I thought it was just a fact of life that baking pans (or cookie sheets) eventually get covered in baked on black stuff, and there was basically nothing you could do about it (even with scrubbing with soap and water).
We even got rid of 2 baking pans before we moved because they were so bad that I didn't think they were worth packing up and moving.
However, this recipe works wonders on getting rid of the gunk with very little scrubbing.
Cautions: Don't use aluminum foil on a non-stick pan and also it can scratch an aluminum pan. If you're unsure, test it out on a small area or try something more conventional to get your baking sheets clean. If all else fails, you can buy new cookie sheets.
Before:
After:
My pan is only a couple of years old and not super bad. You can see that there's still a bit of stuff left on the edges, but it's much better than before!
How to Clean a Baking Pan
Materials
- Dirty Baking Pan (or Cookie Sheet)
- ⅛ cup Hydrogen Peroxide
- ¼ cup Baking Soda
- Aluminum Foil Square
Instructions
- Mix the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda together into a paste and spread on the bottom of your pan. I couldn't get it to spread evenly, so I focused on the spots around the edges that were the worst.
- Leave the paste sitting on your pan for 30 minutes.
- Once your timer goes off, grab the square of aluminum foil, scrunch it up, and use it to scrub the dirty spots on the pan with the cleaning paste. You'll see the paste getting dirty as the gunk comes off.
- When you're finished, toss the cleaning paste in the trash and wash your pan with soap and water.
- You can repeat the process if you think it needs a bit more work.
How to Clean a Burnt PotHow to Clean a Ceramic Stove TopHow to Clean the Fridge Water Dispenser Tray
Check out additional Easy DIY Cleaning tips or follow my Cleaning board on Pinterest!
AcuDiva says
Adding a little fresh lemon juice helps cut grease and generally lessens the amount of scrubbing 🙂
Princess says
Thanks for the super helpful tip! I'm about to go try it out right away. I imagine that if we leave the paste on for longer, perhaps overnight, then it might take off more gunk...?
Jess says
Wouldnt this ruin your pan of its non stick? I mean the whole scrubbing with foil...
Corrie C says
Yes, don't use this on a non-stick pan. Only use it on a stainless steel pan.
Ashley says
I tried the foil scrubber idea for my coffee maker (I had seen it on another pin). It completely ruined my coffee maker. It took the enamel right off. Do not do this!!!!
Corrie C says
I definitely wouldn't try it on a coffee maker, especially if it's non stick or aluminum. I have only tried it on non-stick stainless steel baking sheets.
Amanda says
Can use fine grain steel wool pads to lessen the impact of scratching non-stick pans 🙂
k Judd says
I find cleaning the gunk off each time it happens with and SOS pad keeps pans looking like new.
Peggy says
I have had my best luck removing sticky residue from my nonstick bake pans by using a product called Goo Gone ,then just washing with dish liquid and hot water ,rinsing and drying. Very easy ,non abrasive and effective! No build up takes place and those pans do still appear to be be brand new!
Sidney says
You can also spray them with a heavy coat of oven cleaner, put them in a black plastic trash bag, and leave them outside for a few hours in a hot summer day. Works like a charm.
Annah says
Thanks for this tip. will try it soonest!!
Eugene Coderre says
It's a simple fix to a difficult problem.
I take great care of my pots and pans and do my best to choose highest quality items for the least expense.
I prefer a 30 min. wait using a product much less toxic than conventional, aggressive oven cleaner type chemicals.
I applaud this post.
I will definately use this ckeaning recipe.
I wipl also begin following your posts.
Thank you.