baking tray and easy to remove after baking. The thickness of the mat meant our cookies needed a minute longer than the other woven baking mats, but our cookies spread in an even and controlled manner, and were very easy to remove.
How we tested silicone baking mats
We put these silicone baking mats to the test by baking up a batch of delicious chocolate chip cookies. We ensured the cookies were evenly spaced to allow for some natural spreading, though we didn’t want mats that allowed the cookies to spread too far either. To ensure there was no difference in the cookie dough mix, we made one large batch of dough and, for added precision, each cookie was weighed out to 60g.
All the silicone baking mats were tested against a standardised criteria under controlled conditions in the olive test kitchen. Each mat was scored against the following criteria:
- Quality of design and features: we looked for sturdy silicone baking mats with nifty features like cut edges, to make the mat easy to remove from the pan, plus weights and measurements printed onto the sheet.
- Versatility: while there’s not much versatility to be had when it comes to a silicone baking mat, those that were able to go in the freezer, microwave and dishwasher scored a few extra points.
- Value for money: we asked whether the price of the silicone baking mat was in line with its performance.
- Results: silicone baking mats that fit easily into a standard 45cm x 33cm pan were preferable. We also looked at the final bake: all cookies were baked for 11 minutes at the same temperature. We checked how cooked through the cookies were, noting if they were undercooked. While we expected to see some natural spreading occur, any mats that turned our cookies into flat puddles were scored down.
- Appearance of final bake: Everyone knows what a good cookie looks like! Crisp and cooked on the underside, gentle spreading and still slightly gooey in the centre.
To find out more about how testing appliances and tools is done at olive, head over to our how we test page.
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