This Common Kitchen Ingredient Will Save Your Baking Sheets From Rust

Metal baking sheets are useful and sturdy, but they can still wear out over time. A common problem is rust, which may occur due to excess moisture or exposure to air. Tomatoes, meat, fish, and other foods with high acidity levels promote rust formation, too, as they can erode and weaken the metal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that rust may pose dangers to human health and, therefore, shouldn't be ingested. However, this doesn't mean you should get rid of your old baking sheets.

For starters, try to remove the rust with a potato and other pantry staples like baking soda, white vinegar, or salt. Potatoes are rich in oxalic acid, a compound that helps dissolve rust, explains the Museum of Science. Similarly, white vinegar contains acetic acid, a naturally occurring substance that fights rust. Salt and baking soda, on the other hand, are natural abrasives and can make it easier to remove stubborn rust stains from metal surfaces. These pantry staples are safer and gentler than commercial products, so you can use them anytime you want to revive your rusted baking sheets.

Rust removal doesn't have to be challenging. First, choose a potato that's large enough to comfortably hold in your hand. Slice it in half and sprinkle a pinch of salt or baking soda on the cut side. Alternatively, add salt and baking soda directly to the rusted areas on your baking sheets. Next, scrub those areas with the cut side of the potato until the rust is gone, and then rinse with soap and water. This trick will work for bathroom rust, too.

If you're dealing with stubborn stains, make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply it to the rusted areas and leave it on for a couple of minutes. After that, scrub them with a potato cut in half. Another option is to submerge your baking sheets in a sink filled with distilled white vinegar overnight. The next day, use a potato to scrape the rust. But if the stains are mild, let the vinegar act for just 10-15 minutes.

Removing those last few bits of rust with a potato takes more work than using a scouring pad, but it's safer overall. Scouring pads are harsh and could ruin your baking sheet. The same goes for wire brushes. Plus, the oxalic acid in potatoes does a pretty good job at dissolving rust. That's why you'll find this substance in commercial rust removers but in a more concentrated form.