You love homemade toffee, and it’s a favorite treat at your house. You’d make it more often except for one thing. The problem is cleaning up afterward.
The deliciously sticky toffee has cemented itself to your glass baking pan.
Before you toss the pan in the trash or spend hours trying to scrub it clean, there are a few tricks you can take advantage of.
Don’t let the dread of cleaning up affect your love of homemade toffee!
Keep reading to learn how to get toffee out of your glass cookware.
Give Up on Scrubbing
Your first instinct is to grab a scrubbing sponge and maybe even a spatula or another type of scraper.
It’s a good idea if you are dealing with burnt cheese and other stuck-on food residues.
When it comes to the stick goo the toffee left behind, you don’t have the physical strength or time to get your glass pan clean. The sticky mess also gets stuck on the sponge.
What’s worse is that the pan is still dirty, and you need another scouring pad.
Instead of scrubbing, try an easier cleaning method.
Get Rid of Stuck-On Toffee with Boiling Water
Boiling water is your best friend for any sticky treat that is heated above 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the substance starts cooling, you are left with a thick, sticky residue that’s impossible to scrub off with a sponge, but boiling water will do the trick.
How To Clean a Glass Pan with Boiling Water
It’s amazing how easy toffee comes off of a glass pan with boiling water. It also only takes minutes to clean the pan instead of hours.
The steps are simple, and the only ingredient you need is some water from the sink.
To clean the glass pan, first, boil a few cups of water. Once the water has boiled, add it to the pan slowly, a little at a time to prevent cracking.
As you add the boiling water, you’ll notice the sticky residue starting to separate from the pan. Keep adding hot water until all of the toffee-covered areas of the pan are completely submerged.
The longer you let the pan soak, the easier it is to wipe clean.
Any remaining residue can be easily scraped off with a spatula. Don’t use a scouring pad! The water can burn your skin, and the sticky goo will get stuck on the sponge.
Now, just pour the hot water down the sink drain and dry the pan. You may not want to let the glass pan drip dry.
Water spots can form. It doesn’t interfere with the toffee’s taste, but your pan won’t look clean.
Removing Toffee with Hot Milk, Cream, or Coffee
You can also use boiling milk, cream, and even coffee to get toffee out of glass pans.
It’s a trick restaurant chefs use when they are using the same pan repeatedly.
The cream or coffee adds another layer of flavor to the next sweet treat. It is also an effective way to remove the sticky residue.
The cleaning steps are the same as cleaning a pan with boiled water.
If you are baking multiple desserts for a party, it’s a helpful tip that will keep everything moving along smoothly in the kitchen.
The only difference is instead of pouring the liquid down the drain, save it in a small container.
The cream or coffee will have a slight toffee flavor that you can add to other desserts. Some ideas include toffee-flavored ice cream or panna cotta.
Also read: Best Pans for Making Candy
How to Keep Toffee From Sticking to a Glass Pan
It’s pretty much impossible to keep toffee from sticking to your glass pan, but there are steps you can take to minimize the mess.
Before you pour the mixture in, grab a stick of butter.
You’ll want to rub the butter liberally around the edges and sides of the pan. Make sure you coat the four corners; you’ll appreciate it when it’s time to start cleaning.
The reason you want to coat the sides with butter is to prevent the sugar from sticking to the pan as much as possible.
Another helpful tip is to always pour the mixture into the center of the pan. Carefully spread the liquid toffee out, but try to stay away from the sides.
Use Parchment Paper
Covering a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil is an easy way to keep most of the toffee from sticking to the glass pan.
When the toffee is finished cooking, pour it onto the covered baking sheet.
It will still be in liquid form, so you can easily smooth it out with a spatula. While the pan is still warm, fill it with hot water. Most of the sugar will dissolve away from the pan.
Enjoy Your Toffee
You don’t have to spend hours scrubbing your glass pan after making toffee.
There are a few simple hacks that will make clean-up a breeze. Boiling water is the fastest and easiest method.
You can also speed up cleaning when you pour the hot toffee onto parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Don’t forget to grease the sides of the pan! You’ll be glad you did when it’s time to start cleaning.
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