This is something I have pondered for a while. My husband is trying to get me to switch to using my silicone baking sheet mat all the time, instead of the aluminum foil I often lay down to catch drips and make for an easier clean-up. But I’ve been resistant.
OK, I know that aluminum foil can leach aluminum into your food, which can lead to bad brain degeneration down the line, but are the silicone liners doing something just as bad? I mean, they are a form of plastic, after all. Do they emit vapors, fumes, or other undesirable things to contaminate our food?
The writer of Baking Delights blog put a lot of research into it, so read what she says. In the end, it seems safe to use the silicon bakeware. Phew. I guess my husband was right — again!
The silicone stuff still makes me a bit nervous. My favorite trick is baking on parchment paper. It works great and, in many cases, it can be re-used.