We all love baking, especially when we are stuck indoors, but when it comes to baking the one thing that gives us stress is the cleanliness of our pots and pans being upheld. When you buy a brand new non-stick pan for baking some delicious cookies, the last thing you want to see is some tough scraps that won’t come off. However, you don’t need to worry because we’ve got all the details on how to get even the toughest dirt off your non-stick cookie sheets.
All you need is:
- Regular liquid soap
- A sponge with a scourer side
- Nylon bristle scrubber
- Cream of tartar
- Baking soda
Table of Contents
How to Clean Non-Stick Cookie Sheets?
Important Precaution: Avoid Steel Wool
The number one rule when it comes to cleaning non-stick cookie sheets is DON’T USE STEEL WOOL! While for many of us steel wool is the go-to for removing the toughest residue from our cooking utensils, using this for non-stick utensils is a disaster. Steel wool penetrates past the top layer of non-stick, removing the important Teflon used to make these utensils non-stick. Traces of Teflon left loose on the surface of non-stick sheets can get into food and are known to be hazardous to your health.
Step 1: Prepare Your Tools
A simple combination of soap and a sponge or nylon scrubber is best for cleaning non-stick cookie sheets. The scrubber will help with tougher residue while the sponge is good for making sure everyday cleaning can be done without a chance of the Teflon being removed. Use the hottest water available and any excess residue shouldn’t be too hard to get rid of.
Step 2: Lightly Scrub Your Sheets
Exercise caution when cleaning to make sure you aren’t applying too much pressure as this could bend the sheet or ruin the Teflon.
Cleaning Baked-On Grease Off Cookie Sheets
Option 1: Use The Cleaning Setting on Your Oven
By the same avenue baked-on grease first makes its way onto your baking sheets, it can be removed. Many ovens have a self-cleaning setting on them which sets the oven to around 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 1: Prepare Your Sheets
Before you put your sheets in the oven, it’s a great idea to spray some non-stick spray on top of the sheets as well. This will act as a WD40 for the grease, penetrating and melting the grease from the inside.
Step 2: Place Your Sheets in The Oven
Once the oven reaches 900 degrees Fahrenheit, leave your sheets inside for as long as it takes for the grease to turn to ash, usually around 30 minutes. If your oven doesn’t have this setting, you can of course simply turn your oven up to around this temperature or similarly hot temperature for the same amount of time.
Step 3: Scrape The Ash Off
Be careful when removing the tray, using adequate safety equipment then scrape the ash off the tray using a sponge/scourer.
Option 2: Soak Your Sheets in Cream of Tartar
If your oven can’t reach a temperature as high as 900 degrees, there are still plenty of options for removing tough baked-on grease. A simple and easy fix that has been a staple of American households for decades is the use of cream of tartar (not the delicious seafood sauce).
Step 1: Spread Your Cream of Tartar
Filling your sheets with hot water and sprinkling some cream of tartar over the top, allowing adequate time for the mixture to dissolve.
Step 2: Get Scrubbing
Once this has dissolved, use your sponge and scrubber to take off a layer of grease. Simply repeat this process however many times are required to make your sheets look new again.
How to Get Brown Stains Off Cookie Sheets
The toughest residue to remove from your cookie sheets is the brown stains that seem to appear out of nowhere. If you find yourself stuck with some stains on your cookie sheets which seem to get darker every time you cook, you are going to have to utilise a bit more than your oven and/or elbow grease.
Option 1: Soak your sheets
Soaking trays is a great start for getting at least a bit of the layer of stains removed or easy to reduce.
Step 1: Mix Together Your Cleaning Solution
A mixture of hot water with baking soda and white vinegar mixed in in equal parts will loosen up tough stains. Soak for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Scrub Without Disturbing The Teflon
After soaking in this mixture, once again refrain from using steel wool, use a tougher scourer or nylon-bristled brush to agitate, and remove tough stains.
Option 2: Baking Soda Paste
Using baking soda for removing tough stains is adaptable for other methods, you can mix up a paste of baking soda to spread over your sheet and leave overnight.
Step 1: Mix Up Your Paste
Usually, you will only need to add a light sprinkle of slightly more than a teaspoon of water to every tablespoon of baking soda, but the texture of your paste should be similar to any store-bought tomato paste, thick but very pliable.
Step 2: Spread on Sheets and Put Away
Spread a thick layer of your paste across all of the sheets, placing them in an area out of direct sunlight.
Step 3: Remove Your Paste and Brush Clean
Once you have left your sheets overnight to absorb the magic powers of your baking soda paste, wash the paste away with hot water and start scrubbing with your tools.
Also read:[Must Know] How To Use A Hot Plate?
Preventing Bad Stains and Grease Buildups
The best way to prevent any of these problems from affecting your non-stick cookie sheets is to be aware of your cooking. Regularly clean every corner of your sheets with soap and a sponge, use reusable baking paper or foil, and don’t let your sheets get cold when there is already grease and food residue on them. The same attention you pay to your plates and cups, in terms of keeping them clean, should be devoted to your cookie sheets to maximize their lifetime of use.