The Easy Potato Hack to Clean Rusty Pans

If your baking sheets look more like relics from a shipwreck than tools for roasting veggies, you’re not alone. Baking sheets are the unsung heroes of the kitchen—they take the hits so your cookies, chicken wings, and one-pan dinners can shine. But after years of sizzling under broilers and catching caramelized drips, they inevitably start to show some battle scars. The most dreaded? Rust.

Now, before you toss your pan in the trash or brace yourself for a bicep workout with steel wool, let me introduce you to an unlikely hero in this saga: the humble potato. Yep, the same starchy sidekick that makes perfect fries is also a secret rust-busting weapon.

Wait—A Potato? Really?

Yes, really. Potatoes contain oxalic acid, a naturally occurring compound that reacts with rust and helps lift it away. Pair that with a little grit from baking soda or a squirt of dish soap, and you’ve got a surprisingly effective, all-natural scrubber. Science and snacks—two of our favorite things.

Here’s How to Do It:

1. Clean the battlefield first. Wipe off any grease or leftover food bits from your pan so you’re just dealing with rust.

2. Slice your scrubber. Cut a potato in half (russet potatoes work best—they’re large, sturdy, and have plenty of oxalic acid).

3. Load it up. Dip the cut side of the potato into baking soda or dish soap. Both give you an extra boost.

4. Scrub like you mean it. Rub the potato over the rusty areas, pressing down so the potato’s juices and your cleaner of choice can do their thing.

5. Refresh as needed. If the potato’s end gets too worn or gunky, slice off a fresh layer, dip again, and keep scrubbing.

Why Russets Rule

While you could technically use any potato, russets are ideal because they’re big enough to grip comfortably and they pack higher levels of oxalic acid than smaller, waxier spuds. Translation: less slipping around, more rust removal.

The Payoff

With a little elbow grease (but not too much), you’ll see your pan’s rusty patches fade and its shine come back to life. Is it going to look brand new? Probably not—it’s still a pan that’s been through years of oven wars. But will it be usable, clean, and far less embarrassing the next time someone spots it in your kitchen? Absolutely.

So the next time you’re staring down a rusty baking sheet, skip the steel wool and skip the guilt-trip shopping spree. Grab a potato instead. Who knew the ultimate side dish could also be the ultimate sidekick?