How To Remove Stains From Cookie Sheets

If you have cookie sheets that are a few months old, you may notice that they start to develop stains from cooking oils, browned sugar, and burned food. Over time, these stains can become hard to ignore. So what are the best methods to removing them? We've researched a few different techniques that you can use to remove stains from cookie sheets, and in this post, we will go over them.

Here are the best methods to remove stains from traditional and non-stick cookie sheets:

Baking soda and vinegar
Ammonia
Potato and baking soda
Easy-Off and wool scouring pads
Baking soda and peroxide
Baking soda and cream of tartar

Unfortunately, regular dish soap isn't strong enough to work on the deep-seated stains and grime that can accumulate on cookie sheets. However, there are quite a few everyday home products that you can use to get those cookie sheets looking brand new. Continue reading to learn more about which ones are best.

Best Ways To Remove Stains From Cookie Sheets

The tools you use to clean your cookie sheets may vary depending on whether or not you have non-stick surfaces. If your cookie sheets have a non-stick finish, you'll want to stay away from abrasive steel wool scrubbers and opt instead for non-abrasive nylon scrubbers. This can help to protect the finish and prevent it from peeling, exposing your foods to potentially harmful materials beneath them. Let's take a closer look at each method.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar

This method can be used on steel and non-stick cookie sheets. For this method, start with four tablespoons of vinegar and four tablespoons of baking soda.
Next, pour the baking soda on top of the cookie sheet, and spread it evenly across.
Then, take the vinegar and pour it on top of the baking soda; allow the vinegar to sizzle for about 5 minutes.
Next, place the cookie sheet in a sink full of hot water and let it sit for about 30 to 45 minutes.
Then, remove the sheet from the water and scrub away any remaining dirt or grime with a steel wool pad or a non-abrasive scouring pad.
Finally, take a dishcloth and clean the cookie sheet with mild dish soap. Then rinse and dry the sheet.

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Use Ammonia

Ammonia is one of the best cleaners that you can use to remove hardened food particles and challenging stains. However, it's important to remember that ammonia is a very harsh chemical, and extreme caution should be used whenever you handle it.

This means using protective eyewear as well as gloves when working with this liquid. In addition, this method is not recommended for non-stick cookie sheets.

Grab a garbage bag and place the stained cookie sheets inside of it. It's best to ensure that no holes are inside the bag. To do this, close off the bag at the opening and press it down to see if the air seeps out anywhere. If it does, get a new garbage bag.
Next, add anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 cup of ammonia to the garbage bag and seal it at the opening with a twist tie or a handmade knot.
Allow the cookie sheet to sit in the bag for about 4 to 12 hours. This will give the ammonia time to soften the food particles and caked-on grease, making it easier to remove them from the sheet.
Then, open the bag and remove the pans. Finally, pour the remaining ammonia down the dishwasher disposal.
Take a scrubbing pad and remove any remaining stains using mild dish soap.
Rinse and dry the cookie sheet.

Find ammonia on Amazon.

Use a Potato and Baking Soda

Here's another method for both steel and non-stick sheets. This simple and effective way can quickly eliminate the stains by using a vegetable that you likely have in the refrigerator or pantry.

Take a regular potato and cut it in half with a knife.
Then, pour 1/4 cup of baking soda into a small plastic or disposable bowl.
Next, take the end of the potato and dip it in baking soda, making sure to coat the entire surface of the end that was cut.
Then, rub the potato on the stained areas of the cookie sheet. Do this for about 2-3 minutes so that the oxalic acid and the potato can penetrate the rust stains to lift them from the sheet.
Next, take a non-abrasive scrubbing pad and go over the cookie sheet to remove any additional stains.
Finally, clean the cookie sheet with warm water and dish soap and then dry it immediately and thoroughly using a paper towel or clean cloth.

Use Easy Off and Wool Scouring Pads

Start by letting the stained cookie sheets soak in a sink of hot soapy water (made with dish soap) for about 15-60 minutes, depending on how stained they are.
Next, remove the cookie sheets from the water and spray them with Easy-Off. Allow the spray to sit on the stains anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Next, take a scouring pad or non-abrasive cleaning brush and remove any remaining stains.
This method can be used for non-stick cookie sheets as well. Afterward, rinse the cookie sheets with warm water and dry them off with a towel.

Use Baking Soda and Peroxide

Start by mixing a couple of tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide with one tablespoon of baking soda into a bowl. This method can be used on both steel and non-stick cookie sheets.
Next, spread the mixture on top of the cookie sheet, making sure to coat the most heavily stained areas thoroughly.
Make sure to let it sit anywhere from 1 to 3 hours and then rinse it off with a paper towel and cool water.
If needed, take a scrubbing pad and go over any sections that still contain stains.
Finally, wash the cookie sheet with dish soap to get rid of any additional residue.
Rinse it and dry it before putting it away.

Use Baking Soda and Cream of Tartar

With this method, start by sprinkling the top of the cookie sheet with three tablespoons of cream of tartar and three tablespoons of baking soda.
Next, let the cookie sheet set for about 2 to 4 hours so that the powders can penetrate the stains.
Then, take a scouring pad and after pouring 1/4 cup of water on top of the cookie sheets, scrub away the stains until the sheets are clean.
Next, clean the sheets with regular dish soap and warm water and then rinse and dry them.

How do you make cookie sheets look new again?

The best way to make cookie sheets look new again is to remove any food, grease, or rust stains from the sheet's surface. You can do this in several ways using all-natural solutions such as baking soda, vinegar, cream of tartar, and hydrogen peroxide. Or, you can use store-bought cleaners such as Easy-Off or Barkeeper's Friend.

It's better to use steel wool scrub pads you have steel aluminum or sheets. However, if your cookie sheets have a non-stick surface, you'll want to stick with nylon or other non-abrasive scrubbers. A scrub brush will also work.

Can I use oven cleaner on my cookie sheets?

If your cookie sheet is made of aluminum and does not have a non-stick surface, you can use Easy-Off to remove any caked-on stains or grind. However, you may want to use caution if you plan to use the cleaner on non-or non-stick stick surfaces, as easy off may cause these materials to become discolored.

Can you use Bar Keepers Friend on cookie sheets?

For the most part, yes. You can typically use Bar Keeper's Friend to clean cookie sheets, particularly if they are not made with a non-stick finish. If the latter is the case, you may want to do a test on a small patch on the back of the cookie sheet to ensure that it does not cause discoloration.

The best way to use Bar Keeper's Friend on cookie sheets is to sprinkle the solution on top of the cookie sheet, let it sit for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, and then clean the sheets using a scrubber or a dishcloth. Finally, use dish soap to remove any remaining residue and grease.

Find Bar Keepers Friend on Amazon.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope this post has helped provide you with several different methods that you can use to remove stains from your cookie sheets. Sometimes stains that have set in it may take a little longer to get rid of, but you can make your cookie sheets look brand new with the right cleaning solution.

Before you go, check out these other articles that may be of interest to you:

What Is A Cookie Sheet Used For?

Are Oven Mitts Flammable?