how to clean cookie sheets

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Discover the best and easiest ways to rid sheet pans of baked-on gunk. Follow these steps to make them look brand new.

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When it comes to baking, sheet pans are often an essential part of the process. Whether you're whipping up a sheet pan supper for the family or carefully crafting an apple-cranberry slab pie, a chef's cookie sheet is likely to see plenty of wear and tear. Before you throw away a favorite pan because of baked-on cooking grime, try one of these easy ways to clean baking sheets, rimmed or unrimmed. (Or, you can try Taste of Home's nonstick baking sheets to keep the grime away in the first place!)

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Baking soda
• A coarse sponge or rag

Step 1: Add the cleaners

Sprinkle some baking soda on the baking pan or sheet. Follow that up with hydrogen peroxide. Top it off with another sprinkling of baking soda. The cleaner needs time to work, so we suggest letting it sit for at least 2 hours. Because the chemicals could be too harsh for some pans' material or coating, do a test run before cleaning the entire cookie sheet, especially if it is made of a specialized material or has a coating of any kind.

(This is just one of the clever ways to clean with baking soda.)

Step 2: Wipe off the baking sheet

Use a sponge or rag to wipe away the homemade cleaner. No hard scrubbing is usually required, but if stains remain, you could do a second application, use a non-scratch scrubber—or both. All you need is a little patience!

(How dirty is that sponge you used? Here's how to clean a sponge.)

Step 3: Keep it clean

Now that your baking sheet and pans are back to looking brand new, you'll want to keep them that way. Do as our Test Kitchen does and place a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil on the pan before you add any food. That's it! The baking sheets will stay gunk free.

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with Baking Soda and Foil

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• Baking soda
• Aluminum foil

Step 1: Rinse the dirty sheet pan

You want the surface of your baking sheet to be wet when you sprinkle on the baking soda next.

Step 2: Make a paste

Add enough water to add a paste (you don't want it to be too runny!), depending on how much baking soda you sprinkle on the pan.

Step 3: Scrub with aluminum foil

Crumple your aluminum foil into the size of a golf ball. Use it to scrub at the burnt debris on the baking sheet. The baking soda paste combined with the scrubbing should take the debris right off! Once you're satisfied with the results, rinse off the paste and loosened food scraps with soapy water and you're set to go.

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Steel wool or a nylon pad

Step 1: Prepare the soaking mixture

Fill your sink with hot water, and add baking soda and white vinegar. You'll want to use equal parts baking soda and white vinegar (about a 1/2 cup of each) depending on how much you fill up your sink. Your water will bubble up!

Step 2: Let the pan soak

Submerge your pan in the mixture, and let it soak. Let the baking sheet soak in the mixture for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much grime you've got on the sheet pan.

Step 3: Scrub your pan

Pull the baking sheet out of your sink and scrub at the grime with steel wool or a nylon pad. When you're done scrubbing, wash the sheet with soap and water to get rid of the vinegar smell.

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with Oven Cleaner

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• Easy-Off Oven Cleaner
• Steel wool

Step 1: Spray the sheet pan

Spray your baking sheet evenly with Easy-Off. However, this method uses the harshest chemicals to clean your sheet pan, so you'll likely want to test it on a corner of your pan before you spray the entire sheet.

Step 2: Let it sit

After you've sprayed your pan, stash it the garage, outside or even in your oven to keep the fumes from spreading in your home. Then let the Easy-Off work its magic for about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Scrub away the gunk

Use the steel wool to scrub at the toughest stains. Make sure to rinse with soapy water when you're done!

Editor's Tip: Some home cooks claim that this method works best for stainless steel sheet pans compared to aluminum. Why? Because stainless steel is more durable than aluminum, and the steel wool combined with the chemicals in Easy-Off can potentially cause pitting on your baking sheet, and potentially, scratches—so you'll want to play it safe rather than be sorry with an aluminum pan.

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with Cream of Tartar and Vinegar

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• Cream of tartar
• White vinegar
• A coarse sponge or rag

Step 1: Make a paste

Combine cream of tartar with white vinegar to make a paste. Use enough of each of the cream of tartar and white vinegar to make a paste (about equal parts).

Step 2: Spread it on

With the sponge, spread the paste on the stained parts of your pan. You'll want to let it sit for anywhere from 1 hour to overnight, or just until it's dry.

Step 3: Scrub away the grime

With warm water, take the same sponge that you used to apply the paste to the pan and remove the dried cream of tartar paste. The burned-on food should come off easily!

How to Clean a Baking Sheet with a Dishwasher Tablet

Taste of Home

You'll need:

• Finish Powerball Deep Clean Tabs

Step 1: Wet the baking sheet

This viral oven-cleaning hack works on sheet pans, too! In order for the dishwasher tabs to work, the pan needs to rinsed with hot water.

Step 2: Scrub the baking sheet

Grab a few dishwasher tabs. Scrub your baking sheet with the plastic coating still on the tabs, because the coating will keep the tablet from dissolving in your hands too quickly.

