Nordic Ware baking sheets - need help please!

[TimboEating2101]

Hi All.

I'm new to this forum. I've enjoyed cooking for several years, but after a recent bout of throat cancer for which I am now in recovery, I've now decided I want to invest more time in this hobby, am keen to learn more and hence I've joined this forum.

However, my first question is related to cleaning and maintenance. I recently purchased a couple of aluminium Nordic Ware baking sheets (which are meant to be non-stick). After heating some chicken goujons, I found one of the sheets had a yellow sticky residue on it (please see the first pic below). I tried cleaning this off with dish soap and a soft scourer but this had little effect. Unfortunately, this baking sheet was placed back in the oven for storage, and during a separate cook a few days later, the yellow residue was further baked on (see second pic where it's black!).

Does anybody have any recommendations/ ideas/ solutions for bringing this pan back to its former glory as it's less than a month old?

Many thanks for any help!

 

[Aunt Bea]

I would try the ammonia ‘trick’ on them.

Put the baking sheets in a plastic bag with 1/2 cup of household ammonia, seal the bag, and let it sit for 24 hours, remove and wash in warm sudsy water.

Good luck!

 

[blissful]

Just looking at your pictures, these look like the aluminum nordic ware and they don't appear to have a non-stick coating on them. This is what I use also.
If you use a metal scrubber, it will scratch the aluminum but the aluminum will oxidize and be fine again. Another option for cleaning is to use oven spray on them, oven cleaner.

Some bakers do not clean the dark marks that are flat off of aluminum pans. They clean the marks that are bumpy, so you end up with a smooth but brown/black pan. They say they brown the baked goods better. If you nose around the internet on baking and aluminum pans you'll find baker's with these ideas.

What I do, I put parchment down on top of my aluminum nordic ware, for just about everything. It makes clean up a breeze. I still get discoloration on the pans but not much. I've been using the same ones for more than 10 years.

 

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

I'm in the same camp as @blissful
I own several of those Nordic brand pans in the various sizes and I ALWAYS line them with parchment or tin foil, I NEVER cook anything straight on the pan.
IMHO, that pan looks like toast!
Those aluminum pans don't like to be treated roughly, ie. scrubbing cleaners, pads, steel wool, etc. Believe me, I know from experience. The finish will come off and be unsightly, albeit I've been told by the company that they are still useful, just ugly.
Those are my go-to pans, but I'm mindful of their care and use.
If you have it available in your area, I might try Dawn Powerwash.

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray | Dawn Dish Soap

Get dishes done faster. Just spray, wipe and rinse. Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray is the faster, easier way to clean dishes as you cook.

dawn-dish.com

I just discovered this product and it's amazing!

 

[GotGarlic]

You can try Barkeepers Friend to clean them. I have no-name aluminum pans from a restaurant store. The "patina" they acquire doesn't bother me and it doesn't affect how they bake. If it bothers you, you can try to clean them, or use foil or silicone mats from now on.

 

[pepperhead212]

I also use the Barkeeper's Friend on non-coated aluminum pans - gets just about anything off. And scratching is so minute, it's not really visible.

 

[Kaneohegirlinaz]

I also use the Barkeeper's Friend on non-coated aluminum pans - gets just about anything off. And scratching is so minute, it's not really visible.

Barkeeper's Friend was the first product that I tried on my Nordic Ware pans and it took the coating off the pan and looked like I had ruined it.

Naturals® Baker's Half Sheet - Nordic Ware

Voted “Best Baking Sheet,” the Baker’s Half Sheet is an essential tool in the kitchen you will use in a variety of ways from sheet pan dinners, to baked goods to food prep. Our top-rated Naturals® Bakeware collection is made of pure aluminum for superior heat conductivity and produces consistent...

www.nordicware.com

These are my favorite pans, but care must be taken with them.

 

[pepperhead212]

Nordic Ware has some coated pans, as well as uncoated - that's why I specified that I use BF on uncoated pans. Those in the photos look like the uncoated, not the coated, but maybe they have clear NS coatings now, instead of the gold, or greenish ones.

 

[taxlady]

I would try the ammonia ‘trick’ on them.

Put the baking sheets in a plastic bag with 1/2 cup of household ammonia, seal the bag, and let it sit for 24 hours, remove and wash in warm sudsy water.

Good luck!

Do you put the ammonia on the pans, or just leave it in the cup, inside the bag?

I agree with others who say those pans do not look like they have the non stick coating. I have some ovenware with a non-stick coating, but I find the non-stick is useless. It just makes them harder to clean because, I have to be careful with it.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Do you put the ammonia on the pans, or just leave it in the cup, inside the bag?

I agree with others who say those pans do not look like they have the non stick coating. I have some ovenware with a non-stick coating, but I find the non-stick is useless. It just makes them harder to clean because, I have to be careful with it.

I put the ammonia directly on or into the item being cleaned but you could also put it into a separate container.

 

[DARPLR]

Make a thick Baking Soda paste
Apply, and let sit at least overnight. Wipe or scrape off. Repeat again if needed.

 

[forty_caliber]

Nothing to worry about. We generally use parchment paper on ours for easy cleanup. I bought four in the 90's, still in service but now mostly dark brown on all surfaces. Have survived many hundreds of trips through the oven.

.40

 

[thymeless]

As they get darker they get better at absorbing heat and doing their job.

I tend to run mine through the dishwasher which does a good job keeping them shiny in spite of the dark benefits.

 

[Jusa]

As others have said, line with parchment paper. Sometimes oil and grease will get under the paper (like when baking quantities of bacon), but it doesn't burn on the surface and cleans easily.

 

[dragnlaw]

I have a couple of pans that are really black. Timbo - I wouldn't worry too much about cleaning them. Scrub them off to the best of your ability and then follow the others leads. Foil, parchment, silicon sheets.

LOL even my silicon sheets have dark burned on marks. Don't come off and I don't care. The sheets still work fine and don't smoke, so I don't worry.

Yee Gads and lil fishes - the OP has not been back since the day he joined. (Feb, 2023)
I hope he was able to at least read the answers garnered in response to his post.

 

[taxlady]

Just 'cause you don't care, doesn't mean that other people might not. Personally, I hate when there are stains on my cookware. I hate having to memorize what's a stain so I can tell what is new dirt, that needs to be scrubbed off.

 

[caseydog]

Just 'cause you don't care, doesn't mean that other people might not. Personally, I hate when there are stains on my cookware. I hate having to memorize what's a stain so I can tell what is new dirt, that needs to be scrubbed off.

You wouldn't like my sheet pans and enameled Dutch ovens. What you call stains, I call patina. If it doesn't effect my cooking, I'm okay with it. My friend who co-owns, and is Executive Chef of a Prime Steakhouse has stacks of pans with lots of patina.

CD

 

[pictonguy]

The commercial aluminum half sheet pans that I use at home, I have 4, I always clean until everything is removed sans a little patina buildup around the edge lip area. In all the restaurants that I've worked in sheet pans whether full or half sheet pans are always cleaned fully leaving nothing behind. SS scrub pads and elbow grease is what I use. I know boring, but that's what I do.

 

[dragnlaw]

SS scrub pads and elbow grease is what I use. I know boring, but that's what I do.

yeah, exactly what I do if find I really need to clean it off. Two of the best cleaners I know.

 

[Roll_Bones]

I have the Nordic Ware baking sheets. All sizes. I have never used one without a liner/precut parchment.
I consider the Nordic Ware baking sheets to be the best on the market.
If I need browning I use something else.