If you use your silicone Silpat baking mat often, it has probably become bit stained and may even have an odor. Here’s how to clean Silpats easily and effectively!
I love using my Silpats for anything that I make on a baking sheet. They’re so effective at creating a non-stick surface, they reduce waste because I don’t have to use parchment paper as often, and honestly, they just make me feel like I know what I’m doing. After all, Martha Stewart has been using Silpat baking mats for her baking forever. The one thing I’ve noticed with them is that while technically they’re an easy clean-up solution because you really only have to rinse them with soapy water and dry them after each use, that doesn’t really clean everything off of them. Just like other bakeware, they get a bit of “seasoning” on them from the combination of oils, sugars, and heat that comes along with regular baking practices. Of course, the seasoning isn’t really a problem and they’re fine to continue to use once they’ve got that staining on them, but I still felt like I’d prefer to get them a little cleaner, if possible.
There’s a good chance that Martha had an endless supply of new Silpats that she used when she was filming her baking segments, and that probably led to me feeling like they didn’t look quite right with the staining, especially when I wanted to share a photo of something that I was making in my stories. So I guess I was influenced to want cleaner Silpats. Luckily, there’s a way! Here’s how to clean Silpats.
What is a Silpat?
Silpats are a brand of reusable nonstick silicone baking mats, and they’re one of my most loved baking accessories and pastry tools. They act as a cookie-sheet liner or as an oven-safe protective layer over your baking pan, sheet pan, or jelly roll pan. Although Silpat makes silicone baking mats in many different shapes and sizes, the most commonly used one fits a standard half sheet pan.
Another benefit of using these liners on your baking trays is that they produce the most beautiful cookies and baked goods that are evenly browned on the bottom and prepared to perfection. When you use silicone liners, your trays no longer need to be lined with baking paper or sheets of parchment. The need for cooking spray is removed as well when your recipe calls for a greased baking sheet because a Silpat has a non-stick surface, making it an economical and ecologically friendly solution.
Silpats can be used for other culinary pursuits as well such as oven baking vegetables, cooking a roast, or making crispy potatoes.
Tools Needed to Clean Silpats
- A sponge or soft brush
- Lemon juice
- Baking soda
There really are so many cleaning uses for baking soda, aren’t there?
How to Clean Silpat Baking Mats to Remove Stains, Grease, and Odors
Cleaning silicone baking mats is just so simple. I’m kind of laughing at myself for not realizing that there was such a quick and easy solution all along.
First, add about 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice to a small bowl. Mix in enough baking soda to form a loose paste.
Place your Silpat down in the bottom of an empty sink and scoop the baking soda paste onto it. Scrub it around over the surface of your Silpat in a circular motion with your hand or a brush, covering the whole thing.
Leave the paste on your Silpat for about 10-30 minutes, then add a bit of water and scrub it in a bit more with a sponge or a scrub brush for about a minute, before rinsing the Silpat clean. Dry it with a towel or put it on a drying rack to air dry. Your cooling rack for baking is actually a perfect place for drying your mats as well.
If you had a bit of a greasy residue on your Silpat that you just couldn’t get rid of, that will be completely gone, along with any lingering odors. Staining will also be dramatically reduced, and your Silpat should look (almost) as good as new. Time to bake something else and make a mess of it again! 🙂
Apparently, you can also clean Silpats in the dishwasher! This may not help with stains, but it should make a big difference as far as greasy build-up and baking odors are concerned. Just roll the mat up loosely or fold it in half and place it on the top rack along with your regular load of dishes if you’d like to try this easy cleaning solution for silicone baking liners.
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.