The Best Ways to Use Butcher Paper Sheets in Restaurants and Delis

The Best Ways to Use Butcher Paper Sheets in Restaurants and Delis

It’s not uncommon for butcher paper to be found in many food service establishments across the globe. It’s simply becomes one of those standard supplies every restaurant or deli owner needs to have on hand for a variety of uses.

Some restaurants and delis order custom-sized butcher paper as sheets for easy and quick use. So, what are the best ways to use your pre-cut butcher paper sheets? Is it possible you’re not using them to their full potential in your deli or restaurant?

To wrap meat

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Butcher paper was invented - as the name implies - to wrap newly butchered meat. And, it still works flawlessly for that purpose.

The combination of the thick, durable weight paper and solid moisture holdout makes butcher paper the perfect inexpensive wrap for fresh beef, pork, poultry, or fish that allow for easy transportation and handling without leaving a mess. The fact that you can write on the package for easy labeling is a convenient added bonus.

It goes without saying, if you’re cutting and serving fresh meat for carryout, butcher paper is a natural fit.

To wrap sandwiches, burgers, and more

But it doesn’t just have to be fresh cut meat that’s a good fit for butcher paper wrapping.

In fact, all of the same qualities that make butcher paper perfect for wrapping fresh meat also make it the perfect wrap for hot or cold sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, gyros, bagels, pizza slices, or just about any other to-go food item that could potentially make a mess while it’s traveling from your business to its final destination.

Again, the ability to label each wrapped item can make it easier for those tasked with picking up a large lunch order for the office or friends, and also makes butcher paper a prime choice for busy and hectic food trucks where to-go orders can easily get confused if there’s no simple way to keep them straight.

To wrap up leftovers

For restaurants where your customers come in and sit down, a butcher paper wrap could make a convenient wrap for leftovers they want to bring home with them. While it may not be a fit for every dish on the menu, when it is appropriate, it’s likely quicker and less expensive than other packaging options you may normally rely on.

As a unique, inexpensive table covering

Many sit-down restaurants have come to realize the expense and hassle of traditional linen tablecloths, and have instead opted for the crisp, clean, and classy look of white butcher paper table sheets as a far less expensive and more practical alternative.

These paper table covers are affordable, don’t require cleaning (they’re disposable after each meal), and they’re recyclable, lowering the impact of the energy usage and detergent waste created by laundering restaurant linens.

As an added bonus, paper table coverings can be ordered with custom printing to include a marketing or branding element to each table’s decor.

As a tray liner or placemat

Depending on how your restaurant is decorated, pre-cut sheets of butcher paper can serve as the perfect presentation piece as a placemat or tray liner.

This has become a huge trend in the barbecue world where pink butcher paper (also known as peach paper) has become almost synonymous with juicy Texas BBQ. In many cases, true BBQ restaurants don’t even use plates anymore. They simply serve up delicious helpings of their savory specials right on the butcher paper tray liner for customers to bring to their seats and enjoy.

Without a doubt, butcher paper has proved its worth as a staple supply in restaurant kitchens, delis, and butcher shops around the world. Maybe you’ve even come up with some of your own creative and practical uses for it in your food service establishment. If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments! To find out how we can supply custom butcher paper sheets for your business, contact us today.


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