Which Side of Baking Paper Goes Up? Silicone-Coated Paper Explained

You've cut a piece of baking paper, lined the tray and then stopped to wonder: which side of baking paper goes up?

Should the shiny side touch the food? Should the dull side face upwards? And does it actually make a difference?

The answer depends on the type of baking paper you are using. Some papers may have different treatments on each side, while double-sided silicone baking paper is designed to provide release performance on either surface.

For a professional bakery or commercial kitchen, understanding the difference can make everyday preparation simpler and help ensure the paper is being used as intended.

Which side of baking paper should face the food?

Always start by checking the specification or instructions for the particular baking paper you are using.

If the paper is coated on only one side, the manufacturer may specify which surface should be placed against the food.

If it is double-sided silicone-coated baking paper, either side can be used against the food because both surfaces have been treated to provide release performance.

This is the case with Multibake Catering Parchment, which has a two-sided silicone coating.

Does the shiny or dull side of baking paper matter?

It is easy to assume that a visible difference between the two sides tells you which one should touch the food.

However, appearance alone is not a reliable way to determine how a particular paper should be used.

A slightly shinier or smoother surface does not necessarily mean that only that side has the required release treatment.

The important factor is the paper specification: is it uncoated, coated on one side or coated on both sides?

If the packaging or product specification states that the paper is silicone coated on both sides, there is no need to identify a particular food-contact side.

What does silicone coating do?

Silicone is applied to baking paper to create a low-stick release surface.

This helps suitable foods separate from the paper more cleanly during baking and food preparation.

For bakeries, cafés and catering kitchens, this can be useful for products such as biscuits, pastries and other baked goods where sticking can slow down production or affect presentation.

A silicone coating can also reduce the need for additional greasing in suitable applications.

For more detail on that subject, read our guide: Do You Need to Grease Baking Paper?

What is double-sided silicone baking paper?

Double-sided silicone baking paper has been treated on both surfaces rather than having a release coating on just one side.

That means the paper provides the intended release surface whichever way it is placed on the tray.

In a home kitchen, that is convenient.

In a commercial kitchen preparing large numbers of trays, it can also remove a small but repetitive decision from the production process.

Benefits of a two-sided silicone coating include:

• Either side can face the food
• No need to identify a specific coated surface
• Reliable non-stick release on both sides
• Simpler preparation for busy kitchen teams
• Reduced need for additional greasing in suitable applications

Why does this matter in a commercial bakery?

Small preparation steps become more significant when they are repeated throughout the working day.

If a bakery prepares dozens or hundreds of lined trays, staff having to identify the correct side of the paper each time creates an unnecessary step.

Double-sided paper makes the process straightforward: cut the required length, line the tray and continue with preparation.

That simplicity can be especially useful where several members of staff share preparation duties.

Is baking paper the same as greaseproof paper?

Not necessarily.

Greaseproof paper is designed to resist grease penetration, whereas silicone-coated baking paper has a release treatment designed to help prevent suitable foods from sticking.

The terminology used for food papers can sometimes be confusing, which is why checking the product specification is more useful than relying on the name alone.

We explain the differences in our full guide to baking paper vs greaseproof paper.

Does greaseproof paper have a right side?

This again depends on the particular product.

You should not assume that all greaseproof paper is silicone coated or that it has the same release properties as baking parchment.

If you are using paper for baking, check that its specification is appropriate for the intended cooking application.

For other common applications, see what greaseproof paper is used for.

What happens if you put baking paper the wrong way up?

With double-sided silicone baking paper, there is no wrong side in terms of the silicone release surface because both sides are coated.

With a paper that has different treatments on each side, however, using it differently from the manufacturer's instructions could affect its performance.

That is why professional kitchens should purchase paper based on a known specification rather than relying on appearance.

Should you grease silicone-coated baking paper?

Silicone-coated baking paper is designed to provide a release surface, so additional greasing is often unnecessary in suitable applications.

However, recipes and production methods differ. Some may still specify greasing the tin, paper or both.

A bakery should therefore follow its tested production method rather than assuming every recipe requires exactly the same preparation.

Our guide to greasing baking paper explains when additional grease may and may not be useful.

How do you choose the right baking paper?

Which side goes up is only one consideration when selecting paper for professional use.

A bakery or catering kitchen should also consider:

• Whether the paper is silicone coated
• Whether the coating is single or double sided
• The width of the paper
• Whether sheets or rolls better suit the workflow
• The length of the roll
• How frequently the kitchen uses paper
• The manufacturer's stated applications

For a complete buying overview, see our guide to choosing baking paper for a commercial bakery.

Why choose a catering roll?

Professional kitchens often need greater flexibility than a fixed-size sheet can provide.

A roll allows staff to cut the paper to the required length for different trays and preparation jobs.

Multibake Catering Parchment is available in:

• 300mm x 500m rolls
• 450mm x 500m rolls

Both sizes use the same two-sided silicone treatment.

If you're deciding between formats, read our comparison of silicone baking paper sheets vs rolls.

FAQs

Which side of baking paper goes up?

It depends on the paper. Check the manufacturer's specification. With double-sided silicone baking paper such as Multibake Catering Parchment, either side can face the food.

Does the shiny side of baking paper face the food?

Do not rely on appearance alone. The correct way to use a particular paper depends on its coating and manufacturer instructions rather than simply whether one surface appears shinier.

Does Multibake have a right and wrong side?

Multibake Catering Parchment is silicone coated on both sides, so either side can provide the intended release surface.

Why is baking paper coated with silicone?

The silicone treatment creates a low-stick surface designed to help suitable foods release more cleanly from the paper.

Do you need to grease double-sided silicone paper?

Additional greasing is often unnecessary for suitable applications, although individual recipes and production methods may still call for it.

Final thoughts

When deciding which side of baking paper should face upwards, don't rely solely on whether one surface looks shiny or dull.

Check how the paper is actually made.

If the product is coated on only one side, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If it is silicone coated on both sides, either surface can be used as the release side.

For a busy commercial kitchen, that can make everyday preparation just a little simpler.