Step 3: Rinse with warm water

Since you're essentially using soap on your baking sheet already, you only need warm water to rinse it off. That's it!

When to Replace Your Baking Sheet

In terms of baked-on food scraps, the better you take care of your baking sheets, the longer they will last—but there are a few telltale signs that help determine when to replace your baking sheet. If your pan is warped and doesn't lay flat on the counter, it's time. Or, if you have a nonstick baking sheet and the coating is starting to peel, it's definitely time to get a new one, as you don't want the finish flaking off into your food.

Once you've decided it's time to get a new baking sheet, read our baking sheet buying guide to learn about everything you should consider when choosing your next trusty pan. Aluminum? Stainless steel? Nonstick? We break down what to look for. If you need a place to start, check out our Test Kitchen's guide to the best sheet pans!

Our Favorite Sheet Pans

Next, make sure you know the difference between baking sheets, cookie sheets and jelly roll pans. Or, learn this surprising use for a sheet pan!

Sheet Pan Suppers for Busy Nights

Taste of Home

Easy Stuffed Poblanos

My partner adores these saucy stuffed peppers—and I love how quickly they come together. Top with low-fat sour cream and your favorite salsa. —Jean Erhardt, Portland, Oregon Get Recipe You can buy the new Taste of Home nonstick sheet pan on Amazon!

Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken

Everyone needs an easy meal. Try this sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes for a simple and tasty meal guaranteed to please the whole family. If you use fresh lemon juice, garnish each serving with a little lemon zest for bright flavor. —Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California

Garlicky Chicken Dinner

Flavorful bone-in chicken is enhanced by herbs, lemon and hearty vegetables in this savory meal-in-one entree. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Pizza

I combine two all-time favorites in this recipe: pizza and BLT sandwiches. I brought this fun mashup to a ladies lunch and was met with lots of oohs and aahs. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Pork and Asparagus Sheet-Pan Dinner

When time is of the essence, it's nice to have a quick and easy meal idea in your back pocket. Not only is it delicious, but you can clean it up in a flash. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Sheet-Pan Tilapia and Vegetable Medley

Unlike some one-pan dinners that require precooking in a skillet or pot, this one uses just the sheet pan, period. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

Pan-Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

This one-dish roast chicken with vegetables tastes as if it took hours of hands-on time to put together, but the simple ingredients can be prepped in mere minutes. The rosemary gives it a rich flavor, and the meat juices cook the veggies to perfection. It's unbelievably easy! —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Sheet-Pan Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Bake

I like to make this seafood dinner for company because it tastes amazing, but takes very little effort to throw together. Use asparagus, Broccolini or a mix of the two. It's all about what's available for a decent price. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Pepperoni Pan Pizza

I've spent years trying to come up with the perfect pizza crust and sauce, and they're paired up in this recipe. I fix this crispy, savory pizza for my family often, and it really satisfies my husband and sons. —Susan Lindahl, Alford, Florida

Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken Fajitas

For our fajitas, I combine chicken and pineapple for a different flavor. These fajitas are more on the sweet side, but my family loves them! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet-Pan Supper

Most nights I need something that I can get on the table with minimal effort and delicious results. This sheet-pan supper has become an all-time favorite, not only because of its bright flavors but also because of its speedy cleanup time. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Chicken Veggie Packets

People think I went to a lot of trouble when I serve these packets. Individual aluminum foil pouches hold in the juices during baking to keep the herbed chicken moist and tender. The foil saves time and makes cleanup a breeze. —Edna Shaffer, Beulah, Michigan

Sausage and Pepper Sheet-Pan Sandwiches

Sausage with peppers was always on the table when I was growing up. Here's how to do it the easy way: Just grab a sheet pan and the ingredients, then let the oven do the work. —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas

Sweet & Tangy Salmon with Green Beans

I'm always up for new ways to cook salmon. In this dish, a sweet sauce gives the fish and green beans some down-home barbecue tang. Even our kids love it. —Aliesha Caldwell, Robersonville, North Carolina

Sheet-Pan Chicken Parmesan

Saucy chicken, melty mozzarella and crisp-tender broccoli—all in one pan. What could be better? —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri

Pepper Sausage Pizza

Fresh spinach gives this recipe a tasty twist. That leafy green plus yellow peppers, snow-white mushrooms and tomato sauce make this a colorful addition to your pizza buffet table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Spicy Roasted Sausage, Potatoes and Peppers

I love to share my cooking, and this hearty meal-in-one has gotten a savory reputation around town. People have actually approached me in public to ask for the recipe. —Laurie Sledge, Brandon, Mississippi

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Fans of spicy chicken wings will love this rendition that turns it into pizza. Serve it up with blue cheese dressing and crisp celery, just like the tasty original. —Shari DiGirolamo, Newton, Pennsylvania

Orange-Glazed Pork with Sweet Potatoes

When it's chilly outside, I like to roast pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes, apples and an orange. The sweetness and spices make any evening cozy. —Danielle Boyles, Sparta, Wisconsin

