The joy of baking often comes to a screeching halt when cookies and other sweet treats stubbornly stick to the pan, wreaking havoc on the cookware. Selecting the correct nonstock solution is just as crucial as selecting the perfect recipe. Traditional cooking sprays can lead to a slippery, greasy mess, while parchment paper – good for a single use – rapidly fills up your trash bin.

One surprisingly simple trick, however, significantly minimizes the ensuing cleanup nightmare and curbs otherwise needless waste, also saving you some bucks along the way. Silicone mats recommended by Remy Park, a vegan recipe developer with a cookbook titled Sesame, Soy, Spice under her belt, are the game-changing baking accessory you need in your kitchen. You can use these versatile mats for baking, roasting, freezing and more – all for under $7 each.

These silicone baking mats prove remarkably useful for those who enjoy the convenience of sheet pan meals. Sized at 16.5 by 11.6 inches, these mats are designed to cover half sheet pans perfectly. Each pack includes two sheets that are sturdy enough to endure countless uses and dishwasher cycles. Park emphasizes their cost-effectiveness, stating the mats can be repeatedly used and effectively help reduce kitchen waste.

Apart from being surprisingly durable, these mats are flexible and capable of withstanding temperatures up to 480°F, as per the manufacturer’s specifications. This means they can be used for anything from high-temperature baking of pizzas and broiling vegetables to freezing cookie dough or crafting homemade ice cream cakes.

For those considering disposable parchment sheets to ease cleanup, think again. Cleaning these mats is surprisingly straightforward. Citing Park, the mats feature a strong nonstick capacity that lets cookies peel off effortlessly, saving your baked goods from the dread of overcooking.

After you've put these mats to work, cleaning them is a quick rinse away, or simply place them on your dishwasher's top rack. Stickier dishes like fruit leather are made easy to manage with these mats, Park points out. Furthermore, these mats – available in gray, white, and yellow among other colors – will certainly add a touch of inspiration to your kitchen.

Currently available in four colors at up to half the price, it's high time you snapped up these handy kitchen additions before embarking on your next baking endeavor.