ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Parchment paper (baking)

Parchment paper is a special type of paper that you use to bake yummy treats in the oven without making a big mess.

You know how when you bake cookies or cakes, they stick to the pan and you have to use a spatula to try to pry them off? Well, with parchment paper, you don't have to worry about that!

It's almost like a magic paper that is heat-resistant, which means it won't burn or catch on fire in the oven, and it's also non-stick. This means that when you put it on your baking tray or pan and then put your cookie dough or cake batter on top, it won't stick to the paper when it's time to take it out of the oven.

When you're done baking, all you have to do is gently pull the parchment paper off the tray or pan and your cookies or cake will come right off with it, without leaving any crumbs or residue behind.

It's really easy to use and it makes baking so much more fun and less stressful because you don't have to worry about ruining your treats by having them stick to the pan. Plus, you can reuse the same piece of parchment paper for multiple batches of cookies or cakes, which saves you money and helps the environment!
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