How to Clean a Roasting Pan
Updated: Mar. 27, 2023
Say goodbye to burnt-on pieces of last week's chicken dinner. We'll walk through how to clean a roasting pan, including how to get rid of even the most stubborn stains.
Your favorite roasting pan can be used for almost any occasion, whether you’re cooking the turkey for a Thanksgiving feast or baking vegetables as a side. But as you quickly learn, pans can start accumulating gunk and burnt junk that will stick around for what seems like forever.
If you’re not quite sure how to clean a roasting pan, don’t panic—we’ve got you covered. You don’t need much to get that pan looking sparkly and new, and you likely already have the ingredients you need to get started.
How do you clean a roasting pan?
You should be washing your roasting pan after each use, especially when you have newly created brown spots (like those little brown circle that appear after making roasted potatoes). Allow your pan to cool to room temperature—shocking a hot pan with cold water is the fastest way to ruin a perfectly good dish. Rinse it gently with warm water and a non-abrasive sponge. Then, let the pan soak in warm water for about an hour and start scrubbing again. Repeat until you’ve blasted all those stuck-on spots!
How do you clean a burnt pan?
Even if you’re cleaning your roasting pan properly after each use, those burnt-on black spots can still appear. These tricky spots may seem impenetrable, but with a few pantry staples, you can quickly knock them out. After soaking, rinsing and drying, coat the tough stains in baking soda—enough to entirely cover the stain. Then, in a small bowl, combine 1 cup of hot water and 1/3 cup vinegar. Pour this mixture onto the stain. Let the pan soak for an hour, then start scrubbing again. Repeat until the burnt pieces are all gone.
FYI: We love this scrubber sponge.
How do you remove stains from a roasting pan?
To remove old stains from a roasting pan, first try the method outlined above, soaking the pan with a baking soda/vinegar/water mixture for an hour before scrubbing. If that does not work, you’ll want to create a more aggressive cleaning paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
Combine 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl and stir together until the paste is thickened. If the paste feels too thick, add more hydrogen peroxide by the teaspoon. If it’s too runny, add more baking soda by the tablespoon. Spread the paste on the stains, then wait a few hours. Wipe away the paste with a sponge, then rinse as you normally would.
This method is also the best way to clean a roasting pan in under five minutes—rinse it with hot, soapy water, then coat it in the paste and wait 5 minutes. You could also try this natural cleaner from Amazon.
Tips to keep your roasting pan clean
Cleaning your roasting pan is only half the battle. If you don’t enjoy all the soaking, rinsing and science, keep these tips in mind to ensure you’re doing everything in your power to keep your pan clean.
- Use foil or parchment paper. Before loading your baking tray or roasting pan, put down a layer of aluminum foil or parchment paper to catch juices and prevent meats from browning your tray.
- Wash after each use. Avoid rinsing, spotting that brown stain and thinking, It’s fine, I’ll get it next time.
- Don’t put it in the dishwasher. It’s tempting. Even if your roasting pan says it’s dishwasher safe, avoid tossing it in there and hoping those stains go away.
- Polish your dishes once a year. Pick up a high-quality dish polisher, like the Therapy cleaner and polish, and give your dish a little extra TLC at least once a year.
Find a dish to make in your roasting pan
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Dijon-Rubbed Pork with Rhubarb SauceThis tender pork loin roast served with a rhubarb-orange sauce is simply delicious! Here's an excellent choice for company—it makes a memorable meal. —Marilyn Rodriguez, Sparks, Nevada
Glazed Cornish Hens with Pecan-Rice StuffingCornish hens bake up with a lovely golden brown shine when they are basted with my sweet and tangy glaze. The traditional rice stuffing has some added interest with crunchy pecans and sweet golden raisins.—Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Salt-Encrusted Prime RibRestaurants have nothing on this salt-crusted prime rib recipe. For a true meat lover, it's very easy and the results are beyond belief. —Roger Bowlds, Bakersfield, California
Miso Butter Roasted ChickenI love this recipe for its simple front-end prep. Spatchcock the chicken yourself or ask your butcher to spatchcock it for you. Then the only work left to do is to chop the veggies. Once it’s in the oven, there’s ample time to set the table and talk. —Stefanie Schaldenbrand, Los Angeles, California
Garlic Clove ChickenMy Greek neighbors made this chicken frequently, and I couldn’t get enough of it. If you like garlic, you’ll love this recipe. —Denise Hollebeke, Penhold, Alberta
Citrus-Molasses Glazed HamWe are always searching for new ways to utilize Florida citrus, which is plentiful during the holidays in our own backyard. I know you will enjoy this. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Sweet Tea Barbecued ChickenMarinades sometimes use coffee or espresso, and that inspired me to try tea and apple juice to perk up this sauce. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey
Horseradish-Encrusted Beef TenderloinWow friends and family with this tender beef encased in a golden horseradish crust. Roasted garlic boosts the robust flavor even more. —Laura Bagozzi, Dublin, Ohio
Mediterranean Rack of LambRack of lamb is elegant. It’s special. And it will have your guests thinking you went all out. They don’t have to know how simple rack of lamb really is to prepare. —Susan Nilsson, Sterling, Virginia
Grandma’s Roasted DuckWhen I was growing up, my grandma always served roast duck for the holidays, and for other family events throughout the year. I always thought it was better than turkey! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Lisa’s All-Day Sugar & Salt Pork RoastMy family loves this tender and juicy roast, so we eat it a lot. The sweet and salty crust is so delicious mixed into the pulled pork. —Lisa Allen, Joppa, Alabama
Patriotic Potatoes with Mustard SauceShow your true spirit with a bowl of red, white and blue potatoes dressed with bacon and sour cream. They’re tops in my hit parade of patriotic dishes. —Julie Murphy, Peachtree City, Georgia
Orange-Glazed Pork LoinThis is one of the best pork recipes I've ever tried. My family looks forward to this roast for dinner, and guests always want the recipe. The flavorful rub, and the glaze brightened with orange juice, are also outstanding on pork chops. —Lynnette Miete, Alna, Maine
Sweet Horseradish Glazed RibsIf you like to prep ahead of camping, roast these ribs, wrap them and finish with a sweet, savory sauce at your campfire or grill. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
Harvest Pork RoastI came up with this one evening when I had butternut squash, fresh picked apples and dried cranberries. I combined the ingredients into one succulent pork dish and everyone raved over it. This is also good with some added cinnamon or a garlic pepper rub. —Shirley Tuttle-Malone, Glenfield, New York
Cuts-Like-Butter BBQ BrisketWith just a few ingredients and steps, this recipe is nearly impossible to mess up. The thin, fall-apart-tender slices are delicious on their own but also make other dishes, such as tacos and Frito pies, taste better. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
Lemon-Roasted Squash with TarragonRoasting really brings out the flavor of butternut squash and zucchini. I drizzle them with lemon juice, oil, garlic and seasonings, then pop them in the oven. —Carrie Farias, Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Cranberry-Orange Roast DucklingsI came up with this recipe few years ago. The first time I served it, there wasn't a speck of food left on the platter and I knew I had a winning recipe.
—Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Sunday Roast ChickenThis recipe proves that comfort food doesn't have to be full of unwanted calories. Mixed with orange and lemon juice, my roast chicken is both flavorful and healthy. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Originally Published: August 20, 2019
