Butcher Paper

Looks like you have a few Gordon's Food Service store in your area.

that's where I get mine

GFS is good for a lot of things we BBQers use

The best advice I can give is buy a roll of uncoated butcher paper, doesn't matter what color and use it in place of foil, see how you like it.

Foil will trap the moisture (steam) and will causes a braising effect on your meat. The trapped moisture (steam) also produces a soft, soggy, or sometimes mushy bark.

Butcher paper will allow the meat to breath while it speeds up cooking time and Keeps the nice firm bark you desire.

Some butcher papers are treated with a coating, some think it is merely a wax coating. The coating may not be wax, but could more likely be a thin polyethylene coating. Either way, wax or plastic coated papers are not really suited for cooking food in them. They are designed to seal the meat in a manner to prevent loss of moisture for short term storage or freezing. You do not want to use coated paper.

The preferred butcher paper has no coating of any type and is thicker, denser, and heavier in weight. Uncoated butcher paper will allow the meat to breath while it speeds up cooking time and keeps that bark nice and firm.

Some people will tell you to get paper from Home Depot that they cover new floors counter tops to prevent marring and damage but some of these papers are treated with rosin. Others will also recommend the use of craft paper or even the use of paper bags. The issue here is that because of production standards/processes these papers are not rated safe for direct contact with food. Many will tell you that these are ok to use because they have used them years, they don't get sick, they haven't grown a third eye, and all is well.

In the same respect some people will pick food up off the ground and claim the 3-5 second rule while others are more comfortable letting the dog have it or just throwing it away. The bottom line is: you will be the one using the paper and only you can choose your level of comfort in using these different papers.

Yes, uncoated butcher paper is rated safe for direct contact with food, and yes it is safe to cook in the paper in a hot smoker. Paper unless modified by other chemicals doesn't burn by itself until about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as the paper isn't exposed directly to the flame, hot charcoal, or hot embers, the paper will be fine in a smoker under 380 degrees.

I have cooked with foil as well as butcher paper in the past, but now I prefer to cook without them. It's merely a personal choice which revolves around your level of comfort and your time schedules. There are occasions when target times have to be changed or times that do not permit a lengthy cook and I have to use the paper.

In the end, paper and foil are just tools that can be used for the cook to achieve the product he/she is comfortable serving to others.


Here are a few places where you can order butcher paper. The rolls are quite large for an occasional cook, so maybe find someone to split the order with.


http://www.pospaper.com/241000r.html

Sam's Club

Gordon's Food Service for me as well. They have several size rolls at affordable prices. They even come in packaging that is easy to reseal, keeping it clean and dry in storage.

Amazon.

Food grade craft paper...

30" works perfect...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIW_b0Ik_Mk"]Unwrapping Brisket - YouTube[/ame]

Only thing I have to add is to get the wider paper. I have the 18" roll and it is just too small and I have to use 2 pieces on most briskets.

pjtexas1 said:

Only thing I have to add is to get the wider paper. I have the 18" roll and it is just too small and I have to use 2 pieces on most briskets.

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He is correct. I curse the day I bought an 18 inch dispenser.

I use kraft paper from Wally World or Hobby Lobby, all that "FDA approved" butcher paper is is kraft paper that has been treated to keep blood from leaking out while being used to wrap RAW meat. There is no such thing as butcher paper that was approved by the FDA FOR COOKING with because it was never intended for that purpose.
Here's a link to a recipe for "Brown Bag Chicken" using a brown grocery bag for cooking in, I can pretty much guarantee that the bag, (made from kraft paper) was never approved by the FDA for anything.:wink:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brown-Bag-Chicken-366890

And here's what I use... about $6.00 at WalMart on the stationary isle.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Brand-Brown-Kraft-280742/dp/B00DD0L45Y/ref=pd_sbs_op_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=11299BBZF2DKJXYZTA7Z"]Amazon.com : Duck Brand Brown Kraft Paper Roll, 2.5 Feet x 30 Feet (280742) : Brown Wrapping Paper : Office Products@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31g8wviB89L.@@AMEPARAM@@31g8wviB89L[/ame]

Pitmaster T said:

He is correct. I curse the day I bought an 18 inch dispenser.

