How do I clean my sheet pans?

Julie Hahn
by Julie Hahn

I haven't baked cookies in many years. I use my sheet pans for cooking french fries and other similar things. Over the years, they have become a mess from the oils baking into them.


This year I decided to join a cookie baking party and I need to get my pans clean. Mine are heavy duty ones that are too expensive to buy at this time.


Does any one have any ideas about cleaning them? Although I will be using parchment paper as well, I would like to arrive to this party with decent looking pans.

  11 answers
  • Linda Schuster Linda Schuster on Dec 07, 2018

    Have you tried the cold use type of Easy Off oven cleaner? It sometimes takes several applications and washings to get the baked on oils off. Sometimes you have to add a coat of fresh oil to start the process. Don’t leave the oven cleaner on too long, only until the oils are softened. Then scrub with steel wool (SOS Pads) I do this with pans and stove drip burner plates. It may take you several days to completely rid those pans of the baked on oils.

  • Krud Kutter. You can get it at Home Depot or Amazon

  • Twyla J Boyer Twyla J Boyer on Dec 07, 2018

    Use oven cleaner. They should clean up well after a bit of time with oven cleaner on them. Scrub as needed, rinse, then neutralize any residual oven cleaner with regular household vinegar and rinse really well.


    If you use parchment paper under your french fries and such, you will mostly avoid the problem happening again. I use parchment under everything - even bacon - and my baking sheets look almost new even after years of hard use.

  • Gail Junkins Gail Junkins on Dec 07, 2018

    When mine got so bad,(this is probably horrible)I bought a can of oven cleaner and sprayed mine, left it on for about 45-60 mins. and rinsed it off with hose. Dried and then took back in house and washed thoroughly with dishwashing detergent. It does take all the shine off your pans but also takes all the baked on grease off.

  • Wish I knew Wish I knew on Dec 07, 2018

    Mine looks like that too. Now days I just bake on parchment paper or a sili. pad. When my glassware (corning ware, pyrex, etc.) get to that stage, namely when I buy at rummage sales, I put it in a bag with ammonia and seal/close it off so fumes stay inside. Let it set for several hours and all crud just wipes off. I have not tried with my sheet, but have used that technique with oven racks also, and with that procedure, works fine. Someone with a science background might be familiar with any bad reactions between ammonia and the alum. in the baking sheet.

  • Shirley Shirley on Dec 07, 2018

    Rinse, and while wet, sprinkle with a heavy coat of powdered borax (20 Mule Team!), concentrating on the thickest areas, and let it sit a few minutes. Then scrub with a plastic scrubber. If the brown goo resists, scrub off all possible, then wet again and sprinkle on another coat of borax, then scrub again. Use an SOS pad for residual stains on metal, not on glass. I use the borax treatment for all cooked or baked on pans. Burnt stuff usually takes a couple of treatments. No need to wait overnight, it won't be any more effective than the few minutes I recommend.

  • Michelle Michelle on Dec 09, 2018

    Baking soda and vinegar let sit and then scrub. Better yet asked for new bakeware for christmas

  • Stephie McCarthy Stephie McCarthy on Dec 09, 2018

    If you use the oven cleaner, you can spray the pan inside a trash bag, seal the bag, and even leave it outside to process. The bag will help contain fumes.

  • ☘️ TxBella ☘️ TxBella on Dec 09, 2018

    Hi Julie... I use Borax or Potash... ashes from a fireplace . I make a paste with the ashes and coat a section at time . Allow it to set for at least 15 min or so then scrub somewhat and rinse.

    Sometimes it takes a an extra coat to remove all the grease but it’ll all come off.

    I just cleaned my pans and need to do them again for Christmas baking.

    Good Luck 🍀!

  • Cindy Cindy on Dec 09, 2018

    I recently saw a post where a man was cleaning his cookie sheets with Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Spray it on the sheet pan and walk away. Wait a half hour and scrub with a Brillo pad. His sheet pan looked brand new.

    • Jan Jan on Dec 18, 2018

      I don't think that you can use Oven Cleaner on aluminum.