In Garten’s $8 Hack for Keeping Sheet Pans Sparkling Clean

I trust Ina Garten implicitly when it comes to hosting, cooking, and cleaning, and the “Ask Ina” section of the Barefoot Contessa website is a treasure trove of kitchen tips. One fan wrote in asking about Garten’s shiny sheet pans, and the chef herself shared the key to cutting through the grime and grease: Brillo Pads.

The old-school steel wool soap pads are great for attacking caked-on food, especially on cookware, bakeware, grills, cast iron, and kitchen appliances. And a 10-pack is just $8 on Amazon, making the dish scrubbers less than a dollar apiece.

Brillo Heavy-Duty Steel Wool Soap Pads

Whether you like making sheet pan dinners or baking chocolate chip cookies, baking sheets can easily go from shiny and new to discolored and dirty. While some might call it seasoning, others, including myself, would rather wash it away. And the good news is you don’t need to buy a new sheet pan, thanks to Garten. 

To restore your pans to their original glory, follow Garten’s cleaning routine. “If any food is baked on after I use them, I put them in the sink with the hottest tap water and soap and let them soak overnight,” the Barefoot Contessa host wrote. She then uses a Brillo Pad to remove remaining food and stains.

The pads offer the durability of steel wool, which is made of fine, abrasive steel filaments, and include soap, so all you have to do is add water and scrub. This makes them long-lasting and extremely effective. One reviewer even noted that they brought her daughter’s cookware “back to life.” Although the brand does sell single-use pads that are great for camping or traveling, these sponges are reusable and come in two scents: lemon and the classic red.

Garten isn’t the only fan of these heavy-duty sponges — Amazon shoppers love them, too. One reviewer even called Brillo Pads a “magical reset button for my cookware,” and another shopper said they “don’t fall apart when you start scrubbing baked on material.” A third reviewer added that the sponge “cleans without scratching.”

If you want your baking sheets to sparkle like Garten’s, then take her cue and grab some Brillo Pads today. The steel wool sponges cut through food and gunk to make sheet pans, cast iron skillets, oven racks, and more look brand new. 

Shop More Heavy-Duty Dish Scrubbers

OXO Good Grips Dish Brush

Lodge Scrubbing Pad

Scrub Daddy Color Sponges

S.O.S Steel Wool Soap Pads, 10-Pack

Skura Style Skrubby Sponges, 4-Pack

3M Scotch-Brite Griddle, 6-Pack

At the time of publishing, the price was $8.