The Best Butcher Paper

The Best Butcher Paper

Traditionally used to wrap fresh meat from the butcher, butcher paper is inexpensive, safe for cooking, and can be used to wrap non-meats, too. Beyond the kitchen, butcher paper is actually a great craft paper. Thick, smooth, and seemingly endless, a roll of butcher paper is every parent's must-have for arts and crafts days. Additionally, it can be used to wrap gifts for a wonderfully personalized look. The trick is finding a multi-purpose butcher paper that doesn't have any additives, making it safe for food and fun for coloring. We've found a number of high-quality rolls, creating a list for you whether you're here for arts and crafts or for kitchen use.

Bryco Goods Pink Butcher Paper Roll

Thick and High Quality

This thick, high-quality butcher paper is perfect for use in the kitchen or the craft room.
Best Overall

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Containing absolutely no waxes or chemical coatings, this butcher paper is made of natural pulp. That means that it’ll keep the flavors of your food as they are, safe from additives and waxes. Ideal for kitchen use as well as the craft room, it’ll hold up through smoking, BBQs, storing food, art projects, wrapping, and so much more. 100% food-grade, you can even freeze foods without fear of harmful additives leaching into your food.

Pros:

  • Naturally non-stick
  • Resists tearing
  • Keeps seasoning and flavors fully intact

Cons:

  • Rolls are large and require space for storage
  • If switching from aluminum foil, there is a bit of a learning curve

Bryco Goods Brown Kraft Butcher Paper Roll

Big Cuts Need Wrapping

This extra-wide option is our go-to for wrapping large cuts of meats.
Widest

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When smoking or slapping a large cut of meat over the BBQ, a wide roll of butcher paper is key for holding in juices and flavors. The problem? Many butcher paper rolls are as narrow as the typical roll of aluminum foil. This extra-wide butcher paper roll, however, is a full two feet in width. Made without any coatings, waxes, or chemicals, this is a food-grade, ultra-safe method to cooking and storing meats and other foods. And if you’re wrapping presents, it’s wide enough for those larger gifts, too.

Pros:

  • Thick, durable, tear-resistant paper
  • Interior treatment for increasing paper’s strength when wet
  • Excellent for cooking pork

Cons:

  • To hold in optimal moisture amounts, you may have to double or triple wrap while cooking

Yrym Ht White Kraft Butcher Paper Roll

The Art Roll

Fantastic for art projects, this butcher paper is clean, clear, and free of wax, allowing for just about any art project on the docket.
Great for Art Projects

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Although this paper is excellent as a food-safe wrap, it’s also awesome for crafting. Made without the use of bleach, completely unwaxed, and with zero coatings, it’s a thick, white paper that’s ideal for arts and crafts. One way we’ve been using this? For busting boredom on inside days with the kids, we roll this paper out over the entire table and dump all of the markers, crayons, stencils, glitter, and glue and allow them to just go to town. It’ll hold up to some pretty aggressive drawing, we promise.

Pros:

  • 40# paper that’s durable for art projects
  • Large and wide enough for wrapping presents
  • Great for food purposes, too

Cons:

  • There is no coating to keep this paper from absorbing meat juices
  • Smaller size roll

LiveWell USA Brown Butcher Paper Kraft Roll

Smoke Show

For the smoker-extraordinaire, this butcher paper will hold up to hours of use.
Best for Smoking Meats

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Proudly made in the USA, this brown butcher roll is ideal for smoking meats. Because smoking takes anywhere from 6 to 22 hours, it’s imperative to have a paper that’ll hold up. Thick, uncoated, and tested to withstand high wet weight, this 40# paper has been proven to stand the test of time in a smoker. Completely natural and food-grade, without any unwanted chemicals or waxes, this is a superior quality paper that is a definite must-have for any at-home meat chef.

Pros:

  • Holds in smoke for that delicious smokey flavor
  • Thick enough to use for storing food in the freezer
  • Also works for arts and crafts

Cons:

  • Although it holds up under wet weight, this paper does absorb moisture
  • A tad on the narrow side

Creative Paper Co Brown Kraft Paper Roll

Original Gift Wrapping

For the most original look, this butcher paper makes any gift look high-end.
Great for Gift Wrapping

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A trend we’re loving these days is the simple look of gift wrapping using butcher paper. Simple, clean, and with an aesthetic that’s on point, we love that you can personalize the paper to your liking. Because of its naturally understated look, you can add on all of the extras, such as ribbons and flowers to create a unique, personalized gift wrap that’s thoughtful and original. And of course, if there’s a need for food wrap, this butcher paper is of the highest quality for any kitchen needs, too.

Pros:

  • Versatile, chemical-free paper
  • Smooth and additive-free for wrapping paper and arts and crafts
  • Ideal for both craft and kitchen use

Cons:

  • Only available in brown
  • A little on the thin side for use with paints

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use butcher paper?

Traditionally used in the butcher shop to wrap fresh meats, butcher paper has taken on a life of its own. Ideal for smoking meats, BBQs, and countless other kitchen uses, butcher paper is also excellent for arts and crafts. This is in part due to the thickness of butcher paper. It’s thick enough for a variety of crafting projects, from painting to drawing to wrapping paper. And for food or kitchen use, it’s typically far cleaner and free of toxins than other similar products, which means you’re ingesting far fewer chemicals overall.

Can you use butcher paper for cooking?

Although it’s best to find a paper that’s free of additives, waxes, or chemicals, you can absolutely use butcher paper for cooking. In fact, it’s ideal for smoking meats, wrapping briskets, and other meats for BBQing, and can be used to store food in the freezer for later, too.