As you could probably expect, we do a fair bit of baking over here at Doughp. And that means our baking sheets could use a little love. If you’re in the same boat, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re dealing with baked-on gunk or that set-in oil that you just can’t seem to scrub off, you might be ready for a fresh start. Let’s talk about how to get you there.
Before you start scrubbing: a note on seasoning
While you might like the look of a sparkly silver pan, you don’t necessarily need to scour yours. As long as you’re getting off any food bits, the oil that bakes onto the surface of your pan can actually be helpful. It’s pretty much the same thing as the seasoning on a cast iron pan. It helps with nonstick, and the way it darkens your pan can help it absorb heat better, too.
That said, you don’t necessarily want to show up to your next potluck or cookie swap with a baking sheet that looks grimy. So you can have at least one sparkling option on hand, let’s explore getting a well-used baking sheet spiffed up.
Your at-home cleaning recipe
Fortunately, you don’t need to turn to harsh cleaners to remove that patina from your pan. Experts have tried a lot of different options and landed on one that uses items you probably already have on hand: baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Here’s your step-by-step guide:
- Sprinkle the entire baking sheet with a heavy dose of baking soda.
- Put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, then spray down the baking soda enough that it looks wet.
- Let the baking sheet sit for at least a couple of hours — overnight is ideal.
- Use a scraping tool (like a plastic spatula) to shovel all of the baking soda into a pile. Dump it in the trash.
- Wash the pan with grease-fighting dish soap and warm water. You might need to use a little elbow grease and a sponge with a scouring pad, but the majority of the baked-on stains should come up easily. Dumping a little extra baking soda onto any stubborn spots can give you the extra scrubbing power you need.
Once you’re done, you should have a sparkling baking sheet just begging to be used for cookies! And you know we’ve got you covered with plenty of delicious options.
