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Aluminum foil = tin
foil
This is an excellent all-purpose
wrapper, able to withstand both heat and cold. It's
the best choice if you're wrapping foods for freezer
storage, since it works better than plastic wrap at
preventing moisture loss.
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Bamboo leaves
Southeast Asians use these to wrap
and tie rice packets before steaming. They're hard
to find fresh, but Asian markets often carry dried
leaves in plastic bags. Soak them in warm water
before using to prevent them from cracking.
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Banana leaves
People in the tropics use these huge
leaves to line cooking pits and to wrap everything
from pigs to rice. The leaves impart a subtle anise
fragrance to food and protect it while it's cooking.
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lotus leaves
These
leaves open up like butterfly wings, each about two
feet high. They're often wrapped around rice and
other fillings, to which they impart an earthy aroma
when the bundles are steamed. The leaves are
available either fresh or, more commonly, dried in
Asian markets. Soak them for at least an hour in
warm water before using, and keep fresh leaves in a
cool, dry place or else freeze them.
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Parchment paper
= kitchen parchment = baking pan liner paper =
baking parchment = baking paper
This is a heavy, silicone-coated
paper that's used to line pans so that candies and
baked goods won't stick. It's an expensive
alternative to waxed paper, but it's less sticky, so
it's a good choice if you're making gooey items.
Parchment paper is also wrapped around foods to be
cooked en papillote, or formed into cones for cake
decorating.
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plastic wrap
Plastic wrap is terrific for covering
foods to be stored in the refrigerator or cooked in
the microwave. It clings especially well to glass,
ceramic, and china dishes. You can also use it to
wrap foods for short-term freezer storage, though
you should use aluminum foil if you're storing
something in the freezer for a long time since foil
is better at preventing moisture loss.
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wax paper
= waxed paper =
greaseproof paper
Invented by Thomas Edison, this is
paper that's coated with paraffin wax to make it
resistant to moisture. To use wax paper as a cake
pan liner, place the pan on the paper, trace its
outline, then cut it out and place it in the pan.
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