How to Clean OXO Baking Sheets and Pans: Nonstick, Cast Iron & More

Introduction

You rely on your cookware and bakeware for many a culinary project: lasagna, sheet pan dinners, cookies, brownies, and more. And when these pans do their job well—browning evenly, releasing foods without fuss—you get all the glory (and delicious meals to boot).

The thing is, knowing how to properly clean baking sheets, pans, and cookware is one of the keys to their glory. They’ll hang onto their non-stick qualities. They won’t warp, rust, or get scratched up. At OXO, we design our products to be durable and easy to clean. So, it takes just a little regular attention for our sheet pans, non-stick cookware, ceramic coated bakeware, and glass dishes to last a long time. Here’s how to keep them going.

How to Clean and Maintain Your Cookware and Bakeware

Cookware and bakeware are some of your kitchen’s hardest working tools. They withstand high heats, you coat them with oils and acids, you expect them to fry an egg as beautifully as they sear a steak. And they’ll do all these tasks beautifully, as long as they’re treated well and cleaned up properly until you need them the next time.

The trick is that not all pans follow the same cleaning and maintenance rules. While it’s fine to soak a stainless steel frypan, the action spells certain disaster for a non-stick pan. So to get the most out of these kitchen VIPs—avoiding replacement costs and protecting their nonstick/cooking/baking superpowers—check out these guidelines.

Non-stick Pans

Non-stick surfaces should be handled with extra care to maintain their non-stick qualities. A few don’ts: Avoid using aerosol cooking sprays. The oils latch onto the non-stick surface, creating a barrier that can become rancid and compromise the pan’s food releasing properties. When cooking, opt for silicone or wooden tools instead of metal ones so you don’t scratch the pans’ surface. These pans also don’t do well with extremely high temperatures, like under a broiler.

To clean non-stick cookware, use brushes with a nylon bristle, which are hard enough to brush off deposits but won’t damage the surface. Skip strong abrasive scrubs or sponges and soaking, as these can scratch and warp the non-stick coating. For stubborn, burned-on bits, heat a blend of distilled white vinegar with lemon juice in the pan on low heat and let simmer. This helps loosen any foods that have made their way into the non-stick nooks and crannies. Scrub gently with brush and rinse.

Cleaning sidekick: Soap Dispensing Palm Scrub

Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Pans

With cast iron and carbon steel pans, the trick is to clean them without stripping off their hard-won seasoning or making them vulnerable to rust. The best cleaning tools are a brush with short, stiff bristles and hot water. Carbon steel can stand up to a little dish soap; skip the soap for cast iron, as it will remove the pan’s seasoning. Rinse pans with water while using brush to scrub off any cooked-on foods. Dry immediately—or set pan over a low burner for a minute or two—to prevent rust.

Cleaning sidekick: Cast Iron Brush; Dish Brush

Stainless Steel Cookware

It’s best and easiest to clean stainless steel cookware immediately after using. But if you have to wait, add hot water and a little dish soap and let stand to soak.

If you notice stains or have any foods that are especially caked on, try soaking cookware in distilled white vinegar for about 10 minutes, then scrub. (Butter and oil stains can look brown, yellow, cloudy or even rainbow-colored.) If stains are extra stubborn, make a solution of baking soda or another abrasive powder and hot water, and repeat the soak-and-scrub method.

Cleaning sidekick: Soap Dispensing Dish Brush

Ceramic Coated Cookware and Bakeware

This style of cookware and bakeware follows similar cleaning and maintenance rules as non-stick pans. Avoid coating with aerosol oil sprays. Ceramic coated pans also don’t like high heats, so skip the broiler and oven temperatures hotter than 450 degrees.

When cleaning, first let pans come to room temperature as abrupt temperature changes can cause their coating to break down. Clean with dish soap, warm water, and a dish brush or sponge. Don’t soak or use abrasive scrubbers; these can also damage the coating.

Cleaning sidekick: Dish brush

Glass Dishes

Glass bakeware is dishwasher-safe and can also be cleaned with a sponge or a dish brush, hot water and soap. If you encounter a stubborn stain, create a thick paste with baking soda, a drizzle of dish soap, and water, then scrub. Avoid harsh, abrasive scouring pads as they can scratch and damage glass bakeware.

Cleaning sidekick:  Dish Brush (use the head of the brush to chip away any stubborn baked-on food) and Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Set

Storing Your Cookware and Bakeware

How you store your cookware and bakeware can be as important as how you clean it. Smart storing methods prevent scratches, dings, warping, and other damage that diminish how well pots and pans can do their job.

Some cookware and bakeware can be nested when storing; some needs extra protection. Go ahead and stack or nest stainless steel and ceramic coated pans inside each other to store. They’re sturdy and the finish on ceramic coated pans is durable enough that it won’t scratch. 

For non-stick, carbon steel, and glass pans, use a protective liner in between items (such as a felt pad, dish towel, or even a paper plate) to prevent scratches and damage to the non-stick coating.

The main storage guideline for cast iron is to make sure it’s dry before putting it away. A wet pan is at risk of rusting.

Streamline your next project by keeping cookware and baking gear organized together. Corral small accessories, such as baking cups, measuring spoons, and cookie cutters, in a larger container. OXO’s POP Containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Conclusion

OXO design teams work hard to make our products stand the test of time. So, clean and take care of your cookware and bakeware regularly, following best practices, and it’ll see you through a cookbook’s worth of recipes.

Find the perfect gear for your project and complete your cooking and baking collection at OXO.com.