Cleaning Baking Trays And Ovens
We all know that baking trays are an essential part of any home but like ovens it doesn't take much for them to get greasy and grimy. Stained baking trays are one of the worst nightmares of cooking. Those caked-on stains, burnt bits of food, and the layer of grease that just won't go away. The solution to this is learning how to clean oven trays in the best way you can. However, this can be quite difficult to master. Try this cleaning hack to make your baking trays and oven look squeaky clean.
You will need:
- Paper towels
- A soft sponge or cloth (for non-stick trays)
- Scouring pad
- Dishwasher
- A kettle
- Oven and grill spray
- Hot water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda
How to Clean a Greasy Baking Tray
A lot of us assume that a dishwasher will do all the work for us. Rather than looking at these appliances as an addition to the kitchen, dishwashers can't replace the sort of focused cleaning power of washing up manually. When you're dealing with a greased baking tray the best way to clean it is, unfortunately, to use a bit of elbow grease. How much elbow grease will largely depend on whether your trays are non-stick or not. It's a good idea to wear rubber gloves when cleaning baking trays to protect your hands from grease and grime.
Use a paper towel and an oven and grill spray to wipe away any grease
Using a paper towel and oven and grill spray, wipe away as much grease as you can from the baking tray.
Fill a sink with hot water and dishwashing liquid
Fill the kitchen sink with hot water and add a small amount of dishwashing liquid.
Soak the tray for at least one hour
Allow the soap to cut through the remaining oils and grease. If your tray doesn't fit into the sink completely, you'll want to turn it over at the one-hour mark and allow the other side to soak.
Use a soft sponge or cloth and wipe away the remaining grease
It's time for the elbow magic. If you've got a non-stick tray, use a soft sponge or cloth to wipe away the remaining grease. The grease will relatively glide off easily. If you're not using a non-stick, then you can use a harder scrubbing technique. Grab a scouring pad and let loose.
Pop in the dishwasher
This is when your fancy dishwasher comes into the picture. Pop your tray into the dishwasher for a final all-over clean.
How to Clean a Burnt Oven Tray
If your baking trays aren't particularly greasy but are covered in a thick coating of burnt-on foods and meat juices, then the best way of cleaning the trays is a little bit different. The beauty of using soap or detergent for greasy trays is that they're specifically designed to break down oils, so these products may not be as effective at removing burnt residues.
Use a paper towel to remove any loose residue
Once again, you'll want to begin by using a paper towel to remove anything wipeable. There's no point picking and scraping at this point and it could damage your tray, so just keep it gentle.
Put hot water and baking soda into a sink, add the tray and leave to soak for about an hour
Boil some water in the kettle and pour it into your sink. Add a good cupful of baking soda and watch as it bubbles up. Put the tray in and leave it to soak for an hour for the solution to soften the burnt-on stains.
Drain the water and use a cloth or sponge to wipe any burnt residue
After an hour, drain the water and use a cloth or sponge to wipe away the now softened crust. It should come away quite easily as the reaction between the hot water and the baking soda softens the grease, breaking it down.
Repeat the steps if the tray is too large
If your tray is too large to fit entirely in the sink, then it's suggested to repeat the steps for the other part of the tray.
Put in a dishwasher or wash with dishwashing liquid
To make sure your baking tray is as clean as it can be, put it in the dishwasher for a quick once-over or wash it in the sink with dishwashing liquid.