Regular Plastic¹

• "Multi-purpose" plastic rolled thinly into a sheet.
• Multi-purpose may not necessarily include microwave use: read label to verify.
• Left: microwave wrap isn't as soft as regular wrap (right): it doesn't form into a ball as does regular plastic wrap.
  

Saran resins
and films²

• Specially made plastic wraps and films rolled into a sheet that can be used in the microwave, as well as for storage: room temperature, refrigerator and freezer.
• Thicker (not as "soft") than multi-purpose, because of different chemical structure.
• Can withstand most food-generated heat (foods being micro waved); these wraps don't melt as easily as the regular plastic wraps, which makes them more suitable for use in the microwave oven.
• Should be labelled: "For microwave use".
• Avoid the wrap from making contact with the foods, especially fatty foods; keep wrap 1-inch away from foods.
  

• Cover foods at room temperature¹⁺², refrigerator¹⁺² and freezer²
  
• Cover cooked foods in the microwave oven²
  

• Clings onto almost any surface: glass and ceramic, providing an excellent seal and barrier against air and moisture.
• Can be used in the freezer², provided the food has been wrapped securely; otherwise, use a freezer bag, which is thicker and prevents freezer burn.
  

• Can't withstand direct heat (burner or element); they melt.
• Hard to grip on metal, rubber, plastic, as well as wet surfaces.
• Hard to unroll from package, even if kept in the freezer.¹⁺²
  

• The better brands ("Heavy Duty) are a little more expensive than others, because they're thicker and durable.
• Better brands don't tear as easily and can securely conform around pan edges to make better seals without moving out of place.
• Less expensive brands (thinner ones), on the other hand, tear and pierce easily, become brittle and move out of place easily.
• Less expensive brands conform around intricate objects; thicker brands, though, are more difficult to press into shape, as around the left fork, which is wrapped with heavy duty foil; you can't see the details of the fork as with the right fork, which is wrapped with thinner foil (typical) and pressed, showing more detail of the fork.
  

• To shield, or tent foods, from direct heat: e.g. make-shift cover for pans.
• The shiny side reflects heat away from foods.
• The dull side absorbs heat to "softly" penetrate and cook food, without browning or burning the food.
• Can also be used in the microwave oven to shield food: read your manufacturer's microwave oven guide on how to use foil properly.
  

• If folded and sealed well, it can create an envelop for oven-roasting foods (vegetables, meat, fish, etc.) and other short-term cooking foods.
• Line baking rack to catch casserole spills.
  

• There's a concern, for "Some people", over aluminum depositing on food when the foil touches the food: Alzheimer's.
• When lining a baking rack to catch spills, during high temperature baking or on the B.B.Q. if grease spills and accumulates on the paper, the paper can burn and catch on fire.
• Can't be used in the freezer, because it can stick onto foods; frustrating to remove torn bits of foil paper off frozen foods. Doesn't provide a well-sealed barrier to prevent freezer burn: use freezer bags instead.
  

• Inexpensive: one side of the paper is coated with wax.
• Comparison: parchment paper (left) isn't as transparent as wax paper (right).
  

• Regularly or moderately priced: both sides of the paper are coated with wax; almost double the price of typical wax paper .
  

• Preventing sticking, by lining baking pans: cakes, cookies, meat products.
• Preventing splattering: cooking foods in the microwave: e.g. bacon, burgers, etc.
• Making chocolate decorations: e.g. spirals or trellises, see Basket Cake.
• Making cones for piping decorations: e.g. chocolate streams, etc.; freezer bags can also be used.
  

• Depending on the food baked, sometimes the food may stick onto the paper¹⁺²: not desirable.
• Can be used in the freezer to separate foods: hamburger patties, chicken breasts, etc.
  

• Hard to keep folded: e.g. cake pans usually need to be lightly greased with shortening to provide good adhesion of paper onto pan; otherwise, the paper moves out of place.
• Cannot be used under the broiler, because it'll melt, burn and catch on fire.
• Trying to remove stuck on wax paper from food is frustrating; the paper breaks and tears, leaving traces of it on the food.
  

• A little pricey, compared to wax paper; there's little chance of foods sticking onto it.
• Some of the inexpensive ones, which are almost see-through, makes them less of a bargain and very frustrating to use, because they don't do what they're supposed to do: keep foods from sticking.
  

• Depending on its use: e.g. make chocolate decorations; wax paper will do the same job, but for less money.
• Most of the times, depending on its previous usage, it can be reused, on the same side, and then on the other side.
• If folded and sealed well, it can create a tightly sealed makeshift-roasting pan, or a pocket, great for oven-steaming fish, as well as other short-term cooking foods (vegetables).
• Prevent splattering of certain types of foods in the microwave: e.g. bacon, burgers, etc.
• Great for placing chocolate-coated items and candies to dry.
• Preventing sticking by lining pans: cakes, cookies, bread crumb coated foods (chicken pieces), etc.
• Making chocolate decorations: e.g. spirals, swirls or fences.
• Making cones for piping decorations: e.g. "chocolate streams'; freezer bags can also be used.
• Can be used in the freezer to separate foods: hamburger patties, chicken breasts, etc.; wax paper can also be used; it does the same job for less money.
  

• 99% of the times, foods won't stick onto it.
  

• Hard to keep folded: e.g. cake pans usually need to be lightly greased with shortening to provided good adhesion of the paper onto pan; otherwise, the paper moves out of place.
• Most brands can withstand an oven temperature up to 450'F.
• Should not be used under the broiler, because it browns, burns (catches on fire) and crumbles.
  

room temperature

refrigerator

freezer

separating and freezing food items
(e.g. hamburger patties)