Butcher Paper – Types & It’s Different Uses

butcher paper
by bublikhaus @ freepik

Butcher paper is ubiquitous in the foodservice and food-handling industry. Whether you are a butcher, grocery store, or BBQ restaurant owner, butcher paper can be handy.

Using Butcher paper to wrap your food can keep it moist; retain its freshness and color. It is an excellent tool for home decoration and creative crafts, and many other unique uses.

We commonly use butcher paper in our kitchen without necessarily knowing its different types and multiples uses. This article will provide you with all information you need to know about it, where to buy it, and how to use it.

What is Butcher Paper?

Butcher paper is a paper product used in wrapping raw meat and fish. It is suitable for packaging sandwiches and subs. There are many types of butcher paper, and it is available in a wide range of colors and sizes.

Types of Butcher Paper

• White Butcher Paper

Used for wrapping subs, sandwiches, and more. Serves as a table cover and to protect tabletops.

• Brown Butcher Paper
  Used in serving, cooking, and smoking meats and offers excellent breathability and absorption. The FDA approves this natural, unbleached paper for use in food industries. You can use brown butcher paper to wrap meat while resting or during the cooking process. The brown butcher paper was treated during the manufacturing process so it can keep its physical integrity and not disintegrate when wrapping meat or holding liquids, but it’s neither waxed or coated.  Brown Butcher paper is also know as BBQ paper.

• Peach Treated Butcher Paper
  Works well in displaying the meat and retaining freshness. It absorbs the moisture, and unlike foil,

• Pink / Peach Butcher Paper
  Efficient for wrapping meat for smoking since it allows the flavorful smoke to be absorbed while retaining the freshness and color of the meat, since it allows the meat to breathe.

• Freezer Paper
  Serves for wrapping and retaining the freshness of the meat or fish. Freezer paper comes with a special coating on one side to protect foods during storage. It is Available with different time lengths of protection (3 or 6 months) and in Kraft or White and
  Rolls or Sheet. It is used extensively in the Pasta industry and to preserve noodles.

• Sandwich Wrap Paper:
  Sandwich wrap paper is used to wrap sandwiches, and it is equally good in packaging sides, pretzels, and alike, and they are perfect for wrapping burgers, hot dogs, and bratwursts and also to lineup the biscuits to be served.

• Cheese Paper
  It retains freshness and prevents drying out. You need to wrap your cheese and make sure it is perfectly covered with the paper, and you can wrap it with a plastic cover for more protection.

What is the difference between brown paper and butcher paper?

Brown paper is brown, as its name implies. Butcher paper is most commonly white. Still, it is also available in other colors, such as pink.

Butcher paper and brown paper are nearly identical twins; both are made with the same raw materials. Butcher paper has the same wood pulp base as brown paper.

However, the main difference is the primary treatments applied to butcher paper, designed to strengthen it for food use. Butcher Paper is mainly designed to withstand moisture better than brown paper and offers superior containment of oils, blood, and other meat-related moisture.

What is the difference between butcher paper and parchment paper?

Several kinds of papers are designed for different uses in the kitchen; butcher paper and parchment paper are the most famous ones.

What Is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper is a thin type of paper also called baking paper or bakery paper. It is used in baking and cooking since it is heat-resistant and has a nonstick surface to bake on. It is made from cellulose.
Parchment paper prevents sticking, so we use it mainly in the oven.

Parchment paper is safe at 450°F, and it retains the heat but also the juices. However, it should not be used directly over the fire when grilling as it can ignite when the temperatures get too high.

Similarities and differences

Parchment paper is nonstick and heat-resistant. It is a good choice for oven cooking as it will not burn your food. It is waterproof and grease resistant. However, it has no color variation, and it’s not tearing resistant. On the other side, Butcher paper is not easy to tear as it was treated during the manufacturing process.

Both butcher and parchment paper are produced from wood pulp, they are heat resistant and can withstand cold and high temperatures. However, they may burn if the temperature gets very high, especially butcher paper, as it can’t stand very high temperature.

Generally, butcher paper is used for wrapping meat while parchment paper is used for oven baking.

Can we wrap brisket in parchment paper?

There are many reasons for wrapping brisket. First, to guarantee a faster cooking time and keep meat juicier. When you wrap a brisket, you eliminate the air into which moisture can evaporate. The wrap insulates the brisket against direct heat. Thus, you can increase your smoker’s temperature without worrying about drying out or burning the surface of the meat. Your brisket will get more tender the longer you cook it.

On the other hand, wrapped brisket tastes slightly less smoky than unwrapped brisket as there will be a barrier between the smoke and the meat.

If you like your brisket extremely smoky, drier, it might be better to cook your brisket unwrapped. The unwrapped brisket takes on more smoke, creating a crunchy bark on the exterior of the meat.

You can always wrap your brisket and finish smoking at any time if you feel that your bark is getting crispy. With a wrapped brisket, you can have a faster cooking time, tender and juicy beef in every bite.

What is butcher paper used for?

Wrapping meat is a traditional technique for locking in flavor and juiciness and avoiding burnout. This method was mainly used in tropical environments where they use leaves instead.

As its name indicates, butcher paper is mainly used at butchers’ shops as a tool to cover meats that have been cut for customers to bring home. Butcher paper is also used in restaurants. It is FDA approved for direct contact with food.

Butcher paper is a versatile product, and it is not just for wrapping meat; there are many other ways we can use it: below are some of its uses:

1. Butcher Shops

As the name implies, Butcher paper was invented to wrap newly butchered meat, and it still works flawlessly for that purpose.
It is the perfect wrap for fresh beef, poultry, pork, or fish that allows for easy transportation without leaving a mess. The fact that you can write on the package for easy labeling is a convenient bonus.

Besides fresh raw meat cuts, many butcher’s shops sell prepared foods, complementary ingredients, and even full meals. Butcher paper rolls are a perfect choice for sandwiches and other diverse dishes.

2. BBQ

Pink butcher paper can be used to wrap meat while it cooks or smokes. Butcher paper rolls are perfect for the at-home chef wanting an authentic barbecue experience.

3. Restaurants

Butcher paper is an excellent tool for foodservice uses beyond just wrapping fresh steak cuts or seafood.

Butcher paper can be customized through flexographic printing, adding the restaurant’s logo, contact information, coupons, and other marketing messages.

Many sit-down restaurants decided to opt for the crisp, clean, and classy look of white butcher paper as a far less expensive and more practical alternative compared to traditional tablecloths.

Butcher paper table covers are affordable and do not require cleaning as they are disposable after each meal. They are recyclable, lowering the high energy usage and waste created by laundering restaurant tablecloths.

Do grocery stores sell butcher paper?

Grocery stores sell butcher paper, and it is sold on a roll. You can find it in the same section as tin foil and plastic wrap.

Specialty retailers and warehouses that sell butcher paper rolls in bulk, office supply stores, supermarkets, bookstores, discount stores that sell school supplies, and art and craft supply stores are all places to check out too. Butcher paper rolls can also be ordered from Amazon.

Can we find butcher paper at Walmart, Home Depot, or Target?

Yes, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot sell butcher paper rolls. At Walmart and Target. At Home Depot, butcher paper can be found with the BBQ supplies by the grills.

Conclusion

Butcher paper is not only a perfect tool for delis, restaurant, and butcher shops, but it is also a valuable product for different home uses other than the kitchen.

Butcher paper is an excellent item to have around. It is a fantastic and inexpensive option to craft with, cook, bake, and prepare your favorite meat. It is indeed a valuable tool with multiple uses!