I Tried This $3 “Miracle in a Can” to Clean My Gunkiest Cookware, and I’m Never Going Back
My sheet pans are a sorry sight. I figured one of them was past the point of no return, but then I remembered I had one more trick up my sleeve: an inexpensive powder, what some might call “magic in a can,” known as Bar Keepers Friend.
Bar Keepers Friend (BKF) has been around forever — well, since 1882, that is. It comes highly recommended by pro cleaners and DIYers alike. Because I’m never one to say no to a tried-and-true cleaning method, I splurged a whole $3 to get a container to see if it would work on my gross cookie sheets. My stainless steel kitchen sink got in on the deal, too. Keep scrolling to see how it all fared.
The “Magic in a Can” and How to Use It
There are quite a few formulas of BKF on the market, including liquid. But anyone who’s ever recommended it to me tells me the OG powder cleanser — even though there is one made specifically for cookware — is the only one you need for multiple surfaces, whether you’re scrubbing a stovetop or an enamel tub. Fine by me. I like it when one formula works for everything, so I got the regular cleanser.
It’s not difficult to use Bar Keepers Friend, although I would always recommend reading the label to see what you can and can’t use it on to avoid damaging any delicate surfaces. Then, proceed as follows:
1. Sprinkle some powder on a wet surface.
2. Rub gently using a wet cloth or sponge. (The idea is to let the powder do most of the grunt work.)
3. After a minute, rinse thoroughly.
4. Wipe dry.
I want to draw your attention to step three, as the product instructions say that you should only leave this on for a minute. I definitely scrubbed for a bit longer than a minute before rinsing, and everything was fine. I’ve also been told that you can mix BKF with water and leave the paste on a surface for several minutes. All cookware and surfaces in these scenarios have survived. My point is this: Always do a spot test before leaving on any cleanser longer than the recommended time.
Here’s What Happened When I Used Bar Keepers Friend All Over My Kitchen
I tried it on three different items: one slightly dirty sheet pan, another that’s so cruddy it’s likely headed for the trash, and my kitchen sink and strainer. All told, my experiment took about 15 minutes. Here’s how it went.
1. Semi-Gross Sheet Pan
Effort level: Medium
Results: The pan looks like new!
This one only recently started looking gross, thanks to some cooked-on grease accumulating in the corners. I’ve tried soaking it in hot water and Dawn dish soap then scrubbing, but it clearly needs something stronger. So I grabbed my can of BKF and a sponge and went to work.
Now, I wish I could tell you that BKF is one of those set-it-and-forget-it cleansers, but it’s not. You do need to use some elbow grease, but not much; the abrasive powder does do some of the work for you. I had some time while I was baking a loaf of banana bread to concentrate on the task, so I really pushed the sponge into those corners. I was shocked to see the marks disappear. In just a few minutes, I had what looked like a new sheet pan. It was amazing!
2. Really Stained Sheet Pan
Effort level: Medium
Results: The pan feels cleaner, but the discoloration is here to stay.
Despite the great results I got on the first sheet pan, I monitored my expectations with this one. It’s an older sheet pan, for starters — I think I’ve had it around for at least five years. In addition to it being a bit crusty, it’s become discolored over the years. I ran my hand over some of the darkened areas and found there was nothing much to remove. Still, I sprinkled some BKF over it. I actually made it into a paste over the really offensive areas; I figured this was destined for the garbage soon anyway, so I’d try it out.
The dark stains from endless trips in and out of the oven stayed put, but the sheet pan felt much cleaner. I ran my hand over it again — and yup, it was smooth. I think I would try making a paste again and letting it stay for longer, but I will say that I was impressed enough by the results to keep this sheet pan around a bit longer.
3. Kitchen Sink
Effort level: Light/Medium
Results: I can’t stop staring at my clean sink and “new” sink strainer!
My kitchen sink got a bonus scrub-down, as it had already been splattered with the BKF when I was cleaning the sheet pans. I sprinkled some more powder and got to work. The stainless steel sink itself was shiny and clean in just a couple of minutes. I recently ran my OXO sink strainer through a dishwasher cycle or two with little to show for it, so I was quite thrilled to see that after a sprinkle of BKF and a couple of swipes, the strainer looked shiny and new.
However, the drain opening still needed some TLC. I added a bit more BKF, scrubbed harder, and was rewarded with a cleaner drain in just a few minutes. I realized I would need a smaller brush to get in the nooks and crannies, but because I didn’t have time for that, I was happy with my overall results.
The sun was streaming into my kitchen when I was working, and it was reflecting off my newly clean sink and sheet pan, making them look even shinier and cleaner. My sponge looks like it’s destined for the garbage, but I’m glad to say I plan to hold on to my now not-so-grungy sheet pan a bit longer.
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: I Tried This $3 “Miracle in a Can” to Clean My Gunkiest Cookware, and I’m Never Going Back