Where To Buy Butcher Paper (For Cooking and Crafting)

If there’s one thing that never ceases to amaze me, it’s how many different types of paper we have created and how many different uses they have. Butcher paper is no exception. This handy paper is excellent for storing foods, keeping tools clean, and even lining areas while you paint. The hard part of using butcher paper, though, seems to be finding it. Where on earth do you buy this stuff?!

Butcher paper is a specialty paper, which means that it will most likely be in specialty stores. The most common places to find butcher paper include:

The most reliable place where you can get a roll of butcher paper is in the grocery store, and it makes absolute sense why this is. The primary use for butcher paper is to store meat, primarily as a way to keep it fresh before you grill it on a barbecue. Virtually every full-sized grocery store will have butcher paper year-round. It’s usually in the food prep, aluminum foil, or barbecue section of your store.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you are in a strange area where the store clerks say that they don’t carry butcher paper year-round, take heart. Even in these situations, you should expect this paper to become very popular during the summer months. In stores like this, it’ll be a seasonally-stocked paper during summer “BBQ months.”

Most grocery stores will sell butcher paper at the lowest price out there, so this absolutely should be your first choice in terms of shopping venues.

Call ’em hardware stores, or call them home improvement stores. Whatever you call the local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace Hardware doesn’t matter. What matters is that you should be aware that they are just as reliable as grocery stores, and also tend to be just as affordable too. In hardware stores, butcher paper is usually found near the grilling supplies section.

It’s worth noting that hardware stores often sell butcher paper in larger quantities, primarily because many major projects that require it require a lot of it. People who need to grab a bunch would be smart to go to a hardware store. The same can be said if you were already planning a hardware store run.

Do you have a Wal-Mart, Target, or Costco nearby? If so, then you’re in luck. To no one’s surprise whatsoever, many major big-box department stores that have a home improvement or grocery section also tend to carry butcher paper year-round. The big issue with these stores, of course, is finding it.

Sometimes, you can find butcher paper in the craft section. Other times, it’s in food storage or groceries. You might want to ask a person who works there for help. With that said, some smaller department stores might not actually carry it in-store, so it’s also a good idea to call the store ahead of going there. After all, you don’t want to waste your time with a store that won’t have what you need.

Believe it or not, there are a bunch of hobbies that require the use of butcher paper (or something similar to it). This means that some niche hobby stores might also carry butcher paper rolls from time to time. More specifically, if you have a hobby store that caters to both crafting, cake decorating, or painting, they probably carry butcher paper as well.

The thing is, hobby stores are not as reliable as grocery stores or hardware stores when it comes to their stock of butcher paper. Some hobby store owners just don’t know much about the uses of this paper or consider it to be more of a “food item.” If you want to give this store a shot, calling them up before you go there is a good idea.

It’s no secret that butcher paper can be used in a ton of different crafts. That’s why most craft stores will carry at least one or two rolls of butcher paper from different brands. Michael’s does, anyway. Unfortunately, this is one of those store genres that still remain something of a gambit in certain parts of the country.

Most craft stores will stand a good chance of carrying it, but it’s still a good idea to check your grocery store first. Craft stores and hobby stores both tend to charge slightly more when it comes to this item, simply because they are specialty stores and are allowed to do that.

Let’s face it. The vast majority of people who are looking to buy butcher paper aren’t in a dire rush to do so, even if they really enjoy barbecues. That’s why an increasing number of people who are in need of this paper tend to skip the search in their local vicinity and just head over to their mobile phone. Online stores have it in spades.

The prices at online venues might be slightly higher in some cases, simply because it’s still more common to shop at a grocery store. Moreover, you might need to pay for shipping in some stores. Along with the slightly higher price, the big issue that most people have is the fact that ordering online usually means that you will have to wait a couple of days.

Since butcher paper is still fairly popular, there is a way to get it to your door on the same day while using online ordering. If you have an Instacart account, you probably will be able to find a store that will deliver it to you. However, they may ask you to load up your cart until you hit a minimum order.

Butcher paper is a specialty paper, and the price tends to reflect that. It’s going to be a bit pricier than what most people would expect, but the vast majority of rolls that are being sold are long enough to make it worth the higher price point. Most rolls of butcher paper will cost between $8 to $25 per roll.

The big difference between price points is almost entirely based on the size and length of the roll. Smaller price tags mean that you’re getting less butcher paper.

If you are looking for a more affordable way to smoke meat or bake goods without having them stick to the pan, then you have your work cut out for you. While many people swear that butcher paper is still the best option, there are other options you can use. If you are working with meat at a very low heat, then you might be able to get away with using parchment paper.

Of course, fire hazard concerns are legit. While tons of people do it every day, it’s not always a wise idea to have it in the oven. A more fireproof method of wrapping your meat is to use aluminum foil. Since aluminum locks in moisture and has a high resistance to heat, it’s the safer option all around. Besides, it’s easier to source than regular butcher paper.

Related Questions

How many layers of butcher paper do I need to wrap a brisket in?

This is a question that could have a bunch of different answers depending on who you ask. After all, everyone has their own unique BBQ technique.However, the general consensus seems to be that having two to three layers of brisket paper is ideal. This multi-layer approach to wrapping your meat will give your meat enough insulation to lock in heat. This gives you a juicier brisket, as well as a slightly faster cooking time.

Are butcher paper and parchment paper the same thing?

Though they look similar they are not the same thing. Butcher paper has a slightly higher heat tolerance and doesn’t have a silicone coating to it. Parchment paper is treated with silicone to make it nonstick. It also comes in only one color, unlike butcher paper that can be in several different shades.Butcher paper is traditionally used in smoking meats and cooking meats in a grill or smoker. Parchment paper, on the other hand, is traditionally used for baked goods and is designed primarily for oven use. That being said, most people will find that butcher paper and parchment paper act the same way in most respects, which is why many use them interchangeably.

Will butcher paper contain greasiness in food?

In an ideal world, butcher paper would be able to contain the grease from deep-fried goods or sauce-slathered wings. Unfortunately, this is one of the few things that butcher paper is not good at. In fact, it is actually pretty terrible at it. If you are looking for a better grease-containing paper, it’s better to opt for the non-stick veneer of parchment paper instead.