References
Writer Bio
Fred Decker is a trained chef, former restaurateur and prolific freelance writer, with a special interest in all things related to food and nutrition. His work has appeared online on major sites including Livestrong.com, WorkingMother.com and the websites of the Houston Chronicle and San Francisco Chronicle; and offline in Canada's Foodservice & Hospitality magazine and his local daily newspaper. He was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
Oh, no – my muffin pan is covered with baked-on eggs. What now? The good news is, there are several simple solutions utilizing ingredients you likely have on hand. With some soaking, baking, and scrubbing, you can make your muffin pan look new.
Hey, hey, hey! I’m Michelle, and well, I don’t always use my head when I’m baking. Sometimes, I forget to apply nonstick essentials before I bake up some treats. Of course, that equates to stuck-on grime. Luckily, I’ve learned to tackle baked egg and get it off my muffin pan for good.
If you’re ready to say sayonara to your grimey muffin pans, keep reading. I have listed many ways to eliminate baked-on messes and return your muffin pan to look new!
Get ready to bust out your trusted cleaning supplies, bakers!
Below, you will find six ways to handle baked-on messes on your muffin pan. Why so many choices? Well, to be frank, one baked-on mess is not the same as another. Sometimes, it’s just a few egg pieces here and there. Other times, it’s quite the fiasco.
With that in mind, I’m providing a lengthy list to handle any baked-on egg disasters that come your way.
1. Let it Soak
The number one thing you need to do is let your muffin pan soak. To do this, you will want to fill your sink with hot water and a few squirts of your favorite dishwashing soap.
There is no specific timeframe for how long you should let it soak. Some people will prefer to leave their muffin pan soaking all night, and that’s fine. Others who tend to rush things (like me) can get by with a few minutes.
Keep in mind that the amount of time necessary for soaking depends on the volume of the baked-on egg, too. If I’m having a huge issue with baked-on grime, I will likely let it soak for at least a half-hour before trying to scrub.
2. Dish Soap and Scrubber
Now that the soaking part is over, it’s time to see if this will be a simple fix (or not). This next step is pretty simple. Bust out your preferred dish soap (again) and your favorite scrubber. Personally, I love Brillo pads or any scrubber with slight abrasiveness.
You should be able to tackle any baked-on eggs with a quick scrubbing. Sometimes, you might need to put a little elbow grease behind it. Give it all you got!
3. Use Salt
So, still struggling with baked-on eggs, huh? Been there, done that. Now it’s time to use an ingredient you likely used in the recipe that created this whole mess – salt. Salt has a subtle abrasiveness that can work well at stuck-on grime and goop.
To do this, simply sprinkle some salt on top of the muffin pan. Then, use your scrubber to try to rub the baked-on eggs off of your muffin pan. This should do the trick. If not, keep reading.
4. Try a White Vinegar and Hot Water Soak
When you’re struggling with a cleaning nightmare, there seems to always be one trusty sidekick – white vinegar. Is there anything white vinegar can’t clean? With its non-toxic and powerful cleaning capabilities, it’s no wonder why this next step includes white vinegar.
For this next step, you will be doing a white vinegar and hot water soak. Simply fill your sink with boiling hot water and a cup of white vinegar. Let the muffin pan sit for a while. Twenty minutes is typically a good amount of time, although you can always go longer.
When you’re done with the soak, try scrubbing once more.
Aside from being a powerful cleaning agent, as a bonus benefit, white vinegar removes the smell of burnt-on eggs, too. This is imperative when you’re an avid baker and don’t want scents transferring from good to good!
5. Cook with Baking Soda
At this point, if you still have baked-on egg mess, you likely feel like you want to pull your hair out. How do I know this? Because I have been there. Sometimes, baked-on eggs are more of a burnt disaster, and it seems like nothing will work.
Well, this is a more time-consuming option, but it does work! Preheat your oven to 350F. Sprinkle the pan with baking soda and pour some water into the compartments. Let the muffin pan ‘bake’ for around twenty to thirty minutes.
Once removed (be careful – it’s hot!), scrub the pan with an abrasive brush or sponge. There is almost no chance that your muffin pan will hold onto baked-on messes when the power of heat and baking soda are involved!
Bonus Tip: Try a Dryer Sheet
I don’t know about you, but I love quirky cleaning methods, and I am always looking to try something new. Sound like you? Then try the dryer sheet method! To do this method, all you need to do is fill your sink with hot water and place a dryer sheet or two on top.
Let the muffin pan soak for a while before scrubbing. Does it work? Sure. Is it quirky? Absolutely! You can use this fun method in place of the original soak or white vinegar and hot water soak.
One of the biggest bonuses of using the dryer sheet method is that your kitchen will smell so delightful, like a fresh batch of laundry. Seeing as how that’s one of my favorite scents on planet earth, it’s really no wonder why I enjoy using the dryer sheet method for cleaning muffin pans!
FAQs
Have more questions about cleaning a muffin pan? Below are some commonly asked questions you might want to know the answers to.
How do you get burnt eggs off a stainless steel pan?
When working with a stainless steel pan, the best thing to do is pour water into the pan and boil it for three minutes. Then, use a spatula or another scraper to remove the burnt-on eggs. If the pan can’t be boiled, you can also use the baking method above.
How do you get burnt egg off a nonstick pan?
It’s really no different than the methods listed above. However, nonstick pans tend to do well with white vinegar and hot water soak. To do this, simply fill a sink with hot water and white vinegar and place the muffin pan inside for twenty minutes.
Why are my eggs sticking to my nonstick pan?
When cooked, the egg proteins bond with the pan. The best way to avoid this is by ensuring a nonstick coating between the pan and the egg. Butter and oil are great options, especially when making muffins. However, a liberal application of nonstick cooking spray is safe and reliable.
Final Thoughts
A baked-on egg mess that won’t come off of your muffin pan can be quite a nuisance, but it doesn’t mean it’s there to stay. There are plenty of ways to remove baked-on eggs from your muffin pan, whether you prefer a soaking, baking, or scrubbing method – or all three!
How do you get baked eggs off of your muffin pan? Comment below so we can try it out!
About Michelle
I don't care for scrubbing. Too much work, and you end up with a scrubber that looks vile. Try this instead: Rinse the eggy pan, add Washing Soda and 2 drops of dish wash soap. Now push the solids around with a soft spatula. How nicely the residue sort of rolls up and liquifies! Scrape the pan bottom with a steel spatula if necessary. Let it stand for a few minutes. The gunk will come off easily when you rub with a soapy wash cloth under a trickle of running water.
Washing Soda is basically sodium carbonate, is my impression.(I use "Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda". In my part of the world it comes in a yellow cardboard box.) Maybe Baking Soda would work too? (That is bicarbonate of soda.) I'm going to try the Ammonia idea someone contributed.
Do NOT use non-stick pans! You very well know that the non-stick coating wears off. Bits of that coating end up inside of anyone who eats your cooking. Assuredly, we were not built to ingest those man-made scrapings. For the love of your descendants, don't implant toxic waste in your kids' bodies.