Do you think they are better than Silpat (fiberglass filled), and if so, why? Do they discolor?
826041
They do not discolor, even after heavy use. We did not use Silpat, have no experience with that.
826042
I did not buy them to use for baking. I use them for pulled sugar work, and they are great for that. They are much thinner than Silpat, which I use for baking. However, I would use these for baking, as you pointed out there is no fiberglass in these and nothing to come in contact with your food. So it's an opinion thing. I like both for different things.
576201
Your Silpat will eventually turn a brownish color after using it a lot. Your Silpat will still be nonstick and safe to keep using. I've had customers who have had their Silpat for 10 years and it's almost black! Still used it and it worked just fine. Some people have found that if it's not too dark, you can put it in the sun and it will lighten up again. Is it stained in one spot or all over? We guarantee our Silpats for 2 years as long as you use it correctly. No broiling (480 degrees is as high as you should go) and no sharp utensils. I hope this helps!
418085
I love my Silpats and use them all the time. Mine fit exactly in my cookie sheet, but I would not expect any problems if they were to overhang a bit. I think having an overhang would be preferable to trimming them.
316006
Are these truly glass, or acrylic? if they are acrylic, they'll discolor. What's the REAL DEAL HERE?
1163711
I have had six of them for a bit less than a year without any discoloration. If anyone has noticed discoloration after a longer period, I'll be curious to know.
1421474
Not like a fiberglass. This board is best for beginners. If you are advanced enough to duck dive you may want to invest in a better board. I got this board as my first board. VERY buoyant!!!
1618276
They are glass, but not just silicon but 'borosilicate', which means they're like the same glass used for pyrex these days. This increases durability and the ability to handle thermal shock.
477378
Just a different brand... I am only familiar with the brand Silpat... sorry. But these things are amazing!
1023000
Hmmm not sure bur if fiberglass is very shiny maybe it's best to use only microfiber materials?
523030
I think these have a thicker coating than the blister packed ones. I've never had a problem and I have had broken ones in the blister packs.
1034283
You can actually find some good info in this regard at the Just the Crystals website. These aren't the superfine (nearly sand-like quality) you'll get in with the Mimi Crystals from Walmart, but are slightly larger grain. We've found that there's a balance between size and texture in terms of best absorbency and what works (as in most people's experience with the cheaper, very chunky brands). Absorbency is also measurable -- and these have the highest ml/g absorbency ration available (hence why they are "premium" branded). Most of this info can be found at my website, but please don't hesitate to contact me directly via the contact info there if I can personally answer any questions -- always here to help! Rick
815559
While not all crystals are alike, all crystals are made using the silica gel process, however there are different grades of crystals depending on their ability to absorb (measured in ml/gm). The reason Just the Crystals are called "premium" is that they have the highest absorbency rating, so should work better and last longer than most. The blue color is added during the heat process, and is purely a cosmetic difference, as the clear ones tend to look yucky yellow pretty quickly. There is no absorbency difference between the two colors. I can't answer your question regarding the Exquisicat, as that isn't my brand. However you should be able to simply do a search to see if they're available. Hope this helped! (Rick)
8041
Visibility is good. Of course it is heavier and not quite as good as fiberglass or other screen material. Usually when you get a more durable screen you trade off for less visibility.
1541745
I tried both and didn't see any difference. I personally don't like to bake bread or pizzas on Silpat or silpain, since I found that the bottom crusts are too pale. I bake bread daily using a pizza stone.
1858037
No, they are not...they are good but after spending a winter in the car being used for bird watching I find they lose their colimination (the ability to see 1 image in the 2 eyepieces) and as a result of the plastic construction can somewhat be forced back into colimination. Personally, I am disappointed in the lack of durability...these were not cheap and never dropped: just the repeated heat/cold cycles in the car made them go out of register. I will not purchase them again.
1527899
I've never made either of them, but the Silpat should work for either one. I think that the main point is that the Silpat is so slippery that nothing sticks to it and the cleanup is so easy. If you're concerned about the items touching each other once baked, put the batter further apart on your first batch to see how much they spread out. Then on the next batch, you'll know how to space them.
266222
Mine came with instructions, and it is very specific that if they get cut (like with a utensil), they must be discarded. So I would assume that cutting in half would be a big no-no. They can be used over 400 degrees. Also cannot be put in the dishwasher, or even soaked in soapy. Just wipe them off with a soapy cloth or sponge then rinse. Store flat or rolled, never folded as this might crack the surface. I keep mine flat in a drawer under my dish towels. One note my sister told me, is that they will always feel and look like there is oil on the surface; this is normal. Just found this; I had wondered why you needed to avoid cutting. From Silpat website: "Do not cut the SILPAT as the fiberglass mesh particles might migrate into the food" Here is a link to the site; I learned quite a few things..... http://www.silpat.com/faq.html PS I would buy another pan. These things are great!