--- slug: how_to_clean_baking_sheets category_path: home_kitchen/kitchen_dining/bakeware/baking_sheets type: informational title: "How to Clean Baking Sheets" lead: "Make a paste of baking soda and a little hydrogen peroxide (or dish soap), spread it on the baked-on grease, let it sit, then scrub — this lifts sticky, burnt-on residue that soap alone can't. The even brown patina on an aluminum sheet is harmless seasoning, so leave it; only clean off the sticky, uneven grime." recommendation: name: "Baking-soda-and-peroxide (or dish-soap) paste, let it sit, then scrub — leave harmless discoloration; no steel wool on nonstick" reason: "Baked-on grease polymerizes into a sticky brown layer that soap alone won't shift, so the fix is a paste that clings and dissolves it. Sprinkle baking soda over the sheet, add enough hydrogen peroxide (or a squirt of dish soap and a little water) to make a paste, spread it across the greasy areas, and leave it 30 minutes to a few hours, then scrub with a non-scratch pad and rinse. Bar Keepers Friend (oxalic acid) is a stronger option for stainless or bare aluminum sheets, rubbed with the grain. The important distinction: the even brown-gold discoloration that builds on an aluminum sheet over time is harmless seasoning, not dirt, so don't scour it off. Never use steel wool or oven cleaner on a nonstick or coated sheet, which they ruin — a soft sponge and a soak are all those need. Dry the sheet fully so bare steel doesn't rust." published: 2026-07-08 updated: 2026-07-08 ---