5 easy ways to clean baking sheets and remove stuck-on food

• Baking sheets can be cleaned with household solutions to get rid of grease, rust, and burned foods.
• It's important to thoroughly dry baking sheets after washing to prevent rust.

Whether using a baking sheet to bake cookies or roast vegetables, it's bound to get dirty. From stuck-on food to eventual rust, aging a baking sheet is all too common. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to clean baking sheets to make them look as if they were just purchased and unwrapped. Better yet, there are clever ways to protect baking sheets before use to prevent messy cleanups altogether.

Below, Sarah House, Bob's Red Mill Food Innovation Chef, shares her best tips and tricks on how to clean baking sheets to make them look as good as new.

1. Use dish soap and water

Once you've removed cooked food and let your baking sheet cool, thoroughly wash it by hand. "For regular cleaning of metal baking sheets, hot water and dish soap followed with a thorough drying should do the trick," says House. "I opt to hand-wash my baking sheets to prolong their life." This is the best method for regular use to keep baking sheets looking clean and fresh.

If there is leftover food stuck on your baking sheet, give it a good soak for 30 minutes before scrubbing. Place it in the sink, drizzle dish soap over top, and douse it with hot water.

Quick tip: Nonstick baking sheets should be cleaned with a soft sponge and dish soap and water only. "Nonstick baking sheets need to be cleaned carefully," says House. "As soon as there are cuts, cracks, or the coating begins to peel, they need to be tossed."

2. Scrub with salt

House suggests a combination of soapy water and coarse salt to remove stuck-on food. "First, soak the baking sheet in soapy water," she says. "Remove it from the soaking water and add some extra scouring power by sprinkling coarse salt on the pan." Scrub the baking sheet with a sponge or gentle scrubber, and then finish washing and drying.

3. Soak it in vinegar

Vinegar is a great household tool for cleaning because of its acidity, and it can help with removing baked-on grease. Place your baking sheet in the sink and close off the drain. Fill the sink with warm water until the baking sheet is submerged. Add in ½ cup of white vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda. Let the pan soak for an hour, and then scrub the baking sheet with a scouring pad.

4. Make a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste

Mix together one-part baking soda and one-part hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. Baking soda is a natural abrasive and hydrogen peroxide helps to disinfect and sanitize, making them an ideal duo.

Spread the paste over the entire baking sheet, or target any specific spots that have charred food, grease, or rust. After letting the baking sheet sit for an hour, use a gentle scrubber to scour away the paste, and then wash and dry the baking sheet as usual.

Quick tip: Be sure to thoroughly dry your baking sheets before storing them away, as any residual moisture could lead to rust over time.

5. Mix vinegar and lemon juice

Hoping to remove rust? Mix one-part white vinegar with one-part lemon juice and apply the solution to rusty spots on a baking sheet. Let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the acidity in the mixture to dissolve the rust. Wash and thoroughly dry the baking sheet before storing it away.

Line your baking sheet to keep it clean

Eliminate the need for heavy scrubbing by preventing grease, rust, or stuck-on food in the first place. Lining a baking sheet before cooking or baking will help to keep food from sticking and make for an easier cleanup.

• Aluminum foil: Aluminum foil is a good option for messy items such as pizzas or bacon. "It may increase browning on any food directly touching the foil," notes House. Because of its ability to bunch up, it can help to clean up liquid messes with ease.
• Parchment paper: Parchment paper is an excellent, heat-safe option for lining baking sheets. "Parchment paper is a solid choice for most uses, though fats and liquids can sneak under the parchment and end up causing the mess you were trying to avoid," says House. She says it's best to use parchment paper when baking cookies or roasting vegetables.
• Silicone baking mats: This reusable option is great for lining a baking sheet. Use it for baking cookies, toasting meringues, roasting vegetables, and more without any waste — just be sure not to cut on silicone baking sheets.

The best baking sheets

While all baking sheets perform the same basic function, every baking sheet is not equal. We tested eleven different options and spoke with experts to help you pick the best baking sheet for your kitchen:

• Best baking sheet overall: Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet, available at Target, $11.99
• Best cookie sheet: Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Cookie Sheet, available at Williams Sonoma, $34.95
• Best baking sheet for roasting: OXO Non-Stick Pro Half Sheet, available at Amazon, $25.95
• Best quarter baking sheet: Nordicware Naturals Quarter Sheet, available at Target, $9.99

Insider's takeaway

Baking sheets are bound to get dirty. To avoid having to clean grease or stuck-on food, it's best to line baking sheets ahead of time with aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a reusable silicone mat. To clean baking sheets, mixtures of household ingredients such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and lemon juice can help to make the process much easier.