Parchment paper began as animal skin, then silicone made it a kitchen staple
Parchment Paper History: How We Got Paper Perfect for Baking (2019)
The story of parchment paper starts with ancient animal-skin parchment, not the plant-based sheets we use today. In 1847, French scientists found a way to treat paper with sulfuric acid to mimic parchment's qualities. But it wasn't until silicone coatings arrived in the 1950s that baking paper became truly nonstick. The article traces this evolution and explains why parchment paper only became a household name in the 2000s, thanks to cooking shows and food blogs.
In closing the orifices of vessels for preserves, et cetera, few housewives will hesitate to substitute an elegant material like vegetable parchment paper for the animal membrane, so frequently offensive, which is now generally in use.
- Sharlin
Parchment paper was definitely widely used in kitchens before the 00s.
- loveandhelp
is it different from butcher paper?
- eimrine
TL/DR: We Have Got It Because of PFAS