After a holiday roast, a stainless steel roasting pan can look like a lost cause: dark baked-on drippings, sticky glaze and brown or rainbow stains. The good news is that stainless steel is very forgiving. With hot water, dish soap, baking soda and a little patience, almost every roasting pan comes back to a clean shine, without steel wool or harsh oven cleaner. Here’s the step-by-step method, plus fixes for the toughest messes.
Quick answer
- Pour off the fat and save the drippings for gravy while the pan is still warm.
- Deglaze: add 1/2 inch of water, bring it to a simmer on the stove, and scrape the browned bits loose with a wooden spatula.
- Soak in hot, soapy water for 15–30 minutes (or overnight for very baked-on residue).
- Scrub with a non-scratch sponge and baking soda paste, then rinse.
- Remove leftover brown or rainbow stains with an oxalic-acid cleanser such as Bar Keepers Friend, then rinse well and dry.
Stainless Steel Stain Fixer
Pick what you are cleaning and the problem. You get what to use, the steps, and what to avoid.
Always test a new cleaner in a hidden spot first and follow the maker's care instructions.
Step-by-step: how to clean a stainless steel roasting pan
1. Deal with the fat and drippings first
Let the pan cool until it’s safe to handle, but don’t let it sit overnight with drippings in it. Pour off the fat into a heat-safe container (never down the drain), and use the browned juices for gravy. The sooner you start, the easier the cleanup.
2. Deglaze on the stovetop
Set the roasting pan across two burners, add about 1/2 inch of water (or a mix of water and a splash of white vinegar), and bring it to a gentle simmer. As the water heats, scrape the bottom with a wooden or silicone spatula. Most of the stuck-on browned bits (the “fond”) lift right off in a few minutes. Pour the liquid away and let the pan cool slightly.
Tip: if your roasting pan isn’t stovetop-safe, or won’t sit flat across two burners, pour in boiling water from the kettle instead and let it stand for 10–15 minutes.
3. Soak in hot, soapy water
Fill the pan with the hottest tap water you can, add a good squeeze of dish soap, and soak it for 15–30 minutes. For residue that’s been baked on for hours, an overnight soak makes the next step much easier. Put the rack in to soak too.
4. Scrub with baking soda and a non-scratch sponge
Sprinkle baking soda over the remaining residue, add a few drops of water to make a paste, and scrub with a non-scratch sponge or nylon brush. On brushed stainless, scrub along the grain (the direction of the fine lines) to avoid swirl marks. Use a plastic pan scraper for thick spots.
5. Lift stubborn stains with an oxalic-acid cleanser
Brown discoloration, burnt-on grease films and blue or rainbow “heat tint” respond best to an oxalic-acid cleanser such as Bar Keepers Friend. Wet the pan, sprinkle or squeeze on the cleanser, rub gently with a damp sponge, and let it sit for no more than a minute. Then rinse thoroughly. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive.
6. Rinse, dry and buff
Rinse well with warm water and dry straight away with a towel to prevent water spots. For an extra shine, buff with a dry microfiber cloth.
How to remove the toughest roasting pan messes
| Problem | What works |
|---|---|
| Thick, baked-on drippings | Deglaze on the stove, then soak overnight in hot soapy water before scrubbing |
| Burnt sugar, honey or glaze | Cover with water plus 2 tablespoons of baking soda, simmer 10–15 minutes, cool, then scrub |
| Brown, greasy film that won’t wash off | Oxalic-acid cleanser (Bar Keepers Friend) with a damp non-scratch sponge |
| Rainbow or blue heat tint | A little white vinegar on a soft cloth, or an oxalic-acid cleanser, then rinse |
| White, chalky spots | Mineral deposits from hard water: wipe with diluted white vinegar, rinse and dry |
| Black residue in corners and around rivets | Baking soda paste and an old toothbrush |
| Small rust spots | Usually iron particles from steel wool or a cast-iron pan. Remove with an oxalic-acid cleanser and rinse well. |
For the full method on everyday cleaning, discoloration and rainbow stains on all stainless cookware, see how to clean stainless steel.
