The delicious reason you shouldn't clean your baking sheets: Video tutorial
This may surprise you, but sometimes it’s better to cook in a dirty pan than a clean one. Think of cast iron skillets: the more seasoned they are, the better the food. The same logic can be applied to sheet pans. Sometimes you want some of the goodness left behind on your bakeware to burn on and create a protective layer on your sheet pans.
If you’re roasting vegetables or browning something, a dark pan comes in handy. It radiates more heat and helps give the food more color, caramelization, and browning. Just remember, this isn't ideal for baked goods like cookies or other treats that need to be cooked evenly. Otherwise, before you snap on your rubber gloves and start scrubbing, consider letting that flavor marinate and contribute to future meals.Watch this video to see how to season your baking sheets.
How to season sheet pans
When we’re seasoning pans, we’re not sprinkling on salt, pepper and other spices like we would when we’re seasoning food. A properly seasoned pan gets seasoned over time through multiple uses that create a nonstick layer. If you cook on baking sheets often, seasoning will naturally happen the more you use them. However, this method can give your pans a head start. All you need to season your baking sheet is a basic oil, like vegetable or corn, and paper towels. Pour a little oil onto the paper towel and wipe it all over the pan. Make sure to get all the crevices, corners, edges and the underside. You want a very, very thin layer of oil on the pan. It should be barely noticeable when you touch the pan, you don’t want to see it running or pooling. Put the pan in the oven at 375ºF for about an hour. If it is sticky after it cools, put it back in the oven for another 30 minutes or until it’s no longer sticky. If the pan comes out looking brown, you’re doing it right! Remember: ugly is good!
Once your pan is seasoned, care for it by scraping off any food remnants after each use and rinse the pan with a little soap and water. Then, it’s good to go again.
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Sheet pan meals
Sheet pan meals are an easy way to prepare a lot of food at once. If you don't need quite so much, consider adding quarter sheet pans to your kitchen arsenal. They can help prepare smaller meals or foods with different cooking times. Hungry? Consider using your sheet pan to make: