Custom Greaseproof Paper Sheets, Plain or Printed with Your Logo

What is greaseproof paper?

Greaseproof paper is a thin paper made dense enough to slow grease and oil passing through. It feels smooth and slightly translucent, and it folds crisply without springing back.

That makes it the everyday wrapping and lining paper of the food trade. It holds a sandwich together, keeps a greasy burger from marking a box, and stops pastries sticking to each other.

It is not the same as baking parchment, which is made for ovens. This page is about greaseproof sheets for wrapping and serving.

White or brown greaseproof paper?

Both colours do the same job. The choice comes down to the look of your food and your brand.

Brown sheets also hide light grease marks a little better than white, which matters when the paper is on the table for the whole meal.

Who uses greaseproof paper sheets?

Almost every kitchen that serves food to hand keeps a stack of greaseproof sheets. The most common buyers include:

Many of these businesses use greaseproof in two ways at once: printed sheets for wrapping food that leaves the premises, and plain sheets for lining baskets and trays that come back to the kitchen.

• Burger and fried chicken shops wrapping orders
• Sandwich bars and delis wrapping rolls and baguettes
• Bakeries wrapping bread, pastries and cakes
• Pubs and restaurants lining baskets and boards
• Street food traders lining trays and boxes
• Cheese and charcuterie counters separating slices

What sheet size of greaseproof paper do you need?

Size depends on the job. For wrapping, the sheet should go round the food once with a fold to spare. For lining, it should cover the base and come part way up the sides.

Try it with a sheet of plain paper first. Wrap your usual portion, then measure the paper you used. Round up slightly, because a sheet that is too small leaves the food exposed.

Lining sheets for square baskets work best as squares, so the corners stand up evenly. Wrapping sheets are usually rectangles, because most food is longer than it is wide.

Most shops end up with one wrapping size and one lining size. Our guide to UK food packaging sizes lists sheet sizes alongside boxes and trays.

How well does greaseproof paper hold back oil?

It slows oil down rather than stopping it forever. A burger wrapped in greaseproof will keep its box clean for the journey home, but a sheet left under fried food for hours will show marks.

Very oily or saucy food benefits from a quick drain before wrapping. Folding the sheet twice round the wettest part also helps. Food-contact paper can be requested, with the grade confirmed in writing on your quote.

Steam is a separate issue. Hot food wrapped tightly in any paper traps moisture, so crisp items such as fried chicken are better wrapped loosely or lined, not sealed.

For a fuller explanation of papers and linings, read our greaseproof and coated board explainer.

Should you buy plain or printed greaseproof paper?

Plain sheets are the right choice for lining, interleaving and anything hidden from view. They are quick to order and suit every menu.

Printed sheets make sense when the paper is seen. A wrapped burger, a baguette carried down the street, or a basket liner on the table all show your branding. The photos above include a brown sheet with a repeating logo and white sheets with bold patterns.

Repeat patterns suit greaseproof because the paper is folded and torn in random places. Wherever the customer looks, part of the design shows. For printed options in depth, see our printed greaseproof paper page.

How do you line a basket or tray with greaseproof?

A lining sheet does two jobs. It keeps the basket or tray clean, and it gives fried food a dry surface to sit on. Getting it right takes seconds once staff know the steps.

1. Pick a sheet slightly larger than the base of the basket or tray.
2. Turn it so a corner, not a flat edge, points towards the customer.
3. Press it into the base so it sits flat without air under it.
4. Let the corners rise up the sides, where they catch crumbs and sauce.
5. Add the food, heaviest pieces first, leaving the printed corners on show.
6. Swap the sheet for every order, even if it still looks clean.

What goes wrong when buying greaseproof paper?

Ordering one large sheet size for every job is the usual mistake. Staff then fold oversized sheets for small items, which wastes paper and looks untidy.

Another is choosing fine print detail. Greaseproof is thin, so small text and very thin lines lose sharpness. Bold shapes print best.

Storage matters too. Keep reams flat and dry, away from the fryer, so sheets stay crisp and separate easily.

Last, measure the dispenser or drawer the sheets will sit in. A ream that is wider than its shelf curls at the edges and becomes awkward to grab during service.

Where does greaseproof paper fit with other packaging?

Greaseproof is often the inner layer. A burger is wrapped, then boxed. Chips sit on a sheet inside a tray. A baguette is wrapped, then bagged.

Because it works with so many boxes, it pays to match the print. A printed sheet in the same colours as your boxes ties the whole order together. Our paper food trays for street food pair well with a lining sheet.

How do you order greaseproof paper?

Send the sheet sizes, colour, plain or printed, and how many sheets you need. Sheets start at £0.25 each; the cost for your sizes and run is pinned down in writing before you commit.

Printed sheets get a free design proof showing how your repeat will fall. Production takes 4–6 business days after you approve it. Boxed reams then go out on free tracked delivery and reach most UK kitchens 2–3 business days later.

Send photos inside 10 days if a ream is crushed or misprinted, and we reprint it or refund you. To start, request a greaseproof paper price.