Best Pastry Mat
Most seasoned bakers and chefs understand the benefits of using a pastry mat, and those in the know probably own more than one. A pastry mat is a convenient surface for you to roll and cut dough instead of doing it on a bare counter or tabletop. If you are just beginning your baking journey, you may want to consider how a pastry mat can make your prep work easier.
A good pastry mat should be made from high quality, food-grade silicone. It should also be flexible, non-stick and reusable. You can cover a counter or table with a pastry mat and use it as an easy-to-clean, non-stick prepping surface to roll, shape and cut dough.
You can also use a pastry mat as an alternative to parchment paper or aluminum foil to line a cookie sheet so food will release easily. Pastry mats are affordable and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
We feature five pastry mats you can purchase online. Read on to find the one that works best for you.
1. Best for Beginners: Chefast Non-Stick Rolling Pin and Pastry Mat with Silicone Pastry Bags Set
If you or someone you know is just starting out on their baking journey, it’s likely neither you nor they are equipped with even the most basic of materials to navigate a successful culinary journey.
This combo kit covers all the basics of what you’ll need with quality products at an affordable price. It includes one traditional and one half-sized rolling pin, a large pastry mat, and two stainless-steel cookie cutters. From fondant to pizza and bread and cookies, the elements are there to create any concoction in your own kitchen.
The 19.7-inch x 15.7-inch pastry mat is made from 100 percent food-grade silicone, which is flexible, BPA-free, resistant to high heats and has easy-to-read measurements printed on it. The pastry mat will lay flat on any surface and stay put as you roll out dough. The non-stick surface prevents bits and pieces of the dough from sticking, meaning you use less flour. Using the mat will keep your countertops clean and scratch-free.
To take your baking to another level of creativity, the kit also includes three reusable decorating bags of different sizes, which are made from durable and flexible food-grade silicone. Perfect for frosting, detailing, decorating and trimming your creations, they also have convenient loops for hanging out of the way when you’re done using them.
There are two tri-color couplers to fit various Russian tulip nozzles for more accurate decorating and trimming, and there is also a large standard coupler, a small coupler and six icing bag ties.
Whether you are a novice or you wish to give a gift to a beginner baker, you really can’t go wrong with this comprehensive pastry mat kit.
Pros:
- 19.7-inch x 15.7-inch pastry mat with measurements
- Accessories for decorating
- Affordable
- Premium food-grade silicone
Cons:
- Includes more items than some people may want
2. Best Variety: RENOOK Silicone Baking Mats Set of 5
Sometimes you have to spend a little more to get a little more, and this set of five pastry mats is no exception. If you do a lot of baking and cooking, it pays to have a number of different-sized mats to accommodate all of your needs.
With different sizes, you have more versatility when it comes to how and where you use your pastry mat. All of these mats are made of LFGB and PDA-certified 100 percent food-grade safe silicone with a reinforced fiberglass core, making them highly durable, non-toxic and BPA-free, with no plastic fillers.
This means no chemical taste or odor and they are safe to use with any kind of food. And with a thickness of 0.75 mm (approx. 1/32 of an inch), these mats are perfect for baking, kneading, rolling, making candy, macarons, pastry, cookies, bread and pizza.
Use the larger ones to roll and cut dough, and if you like, the smaller sizes – the 7 7/8-inch in diameter round cake or pizza mat and the 7 7/8-inch x 7 7/8-inch square size cake pan mat, can be used to line a baking pan.
The non-stick surface on all of these mats means food will not stick, and cleaning is easy using warm soapy water, or you can place them in the dishwasher. Strong and durable, these pastry mats will give you years of use, making them a smart inclusion in your arsenal of kitchen tools. Oh, and did we mention that you also get a bonus oil brush?
Pros:
- Set of five various-sized silicone baking mats
- Made from LFGB and PDA-certified 100 percent food-grade safe silicone
- Thick for durability
Cons:
- May be more mats than you need
3. Best Durable: Folksy Super Kitchen Non-slip Silicone Pastry Mat Extra Large
Pastry mats are so versatile, you can use them for many functions, but the first and foremost is as a work surface to protect your counter or table top as you prepare your baking treats.
Made of premium food-grade silicone and reinforced fiberglass, this extra large 28-inch by 20-inch mat can fit over a large space on your counter or table, allowing you to roll out even the stickiest dough, forming cinnamon buns and more, while keeping your counters clean.
The non-slip design on the back gives added traction to grip the counter, and because it measures 0.77mm thick – almost twice as thick as some other silicone mats – it won’t crease or wrinkle, will last longer, and resist tears and holes.
The non-stick surface allows for food to release easily so you’re not left scraping up scraps that would otherwise be left behind. Resistant to cold as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit and heats up to 470 degrees Fahrenheit, the mat can be placed in the oven, microwave, fridge and freezer.
And when it’s time to clean up, just rinse the mat in warm soapy water or put it into the dishwasher. Once it has dried, roll it up and tuck it away for the next time.
Pros:
- Extra large size
- Versatile in use
- Extra thick
- Non-skid back
- Made from food-grade silicone and reinforced fiberglass
Cons:
- More expensive than smaller mats
- May be too large for some uses
4. Best Overall: Cook Time Silicone Pastry Baking Mat
If you love cooking and baking and have finally decided to look for a pastry mat, then why not begin with a large-size model that won’t disappoint.
