Matfer Exopat 11-5/8-by-16-3/8-Inch Nonstick Baking Mat

I bought one each of these brands back in 2005. I prefer the Exopat only because I like the color better. It's possible that product quality has changed in the last two years, but I haven't experienced any of the problems others have noted with either sheet. The Silpat has some round, cookie sized stains on it, but I don't really recall how that happened. Perhaps if I had used the Exopat for that particular batch, it would have the stains. Both mats have performed flawlessly for hundreds of uses.

Some have complained that they can't get the oil residue off the mats. That's not oil residue--that's just the nature of the material. They have an oily feel even when spotlessly clean.

Some have complained about smoke. I've never seen that problem.

Some people say the Silpat feels thicker. I'll agree that it does seem a little thicker. It makes no difference with respect to performance, but if a thicker feel means something to you, then go for it.

The complaints about size are correct for both products. These are made for true 1/2 size baking sheets, which you won't usually find at Walmart or places like that. You need to get some 1/2 size sheets to use these. (I bought mine at Sams.)

In brief, there is no difference in performance between these two brands. Both are amazing and exellent products IMHO. If color or heft are important to you, then pick accordingly. Otherwise, go with price.

Have used the Exopat since Christmas 2006. It does work well, helps baked goods (generally cookies, though we have made frozen pizzas and other things, too) cook evenly and slide off evenly. Actually, that's it's best part: even burned cookies slide right off. The problem is cleaning. Any oils in your baked goods will become semi-permanent on the sheets. It is indeed very hard to clean, though I don't see any degradation in performance even when it is dirty. It may be the California dustbuster/wrought iron skillet phenomenon: the dirtier it gets, the better it works. Other than the re-usable feature, I can't see a huge benefit to these pads over parchment/wax. And when it looks so filthy you don't want to eat off of it, that feature is less significant.

I was a little leery of these from the bad reviews of them smoking and burning but decided to give them a try anyway when I found them on special. I've now used them and wish I had more in different sizes. I've used them for cookies and they do help immensely. The cookies brown more evenly and come off so easily! I highly recommend them.

This is the first time I have used a nonstick baking mat. It seems to perform as promised, but I haven't used it enough yet to see if it works better than the good non-stick baking pan I have.

I love this product! Your cookies just slide right off! It seems to help prevent from burning the bottom of the cookies aswell. I bought 2.