How to Use and Clean a Silicone Baking Mat? Silicone baking mats are commonplace in professional and restaurant kitchens, but they are also useful in the home. These mats can be used up to 3,000 times before they need to be replaced and are safe for use with both sweet and savory dishes in the oven. We consulted industry professionals to learn the best way to make hot pads with Insul bright and how to care for these nonstick baking mats .
Use mild soaps or make your own simple cleaning solutions. Meredith Abbott, manager of culinary content at Sur La Table, advises, “Always clean the Omega juicer before using it.”
According to Chelsea David, a Silpat brand ambassador, the best dish soaps have a balanced pH balance and a few additional perfumes. Start by washing your mat with a soft sponge or a dry dish towel to avoid damaging the material. David chimes in, “Nothing too harsh.” You must be careful not to damage the silicone finish.
It’s important to keep in mind that normal use will inevitably cause some wear and tear on your mat. When asked about the discoloration of Silpat, David said, “Discoloration is natural and expected with any silicone-based product.”
To paraphrase the manufacturer: “Cleaning your mat will not restore it to when it initially came out of the packaging, but it can help with any loose dirt, oily texture, and residual aromas.”
Can a silicone baking mat be cleaned naturally?
If you’re out of soap or just want to use something more natural, try mixing some lemon juice with baking soda. Crate & Barrel’s brand buyer for kitchen utility, bakeware, and food, Sophia Kvochak, recommends soaking the mats in hot water with a squeeze of lemon to help break up any residual grease left on the mat.
David suggests using lemon juice to eliminate any lingering scents from your recipe but also suggests rinsing the mat, sprinkling it with baking soda, letting it set for a few minutes, and then scrubbing it with a sponge.
What About Super-Greasy Buildup?
Do you know how to use and clean a silicone baking mat? There shouldn’t be too many stubborn stains, as silicone baking mats are nonstick materials.
If you keep your mats clean after each bake, getting sticky residue off is incredibly easy as it should just peel off, explains Vanessa Burrow, founder of silicone baking mat brand Kitzini. On the other hand, “this can be considerably difficult if there is a bit of residue that you miss and then it gets re-baked on.”
Abbott recommends either submerging the mat in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes or baking it on a wire rack at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes to solve these problems. In either case, Abbott recommends giving your mat a good “scrub with grease-fighting dish soap and hot water.”
Can I safely put my silicone mats in the dishwasher?
Although dishwashers can be used to clean these baking mats, there is some debate about whether or not this is the best option. David suggests using the dishwasher; nevertheless, he emphasizes the importance of using a mild detergent.
David adds that some detergents and pods contain chlorine that is too corrosive and can speed up the breakdown of the silicone. For those who want a detergent without chlorine, fragrances, or dyes, we suggest Cascade’s Free & Clear ($20.99 for 16) on Target.com.
It also matters how you load the mats into the machine. Avoid folding them by placing them gently over two racks in a ‘U’ form, as Burrow suggests. Burrow adds, “In my experience, the dishwasher does not usually clean them as well as you can by hand.”
Similarly, Kvochak exclusively advocates hand washing the mats. It really is up to you to decide which approach to take.
How Frequent to Clean Silicone Baking Mats
If you use a silicone mat for baking, wash it after each use. Although dishwasher safe, silicone mats typically last longer if washed by hand. If the mat gets sticky, it needs a deeper cleaning to get rid of the oils that have built up over time and are making it sticky.
Use a dish detergent with a degreaser to clean the mats in a sink full of warm water. You may clean the mat without damaging it by using a soft sponge to wipe along each side. Make sure to give it a thorough wash in warm water.
The mat should be dried with a lint-free microfiber dish towel or let air dry in a dishrack, which could take a few hours.