The Most Important Step When Cleaning Burnt Messes From A Baking Sheet

A baking sheet, also known as a cookie sheet, is one of the most important cooking pans in the kitchen. Used for cookies, roasted vegetables, and sheet pan dinners, these versatile pans are essential for most home cooks. Because cookie sheets are utilized so frequently, they can become stained and oily and take on a blackish hue over time. Tough messes, grease, and baked-on food can be really hard to remove from these flat pans.

If you've tried everything to eliminate the grime from your baking sheet to no avail, you're probably considering just getting rid of it. But, there's no need to do that. Your cookie sheet may look pretty bad now. But, all it needs is a little love. Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten has an easy way of getting sheet pans — which are her most used cooking tool, looking great again. Ina Garten's simple cleaning process includes an important step that you won't want to skip — and that's to let the cookie sheet sit overnight in very hot, soapy water.

First, fill the cookie sheet with hot water — as hot as possible. Then, take some dish soap and drizzle a few drops in the pan. Mix the dish soap and water until you have a soapy mixture. Let the baking pan soak overnight. The next day, scrub the pan with a Brillo pad or steel wool sponge. You should only need to scrub for a few minutes. Tough stains and old grease should come right off.

If you have a non-stick cookie sheet, you will want to skip the Brillo pad as it's too abrasive and can damage the coating. Instead, wipe down the sheet pan with a soft kitchen sponge. Don't forget to wash the underside of the cookie sheet, as well. This should be pretty easy to get clean with a basic scrubbing. Finally, rinse the pan with water until all of the soap is gone. You can then dry the cookie sheet and put it away in your kitchen cabinet.

Perhaps you're having friends over for dinner and you don't have overnight to soak your cookie sheet. You can get it sparkling again in 30 minutes. This method works with uncoated cookie sheets only. Don't use this cleaning technique for non-stick pans. It will damage the pan. To get started, grab your supplies. You'll need a pair of latex or rubber kitchen gloves, a bottle of Bar Keepers Friend, a scouring pad, and a kitchen towel.

Sprinkle the cleaner all over your cookie sheet. Add a few drops of warm water to the pan. Mix the cleaner and water with your hand. It will form a thick paste. Allow the pan to sit for half an hour with the paste on it. Once the time is up, scrub the pan with a scouring pad. You should be able to lift most of the stains. Wash the pan with warm soap and water, and then rinse thoroughly. Finally, dry your baking sheet with a kitchen towel.