Uses for Baking Soda: Cleaning Your Kitchen

To clean encrusted grease and food on roasting pans:

• Dampen with hot water.
• Sprinkle with baking soda.
• Let the pot sit for an hour.
• Sponge it clean.

To loosen baked- or dried-on food in the pans:

• Gently boil water and baking soda in the pans.
• When the food is loosened, cool the pan.
• Wipe it clean.

Enamel cookware can't handle abrasive cleaners. To clean enamel cookware:

• Apply a baking-soda paste.
• Let sit for an hour.
• Then clean with a synthetic scrubber.
• Rinse.

To remove stains from a nonstick pan:

• Boil 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 1/2 cup liquid bleach in the pan for several minutes.
• Wash the pan as usual.
• Use cooking oil to reseason.

To clean up burned-on stains on cookie sheets:

• Cover with baking soda.
• Then cover with hot water.
• Let soak for 10 minutes.
• Next, scour the sheet with baking soda and a scrubber.