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Here's how to clean your sheet pans so they look as good as new
Whether you're hooked on sheet-pan dinners, bake cookies on weekends or sizzle bacon in the oven while the eggs are on the stove, your well-utilized baking sheets are probably in need of some serious care. There's no way around it: Use a sheet pan, stain a sheet pan.
Luckily, with the right cleansers (and a little time), you can make those dependable pans look brand new. Ready to put in the work? Below we share the six best hacks for cleaning baking sheets. The first three methods use only natural cleansers. For Methods 4, 5 and 6, we bring in the big guns.
First off, no matter how much you love your baking sheets, any that are warped or bent can be replaced without a huge investment: You can grab a pack of three nonstick baking sheets for about $30 on Amazon. But if you know your sheet pans have life left in them and you're simply stymied about the best way to revive them, you've come to the right place. These methods take a little patience, but minimal effort and no hard scrubbing. Get your rubber gloves, and let's go.
How to clean sheet pans using only natural ingredients:
Method #1: Baking soda and water
Baking soda is gentle enough to use on all types of pans, including nonstick pans. Grab the baking soda that's been sitting in the back of your fridge and put it to work!
Pour boiling water into your stained sheet pan, then immediately sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda over top. Once the mixture stops bubbling, let it sit in the pan for at least an hour — but really, the longer the better. When you're ready, use a sponge or dish cloth to wipe the pan clean — you'll be amazed by what comes off — then wash normally with dish soap.
After learning about the power of baking soda, you may want to stock up and use it to remove other stains around your home. Grab this nearly 3-pound bag on Amazon for cleaning and, of course, baking.
Method #2: Baking soda and vinegar
Mixing baking soda with vinegar is so sixth-grade science class, right? Here, instead of making a volcano erupt, you're unleashing the power of that combo onto your sheet pans.
Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the sheet pan, focusing on the really dirty, stained areas, then pour vinegar onto the sheet pan. The solution will bubble. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then wipe away stuck-on food like it's nothing. Wash normally with regular dish soap.
Tip: If your pan needs a little extra love, you can fill your sink with boiling water, then add equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Let everything soak for about an hour, then wipe it clean. Of course, with this method, the sink gets a cleaning as well!
Order a big jug of white vinegar for cleaning from Amazon — then you won't have to lug it home from the supermarket.
Method #3: Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
Start at the medicine cabinet for this method, and grab the hydrogen peroxide. According to The Spruce, the combo of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can clean lots of things in your home, but let's start with those stained sheet pans.
Sprinkle baking soda generously over the baking sheet, focusing on areas that are especially stained or dirty. Use a spray bottle to spritz hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda to dampen it till it has a paste-like texture. Let the mixture sit overnight or for at least eight hours. Then wipe the baking sheet clean (you can use a scraper to lift off any stuck bits). Wash normally with regular dish soap.
Did you know you can use hydrogen peroxide to clean your whole house, if you dilute it? You can! "Even though this is topical, I mix it in a 1:1 ratio with water and spray down sinks, bathrooms, dishwasher, and washing machine. Works great at getting rid of grime," shared one clever Amazon reviewer.
How to clean sheet pans with store-bought solvents:
Method #4: Bar Keeper's Friend
Bar Keeper's Friend is a powerful cleaning agent you can use to clean your sheet pans. Combine it with a wire scouring pad and some elbow grease, and you'll find yourself looking into a shiny, pretty pan.
There's not much to explain here. Just sprinkle Bar Keeper's Friend generously over your baking sheet, scrub with a wet scouring pad or sponge, using hot water. Rinse, then wash normally with hot water and dish soap. For stubborn stains, you can let the pan sit with Bar Keeper's Friend (dampened with water) for a bit before you scrub.
According to the product's packaging, it "works great on stainless steel sinks." So, why wouldn't it do the same for stainless steel pans? It does. One happy Amazon customer shared: "The pan was pretty bad with burnt on food. I poured the product on the damp pan, quickly scrubbed it into a paste, let it sit while I walked the dog, then returned to gently scrub it clean. Obviously, it’s not instantaneous, but it works."
Method # 5: Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven and Grill Cleaner
People on TikTok love to share cleaning hacks. For sheet pans, one product that keeps coming up is Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven and Grill Cleaner. While it gets a bad rap for its fumes, there is a fume-free aerosol version you can use. If you have the original stuff, open a window and consider wearing a mask. (Take a look at this TikToker's results!)
Folks say to spray Easy-Off onto the sheet pan, covering it completely. Let it sit for at least eight hours or overnight. Use a sponge or dish cloth to wipe it clean, then rinse with water and vinegar or wash with your standard dish soap.
Something to keep in mind, however, is that Easy-Off the brand doesn’t exactly recommend cleaning stainless steel cookware (like baking sheets) with its product. This is because many stainless steel cookware items are also made with aluminum, which Easy-Off could potentially pit and discolor. So, make sure you know if your pan is aluminum or stainless steel before using.
Amazon reviewers say the original Easy Off spray works best, but admit that the fumes are intense. Try the fume-free version if you prefer, but keep in mind that it's not as strong and may require a couple of rounds.
Method # 6: The Pink Stuff
Another TikTok-favorite cleaner is The Pink Stuff - The Miracle Cleaning Paste. Users love posting videos that show everything this paste can clean in their home, from grout and baseboards to yes, sheet pans.
You just put a little bit of the paste on a damp sponge or cloth and wipe it onto your sheet pan. Scrub in a circular motion, then rinse and wash the pan with your regular dish soap.
More than 143,000 Amazon shoppers give The Pink Stuff five out of five stars. "Almost magic," wrote one impressed Amazon reviewer. "Smells great, no chemical smell at all. Cleaned a sheet pan that was black to almost new."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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