How Do You Clean A Burned Silicone Baking Pans

If I was allowed to bring only i kitchen tool to a desert island (assuming that desert island had ovens and sheet pans), it would probably be my trusty silicone mat (I utilise Silpat). I finally invested in one a few years ago, and e'er since information technology has stood by me through countless nutty caramels and toffees, off-the-cuff granolas, and fifty-fifty a roasted fish or 2, giving me confidence that I'll never have to bargain with sticky, burned $.25.

However, recently my Silpat has begun to look (and odour) a flake, well, funky. Simply silicone mats aren't super inexpensive, and I stubbornly refuse to invest in a new ane. So, of grade, I turned to our hotline to find out the best ways to clean a silicone mat to make it as fresh as the outset 24-hour interval I used it. Here's what they said:

That Silpat is in need of a good clean. — That Silpat is in need of a good make clean. Photo by Julia Gartland

Start, a flake of scientific background on why your silicon mats go funky with fourth dimension:

Silpats (and other silicone mats, duh) are made of silicone, which is why they're so nonstick. Equally they heat up in the oven, the silicone molecules expand, arresting the oils (and, consequently, some residual flavors and fragrances) of whatever you're cooking. Afterwards they cool down, information technology's very hard to remove the oils from the mat; that's why they can become covered in an unpleasant, oily sheen. Thankfully, we've got a few trusted cleaning methods that will have your silicone mat looking (and smelling) new:

Longtime community fellow member MrVittles gave what the hotline voted every bit the best reply: Scrub your dirty silicone mat with a paste made of warm water and baking soda, let information technology sit for ten minutes, and so rinse. Voila! Fresh and clean.
Food52 co-founder Amanda Hesser recommends soaking your silicone mat in hot water dosed with the juice of a few lemons to requite it a deep refresh.
User passifloraedulis got scientific: Warm the silicon mat up in the oven starting time, and so that the silicone molecules can expand and secrete the flavored, smelly oils. And so, while the mat is hot, immediately plunge it into a bath of warm water and white vinegar (or lemon juice). It should emerge smelling similar new!

So next time you apply your silicone mat to cook some oily (and succulent!) mackerel, don't forget to make clean it right—you don't desire your next batch of brittle tasting fishy.