Silicone mats for rolling the dough: sizes and selection

Heat-resistant silicone as a material for kitchen utensils has gained popularity relatively recently. Some housewives still do not exclude its possible harmfulness in contact with food, especially when exposed to high temperatures. However, at the legislative level, the provision is enshrined that absolutely all products, the use of which provides for direct contact with food, undergo strict safety control before mass release into free circulation.

Food grade silicone also passes this control. This synthetic material is harmless to health and can be used in cooking utensils. If the products are manufactured by a reliable bona fide manufacturer, then safety concerns should not arise from consumers.

Silicone cooking mats are usually available in rectangular shapes in a variety of colors and sizes. There are people who are very demanding on every touch of the kitchen design style. The color scheme of the rugs will allow each housewife to choose a product in accordance with the overall design of the kitchen interior. On all four sides of the front side, markings are applied in the form of a centimeter ruler, which allows you to easily roll out the dough exactly under the existing baking sheet.

Marking is convenient not only for rolling out. With its help, you can easily "carve out" some types of confectionery from the dough, applying the side with a ruler to the edge of the dough.In the center of the rug there are circles of different diameters and the size of each of them is marked, so it will not be difficult to roll out the desired circle from the dough, for example, for pizza. The permanent paint of the applied markings does not wear off throughout the life of the mat.

A variety of product sizes will pleasantly surprise the most demanding customer. These are miniature rugs 30x40 cm, and medium products 60x40 cm, and large ones in size 80x60 cm, and special 68x52 cm, and other options. The smooth glossy texture of the seamy side of the rug has excellent adhesion to any surface of the tabletop; when the dough is rolled out, the rug remains stationary. Even if you pull on the edge of the product, the material will be pulled back a little, and the rug will remain in place.

A silicone mat will add a lot of useful moments to the cooking process, namely:

• the ability to roll out a circle of a given size from the dough;
• raw dough does not stick;
• no sliding on the table top;
• reduces cooking time;
• reduces the complexity of making homemade baked goods;
• easy to clean;
• durable, shatterproof material;
• compactness of the product (minimum storage space);
• flour is not scattered on the table while rolling out the dough.

With all the positive properties of silicone mats, the existing drawbacks should be noted. A significant drawback is low strength. If you accidentally hit the surface with a kitchen tool, the rug may tear. The downside is that, despite the artificial origin of the material, rugs are not cheap. When folded several times, creases are formed at the folds, as a result of which the service life is reduced. There are products that lose their color brightness over time.

Working with dough of any kind (yeast, puff, unleavened, butter, shortbread and other types) is a delicate matter that requires a certain skill and scrupulousness. The use of a silicone mat for rolling out the dough at home greatly simplifies the task. A part of the finished dough is taken and laid out in the middle of the rug. It is not necessary to add flour, the dough will not stick anyway. But some housewives, most likely, out of old habit, pre-sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of flour on the rug, of course, harm from this will not happen.

Roll out the dough either according to the size of the circle applied to the mat, or along the measuring rulers on the side (depending on what you intend to cook). At the same time, the rug does not slide on the table surface during the rolling movements of the rolling pin.

For food contact, the quality and safety of the products is of paramount importance. First of all, you need to make sure that there is absolutely no smell coming from the rug. A pungent smell will indicate the dishonesty of the manufacturer using low-quality raw materials, such a product cannot be bought. Silicone looks like ordinary rubber; it is not easy for a common buyer to distinguish a fake from a quality product.

Therefore, buying kitchen accessories should preferably be in specialized centers for the sale of kitchen goods, and not in the household departments of supermarkets. It should not be forgotten that high cost does not always mean good quality, and it is also better to refuse suspiciously cheap products.

It is imperative to check the marking, which must provide the following comprehensive information:

• manufacturer and its location;
• name and composition of the material;
• conformity and safety marks;
• data of the document for the production of the product;
• mark "for food".

It is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:

• a new rug must be thoroughly rinsed with baking soda before use; since silicone is heat-resistant, it is good to scald it with boiling water, cool it, dry it and you can use it;
• after use, it is enough to lightly rub the mat with a soft sponge under a stream of warm water from the tap - the remnants of flour and dough "slide" off the mat without any effort; compared to washing the countertop when cutting dough without a rug, this is impressive;
• it is not recommended to cut anything with a knife directly on the rug, so as not to damage the surface;
• do not fold the rug in half or in four, the folds may damage the surface, and the service life of the product will be reduced.

On a silicone mat, you can not only roll out the dough. It is a heat-resistant, non-stick material that can be used to bake all kinds of culinary creations and pastries by placing them in the oven right on the rug. If you manage to prepare too many dumplings or other products for future use, then you can freeze the semi-finished products along with the rug. In this form, it is convenient to get the freezer out of the freezer when needed.

Review of the mat for rolling out dough and baking "Baker" 100% silicone, see the next video.