Instead of rolling and preparing dough on your table or countertop – and dealing with the sticky reality of cleaning up the mess – you can use this large 26-inch by 16-inch pastry mat to do all of your prep work. No more spillovers onto the counter or floor; everything stays in one place as you roll, knead, cut and shape.
Like most pastry mats, this one has a non-stick surface, releasing dough easily, with no extra flour needed. And as an added bonus, the mat has weight, temperature and size measurements in imperial and metric printed on it, a useful guide that’s accessible any time.
Made from food-grade silicone and reinforced with fiberglass using a unique cross-weaving technology, this pastry mat is as thick as professional models, and won’t rip, roll up at the edges, crinkle or slide around while you work on it.
Safe to use in the oven or freezer, it is temperature resistant from -45 degrees Fahrenheit to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and when used for baking, provides even heat distribution. Makes an ideal gift for the pastry chef or baker in your life.
Pros:
- Made of food-grade silicone and fiberglass
- Designed with imperial and metric measurements
- Durable for long lasting use
- Double thick design
Cons:
- Circular size measurements on the mat are not precise
5. Best Set: ZEROFEEL Silicone Baking Mat Set of 20
This pastry mat set is a baker’s dream-come-true, whether he or she is just starting out or wants to expand his or her repertoire and technique.
First off, there are four pastry mats – two 16.5-inch x 11 5/8-inch half sheets and two, quarter sheet macaron mats measuring 11.8 inches by 7.9 inches, all of which are made from food-grade silicone reinforced with fiberglass. Aside from being BPA-free with no plastic fillers, the two sizes allow greater versatility in how you decide to use them.
Regardless of how you do use the mats, whether as a work surface to roll out dough, cut out shapes for cookies and macarons or as a liner for a sheet pan, at approximately 1/32-of-an-inch thick, each of these pastry mats is durable and long lasting.
You can safely use the mats in a microwave or oven up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit, and store in a freezer as cold as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. With a non-stick surface, you can be sure even your stickiest dough will come off easily while you are working with it, and once you are done, just wash the pastry mats in warm soapy water to clean.
Another aspect of this great set is the included extras that will help you to become the creative baker you’ve always wanted to be. With five silicone cutout shapes, six piping tips, two piping bags, a silicone brush and spatula and a coupler, you can add colorful designs and decorations to all of your baked goods. This set also makes an awesome gift for the budding baker in your family.
Pros:
- Premium quality silicone and fiberglass pastry mats
- Two sizes
- Markings for macarons
- Extra thick for durability
- Includes cake and cookie decorating accessories
Cons:
- More expensive than just one mat
- May include accessories some people don’t want
Things to look out for:
Consider these factors when choosing a pastry mat:
Material: When choosing a pastry mat, make sure it is made of food-grade silicone with no fillers. For an even better quality, choose one that is also reinforced with fiberglass. These two materials are naturally BPA-free for a healthy alternative to mats that may contain plastic or filler agents.
Use: Pastry mats are versatile and aside from using them to make pastry, they have many functions. Naturally heat-resistant, they are oven and microwave safe, and many models can also go into the freezer. Depending on the size of the mat, you can use it to line the bottom of your oven to catch spills.
Ideally, put the pastry mat on a counter or table and use it as your workspace for rolling and cutting dough. Because the surface is non-stick, the dough is easy to lift and manipulate, without bits and pieces getting stuck on the mat. You can also use pastry mats as easy-to-clean placemats at the kitchen table.
FAQS
What does a pastry mat do?
Pastry mats are made of food-grade, high quality silicone. They are most commonly used in baking when handling messy ingredients that may stick if not handled properly. You’ll want to make sure that your pastry mat is flexible, fits both your work surface and oven, and is both non-stick and reusable. This allows for you to do prep work with the mat then transfer your creations into the oven. You can also use a pastry mat to roll dough into a log, or simply as a cutting surface for something like fresh-baked biscuits.
Are silicone pastry mats safe to use?
Silicone pastry mats are absolutely safe for kitchen use! They are made from food-grade, BPA-free silicone. Pastry mats are designed to double as baking tray liners, work surface, and landing zone for icing and confectionary. The biggest difference to watch out for rather than materials is what temperature the pastry mat is rated for.
How do you clean a silicone pastry mat?
Cleaning a silicone pastry mat is as easy as 1-2-3. Mats need to be soaked in extremely hot water with a touch of acidity. This can be accomplished with lemon juice, white vinegar or the like. However, it’s important to remember that we’re dealing with baked goods and pastry here. This means that over long cooks at high temperatures there can be quite a lot of sticking afterwards. For particularly tough stains we suggest a paste of vinegar and baking soda. From here use a scrub-brush to work on the mat while still warm and let stand for ten minutes before rinsing and drying.
Is a pastry mat the same as a baking mat?
Pastry mats and baking mats are very similar, but vary based on temperature. Baking mats tended to be designed around a maximum of 500 degrees while Pastry mats tend to cap out at 428 degrees. Besides this they are generally made of the same materials. With that said, it’s much more important to pay attention to what temperature the mat can handle rather than its name as some suppliers use them interchangeably.
How much heat can pastry mats handle?
Pastry mats are made out of food-grad silicone and fiberglass. This means that they take up to just about 428 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re looking for something that is oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit then Sous Vide Guy would instead recommend a baking mat. These can double as drip collectors and the like.