Of all the packaging items in a café or takeaway kitchen, greaseproof paper is probably the one that gets the least thought — right up until you run out of it mid-service. It's inexpensive, essential, and quietly does a job that nothing else can. This guide covers what greaseproof paper actually is, why it matters, and how to choose the right size (and even brand it) for your business.
What Is Greaseproof Paper?
Greaseproof paper is a specially treated paper that resists the absorption of oils, fats and moisture from food. Unlike ordinary paper, which would quickly turn soggy and translucent when wrapped around a buttery pastry or a greasy burger, greaseproof paper stays intact, keeps its strength, and stops oil from leaking through onto hands, trays or other packaging.
Why Cafés, Bakeries and Takeaways Rely on It
Hygienic food contact
Greaseproof paper is food-safe and designed for direct contact with food, making it a practical barrier between your product and trays, baskets or display cabinets.
Clean presentation
Lining a basket, wrapping a sandwich, or placing a sheet under a pastry on display instantly tidies up presentation — it looks intentional rather than messy, even for low-cost items.
Genuinely versatile
From lining cake boxes and wrapping burgers to separating layers of baked goods or serving chips and pastries, a single roll or stack of sheets covers an enormous range of everyday tasks in a café or bakery kitchen.
Choosing the Right Size
Greaseproof sheets are typically sold in small, medium and large formats, and picking the right one depends on what you're wrapping or lining:
- Small greaseproof paper sheets (160 x 160mm) are ideal for individual pastries, muffins, small sandwiches or lining small trays and baskets.
- Medium greaseproof paper sheets (250 x 250mm) suit burgers, wraps, bigger pastries and general kitchen wrapping needs.
- Large greaseproof paper sheets (335 x 300mm) work best for lining bigger trays, wrapping larger food items, or for bakeries handling bigger bakes and displays.
If you're not sure which size fits your menu, a good rule of thumb is to check what you're currently using (or improvising with) and size up slightly — a sheet with a little extra coverage is always more useful than one that's just a bit too small.
Custom Printed Greaseproof Paper: A Low-Cost Branding Win
Here's what most small food businesses overlook: greaseproof paper is packaging you're buying regardless, so printing your logo onto it costs you very little extra while adding a branded touch to something customers see and photograph constantly — a wrapped pastry, a lined basket, a burger reveal. For cafés and bakeries trying to build a recognisable look without a big marketing budget, custom printed greaseproof paper is one of the best value-for-money upgrades available, and it pairs naturally with branded paper bags and cake boxes for a consistent finish across your whole packaging line-up.
Ordering Tips
Greaseproof paper typically ships 1–2 weeks after artwork approval, so it's one of the quicker items to turn around if you want to test custom branding before committing to a full packaging refresh. Order in bulk alongside your regular packaging run to keep costs down per sheet, and keep a size on hand for each main use case — small for individual bakes, medium for sandwiches and burgers, large for bigger trays and displays.
Ready to Upgrade Your Wrapping?
Whether you need plain food-safe sheets or fully custom printed greaseproof paper with your logo front and centre, browse our greaseproof paper range and pick the size that matches your menu.