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That is something I almost never hear!!! Luckily I did not buy the dispenser but I bet I have at least 3 more years worth of 18" paper probably 5 years with my luck.:tsk:

oldbill said:

I use kraft paper from Wally World or Hobby Lobby, all that "FDA approved" butcher paper is is kraft paper that has been treated to keep blood from leaking out while being used to wrap RAW meat. There is no such thing as butcher paper that was approved by the FDA FOR COOKING with because it was never intended for that purpose.
Here's a link to a recipe for "Brown Bag Chicken" using a brown grocery bag for cooking in, I can pretty much guarantee that the bag, (made from kraft paper) was never approved by the FDA for anything.:wink:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brown-Bag-Chicken-366890

And here's what I use... about $6.00 at WalMart on the stationary isle.
Amazon.com : Duck Brand Brown Kraft Paper Roll, 2.5 Feet x 30 Feet (280742) : Brown Wrapping Paper : Office Products

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This is not true and I am surprised it came from a Texas ranger. My Uncle, Texas Ranger Truman Stone shot a local organized crime boss in the back of the head at the request of Sam Maceo. This was during the end of the Free State of Galveston era. Anyway, he was instructed to deliver the body to the New Crime boss (that was trying to transfer old gambling interests into prostitution and union representation at the new construction of the NASA facility) where they would severe the head and wrap it in 21 inch brown butcher paper (pink) several times and placed it in a rental freezer box at Benotti's Meat Market. I assure you it leaks.

I second the wider 24" roll from http://www.pospaper.com/241000r.html

Highly recommend the dispenser. The 24" wide roll works for 20lb briskets very nicely.

Franklin uses paper from Oren. You can find it on Amazon for a pretty high price here:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pink-Butcher-Paper-Durable-Carry/dp/B00NC5S6OM"]Amazon.com: Pink Butcher Paper Roll 18" X 150' in Durable Carry Tube: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51N49pjPHjL.@@AMEPARAM@@51N49pjPHjL[/ame]

If you buy direct from Oren you can get something silly like 1000' for $70, which is a lot cheaper than the Amazon link.

Paper shopping bags, I do not need a mile long roll of butcher paper.

oldbill said:

I use kraft paper from Wally World or Hobby Lobby, all that "FDA approved" butcher paper is is kraft paper that has been treated to keep blood from leaking out while being used to wrap RAW meat. There is no such thing as butcher paper that was approved by the FDA FOR COOKING with because it was never intended for that purpose.
Here's a link to a recipe for "Brown Bag Chicken" using a brown grocery bag for cooking in, I can pretty much guarantee that the bag, (made from kraft paper) was never approved by the FDA for anything.:wink:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brown-Bag-Chicken-366890

And here's what I use... about $6.00 at WalMart on the stationary isle.
Amazon.com : Duck Brand Brown Kraft Paper Roll, 2.5 Feet x 30 Feet (280742) : Brown Wrapping Paper : Office Products

Click to expand...

I hadn't seen where someone said it was FDA approved for cooking, only that it was FDA approved for direct contact with food. Untreated butcher paper does leak before, during, and after cooking. The idea is that it breathes, so naturally it will absorb and leak liquids as well.

While you are right about the brown paper bag not being approved, many of us have eaten or cooked food from this type of process.

It is not a matter of being right or wrong with the paper of your choice, but more about an individual's comfort level with the product they choose. Like I stated before, some people will eat a piece of food after they drop it, while others will not. It is simply a matter your comfort level with an approved or non-approved product. Similar to the way some do not use aluminum for fear of absorption into the brain cells, while others may not consider the idea. This is part of our human nature that makes us individuals, otherwise we would all be robots.

Someone who rarely uses it really doesn't need to buy a full roll of it, that's when one looks alternate option for paper. I'm really surprised one of the many BBQ distributors haven't picked up on this and have 100' foot rolls made. Go figure...


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IamMadMan said:

I hadn't seen where someone said it was FDA approved for cooking, only that it was FDA approved for direct contact with food. Untreated butcher paper does leak before, during, and after cooking. The idea is that it breathes, so naturally it will absorb and leak liquids as well.

While you are right about the brown paper bag not being approved, many of us have eaten or cooked food from this type of process.

It is not a matter of being right or wrong with the paper of your choice, but more about an individual's comfort level with the product they choose. Like I stated before, some people will eat a piece of food after they drop it, while others will not. It is simply a matter your comfort level with an approved or non-approved product. Similar to the way some do not use aluminum for fear of absorption into the brain cells, while others may not consider the idea. This is part of our human nature that makes us individuals, otherwise we would all be robots.

Someone who rarely uses it really doesn't need to buy a full roll of it, that's when one looks alternate option for paper. I'm really surprised one of the many BBQ distributors haven't picked up on this and have 100' foot rolls made. Go figure...


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Agreed!:grin:

mchar69 said:

Paper shopping bags, I do not need a mile long roll of butcher paper.

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I say the same thing about aluminum foil, and yet here I am at the store buying more. Just sayin'

I bought my roll from amazon. 18"x150', pink butcher paper, sold by Oren intl.

Paper alone cost: OII-BPK24-10 24" PINK BUTCHER PAPER 1000' $44.40/roll
We will need your address to get shipping cost to Italy.
Thank you


ABCO Paper Co.
(512) 837-5887
www.abcopaper.com