Breadstick Pizza

Not only do refrigerated breadsticks lend a fun twist to pizza, but they make this dish a weeknight staple at my house. Feeding kids? Slice pieces into small strips and let the kids dip each strip into marinara sauce. They'll love it! —Mary Hankins, Kansas City, Missouri

Pan-Roasted Pork Chops & Potatoes

An easy marinade gives these chops lots of flavor, the crumb coating packs on crunch and Brussels sprouts add nutrition! —Char Ouellette, Colton, Oregon

Honey-Roasted Chicken & Root Vegetables

When my whole family comes over for dinner, I make a big platter of roast chicken with sweet potatoes, carrots and fennel. My dad leads the fan club. —Kelly Ferguson, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Chili Dog Pizza

My girls love it when I make this mash-up pizza with hot dogs and chili. It's a marvelous way to use up leftover chili. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri

Parmesan Chicken with Artichoke Hearts

I've liked the chicken and artichoke combo for a long time. Here's my own lemony twist. With all the praise it gets, this dinner is so much fun to serve. —Carly Giles, Hoquiam, Washington

Curry-Roasted Turkey and Potatoes

Honey mustard is the condiment around here, so I wanted a healthy recipe to serve it with. Roasted turkey with a dash of curry fits the bill. —Carol Witczak, Tinley Park, Illinois

Chicken Caesar Pizza

Dressed greens on top of warm pizza may sound a little strange but trust me, it's fantastic. —Tracy Youngman, Post Falls, Idaho

Salmon Veggie Packets

I feel the spirit of Julia Child when I make lemon-pepper salmon en papillote (in parchment). It's the first French recipe I learned, and the delightful little packages are family-friendly. —Renee Greene, New York, NY

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Peppers & Potatoes

My family loves this dish! There's nothing better than oven baked boneless chicken thighs for dinner. It looks and tastes like you fussed, but it is really simple to make. These roasted chicken thighs use healthy olive oil and fresh herbs from my garden. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

Quick Pepperoni Calzones

This calzone recipe takes the Italian favorite to the next level with Parmesan and herbs sprinkled on top. —Shannon Roum, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Pork Tenderloins with Wild Rice

Apricots say sweet things to earthy herbs in this gravy-licious meal. Remember this recipe—it's worthy of a weekend celebration. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Balsamic Roasted Chicken Thighs with Root Vegetables

I will always remember the way my grandmother's house smelled when she made these balsamic chicken thighs every Sunday. Ever since she gave me the recipe, the heartwarming flavors always take me back to my childhood. — Erin Chilcoat, Central Islip, New York

White Pizza with Roasted Tomatoes

Like my grandmother taught me, I love using fresh, simple ingredients. In this low-cost recipe, creamy ricotta brings out the sweetness of the tomatoes, all on an onion and herb crust. —Debbie Roppolo, San Marcos, Texas

Chicken & Wild Rice Strudels

I wanted the buttery crunch of layered pastry without the sweet filling of strudel. Using rotisserie chicken from the store, I found my savory answer. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Caesar Salmon with Roasted Tomatoes & Artichokes

This recipe is my "go to" recipe for quick dinners, family or guests. It's colorful, healthy, easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. The best part is it only calls for five ingredients! —Mary Hawkes, Prescott, Arizona

Roasted Kielbasa & Vegetables

I like this dish featuring kielbasa and veggies for two reasons: It's so hearty, and it's a one-pan meal. That's a win-win dinner! —Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas

Mozzarella Cornbread Pizza

My sons like pizza but not takeout pies. I pull out my trusty baking pan to make a cornbread pizza with veggies in the crust and everything on top, from pepperoni to leftover ham. —Mary Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Roasted Chicken & Red Potatoes

Here's how long to bake chicken leg quarters. Pop this homey dinner in the oven for about an hour, then enjoy! It has so much flavor—the meat juices help cook the veggies just perfectly. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Meat Loaf Cordon Bleu

I'm a school counselor and a mother of one young child. Even with my busy schedule, I can make this in the morning and pop it into the oven when I get home. —Barb Jacobsen, Campbell, Nebraska

Smoked Gouda Veggie Melt

After a long day of teaching, I like to make these veggie-packed grilled-cheese sandwiches. My 8-year-old daughter is a big fan, too. —Charlie Herzog, West Brookfield, Vermont

Roasted Curried Chickpeas and Cauliflower

When there's not much time to cook, try roasting potatoes and cauliflower with chickpeas for a warm-you-up dinner. It's a filling meal on its own, but you can add chicken or tofu to the sheet pan if you like. —Pam Correll, Brockport, Pennsylvania

Meaty Arugula Pizzas

When I was growing up, my mom always made homemade pizza every Friday night. We'd watch a movie as a family or have friends over, too. Now that I'm married, I carry on the pizza tradition. —Morgan Harvey, Longview, Washington

Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

how to clean cookie sheets

Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-clean-a-baking-sheet/

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