Cleaning the roasting rack
Racks collect the most baked-on grease and have lots of corners. Soak the rack in the hot soapy water with the pan, then scrub it with a bottle brush or dish brush, which reaches between the bars much better than a sponge. A paste of baking soda and water handles stubborn spots. If your rack has a nonstick coating, skip abrasive powders and scouring pads, which wear the coating off. Use only soap, soaking and a soft brush.
Can a stainless steel roasting pan go in the dishwasher?
Many stainless roasting pans are labeled dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is usually better:
- Large roasting pans often don’t fit, or they block the spray arms.
- Dishwasher detergent rarely removes baked-on drippings without a pre-soak.
- On clad pans (with an aluminum core), the exposed aluminum along the rim can darken in the dishwasher. That’s cosmetic, but permanent.
Check the manufacturer’s care instructions. More detail in are stainless steel pans dishwasher safe?
What not to use on a stainless roasting pan
- Steel wool or wire brushes: they scratch the surface and can leave iron particles behind that rust. A stainless-steel scrubber is safer but still scratches, so save it for the worst spots on the inside.
- Oven cleaner (lye): many cookware makers advise against it. It can discolor stainless and damage aluminum layers or coatings.
- Chlorine bleach: chlorides can cause pitting. Rinse immediately if bleach touches the pan.
- Cold water on a hot pan: sudden temperature changes can warp a thin roasting pan. Let it cool a little first.
How to keep your roasting pan easier to clean next time
- Add a little liquid: 1/2 to 1 cup of broth, wine or water in the bottom of the pan stops drippings from burning onto the metal (and gives you better gravy).
- Use the rack: lifting the roast lets fat drain away instead of frying onto the pan.
- Clean the same day: drippings that cool and sit overnight bake on harder.
- Dry immediately: towel-drying prevents the white water spots that dull stainless.
Thinking about a new roasting pan, or wondering why stainless is worth it? See our guide to stainless steel pots and pans and are stainless steel pans oven safe?
Products mentioned in this guide
Links go to Amazon so you can compare current options, prices and reviews.
- Stainless steel roasting pan with rack on Amazon - Tri-ply roasters heat evenly, can go on the stove for gravy, and clean up well.
- Bar Keepers Friend Cookware Cleanser on Amazon - Removes brown grease film, burnt-on residue and rainbow heat tint.
- Non-scratch scrub sponges on Amazon - Scrub baked-on drippings without scratching the stainless.
- Dish brush / bottle brush for the rack on Amazon - Gets between the bars of the roasting rack far better than a sponge.
As an Amazon Associate, SheetStainlessSteel.com earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our recommendations or your price.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get burnt-on grease off a stainless steel roasting pan?
Deglaze it with simmering water on the stove, soak it in hot soapy water (overnight if needed), then scrub with baking soda paste and a non-scratch sponge. Finish stubborn brown film with an oxalic-acid cleanser such as Bar Keepers Friend.
Can I use Bar Keepers Friend on a stainless steel roasting pan?
Yes. It’s one of the most effective cleaners for brown stains, burnt grease film and heat tint on uncoated stainless. Use it with a damp, non-scratch sponge, don’t let it sit for long, and rinse thoroughly.
How long should I soak a roasting pan?
15–30 minutes in hot soapy water is enough for most roasts. For heavily baked-on residue, soak it overnight.
Why does my stainless roasting pan have rainbow stains?
That’s heat tint, a thin oxide layer from high oven temperatures. It’s harmless, and white vinegar or an oxalic-acid cleanser removes it.
Can I put my stainless roasting pan on the stovetop?
Most heavy stainless roasting pans can go across two burners for deglazing or making gravy, but thin or nonstick-coated pans may warp. Check the manufacturer’s instructions first.
Is it OK to use foil in a stainless roasting pan?
Yes. Lining the bottom with foil can make cleanup easier, although you’ll lose some of the browned drippings that make good gravy.
Last updated: November 2026. Always follow your roasting pan manufacturer’s care instructions, especially for coated racks and clad pans.
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