Custom Butcher Paper
Barbecue changed what this product is for. It used to be the sheet a butcher wrapped a joint in. Now it wraps briskets through a twelve hour cook and gets photographed throughout. We supply a lot of butcher paper at ZEE Packaging and the barbecue side is where most demand sits.
Why Pitmasters Reach For It
Butcher paper does something foil simply cannot.
- It breathes, so bark stays firm rather than steaming soft
- Moisture escapes slowly instead of being trapped against the meat
- The cook keeps moving rather than stalling out
- Rendered fat is absorbed rather than pooling
- Unwaxed pink butcher paper is what most competition cooks use
Most people moving from foil to butcher paper notice the bark difference on their first brisket.
Not Every Grade Behaves The Same
- Unwaxed pink, sometimes called peach, for smoking
- White uncoated butcher paper for wrapping fresh cuts
- Steak paper with a light coating for display cases
- Freezer grade where meat goes into cold storage
- Waxed butcher paper, which must never go near a smoker
- FDA compliant food grade pulp across everything we run
- Roll format the standard butcher paper we supply
- Pre cut sheets considerably faster at a busy counter
- Dispenser box rolls with a cutting edge built in
- Printed butcher paper a logo repeat across the sheet
- Bulk case packs for high volume kitchens
Sizes We Run Regular
Every roll of butcher paper is cut to your use, though these run often:
- 18" x 175' for a standard smoker roll
- 24" x 175' for packer briskets and larger cuts
- 30" x 1000' for high volume operations
- 12" x 200' for counter wrapping
- 15" x 18" pre cut sheets for service
Paper And Coating
- 40lb basis weight as the everyday standard
- 50lb where you want more strength and absorbency
- Unwaxed throughout for anything going in a smoker
- Natural kraft or bleached white depending on the look
- No poly lining on smoking grades, ever
Wax is the thing to watch. Waxed butcher paper melts in a smoker, so we confirm the grade before any barbecue order leaves us.
Choices That Cut Waste
- Unbleached kraft pulp, which skips a whitening stage
- FSC certified paper, certificate available on request
- Soy based ink wherever printing is applied
- Compostable, since there is no plastic coating involved
- Butcher paper recycles cleanly where it is not grease soiled
How An Order Runs With Us
- 100 unit minimum, so a single restaurant can order properly
- Free proof before any printed butcher paper runs
- Free artwork setup by our own designer
- Physical sample on request to test on a real cook
- Urgent turnaround at 5 to 8 business days
- Free shipping worldwide with nothing hidden
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is butcher paper?
Rough estimate is $0.04 to $0.11 per square foot plain, $0.07 to $0.18 printed and $0.02 to $0.06 per pre cut sheet at moderate quantity. Volume moves it. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
Foil or butcher paper for brisket?
Butcher paper, if you care about bark. Foil traps steam and softens it, whereas paper breathes and keeps the crust intact.
Why is butcher paper pink?
That is the natural kraft color of unbleached pulp. No dye is added, and the shade varies slightly between batches.
Is waxed grade safe in a smoker?
No, and we would say that plainly. Wax melts onto the meat, so smoking grades are always unwaxed.
Can butcher paper be printed?
Yes, usually a one or two color logo repeat. It suits serving and tray lining rather than the smoker itself.
Which weight should we order?
40lb covers most cooking and counter use. 50lb butcher paper suits heavier cuts and holds up better through a long wrap.
Do you supply pre cut sheets?
We do, cut to any size. Sheets save real time at a counter compared with tearing butcher paper off a roll.
