With all due respect to Marion Cunningham and James Beard, I would not use wax paper as I have first hand knowledge that it can burn at the same temp that parchment will not. My sister-in-law did it. Maybe at low temps it might be OK, but certainly not a sub for all uses of parchment.
Since the question was first posted, i have checked several of my older cookbooks. Both Maida Heatter and Marion Cunningham call for lining pans with waxed paper and James Beard calls for "greased letter paper." I wouldn't argue with those guys , and i think you can use whatever you want!
Obviously parchment is the best choice, but before it was widely available people , including my grandmothers used waxed paper. And sometimes ,(gasp!) even brown paper. The Cakes were still delicious and to my knowledge No one came to grief
Parchment paper is coated with a substance to keep give it a non-stick heat resistant coating. It can sustain temperatures up to at least 400 F. and some at higher heat. (Check your package.)
Wax paper is coated with a soybean or paraffin wax which will melt in high temperatures, and as healthierkitchen said, burn. They are not interchangeable and have two different purposes.
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Cakes were still delicious and to my knowledge
No one came to grief
nno
Wax paper is coated with a soybean or paraffin wax which will melt in high temperatures, and as healthierkitchen said, burn. They are not interchangeable and have two different purposes.
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Not if the paper will get hot enough to melt the wax.