Oven trays are one of the most versatile tools at your disposal in the kitchen, perfect for everything from baking cookies to roasting potatoes and vegetables. Their expansive, flat surface is key for even heat distribution, ensuring your culinary creations cook uniformly.
But with their myriad uses comes the inevitable mess—some foods leave a mere scattering of crumbs, while others result in stubborn, greasy residue. However, before you reach for the washing-up liquid or harsh chemicals to tackle those tough, burnt-on stains, there’s a natural solution that can restore your oven trays to their former glory. Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, has shared her eco-friendly tip for sparkling roasting trays without resorting to chemicals.
Taking to Instagram, she explained her go-to method: “Got to love a juicy lemon for a bit of cleaning.”
She continued, detailing her approach: “My oven tray was looking a bit worse for wear, so I grabbed a lemon, cut it in half, added some bicarb, gave it a good squeeze, and used it as the perfect natural scrubber.
“These two powerhouses cut through grease and grime with ease, making light work of dirty oven trays.”
The combination of lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda effortlessly slices through grease and grime, making the task of cleaning dirty oven trays a breeze. Crombie praised the method’s “fresh and zesty” aroma, adding: “My tray now looks as good as new.”
Lynsey’s followers were captivated by her clever cleaning method, with one commenting: “Look at all the grease it removes – amazing results.”
Another said: “I love a good lemon trick. They always smell so nice,” and a third added: “So satisying.”
For those less inclined toward a citrus solution, swapping out lemon and bicarbonate of soda for baking soda and vinegar is another trick.
Just dust the tray with baking soda and drizzle over some vinegar for an effervescent action that helps dislodge stubborn dirt.
Afterwards, steep the tray in hot water, give it a scrub with a scourer and rinse well as needed.