Help please ..... stop me ruining my roasting/baking tins!

organic_wanabe

I have recently treated myself to a couple of 'Mermaid' tins for roasting/baking etc. However, they have come without any "care instructions". I have lost count of the number of tins that I have bought and ruined - either by putting them in the dishwasher or keeping them stored in the oven (even when it is on). The only ones which have managed to withstand my "care" are two enamel ones which are great - the others all look awful. So please keep me from ruining my new ones - I've lusted after the "Mermaid" ones for ages .

Oh another thing - can the 'Mermaid' ones be used directly on the hob?

Primrose

Am not sure I'm familiar with Mermaid tins, but after removing roasts and all the juices (and having mopped up the residue with a piece of bread as "cooks perks", I always try to put my roasting tins to soak immediately in hot soapy water before even sitting down to eat. It doesn't take a moment and I find this prevents all those black " baked on" hard crusty bits from taking hold as soaking removes almost everything if done quickly enough. I don't store my tins at the bottom of the oven when it is on, although I do occasionally put them in the oven to thoroughly dry out once it has been switched off. Am not terribly keen on putting mine in the dishwasher. I find that the tablets seem very harsh on tins of any kind.

maypole

I have Mermaid baking tins from Lakeland. I just soak and wash as normal, don't use a harsh scourer on them. They always get a little discoloured with all the use. I do not have a dish washer so can't advise you there.

I use the roasting tin on the hob just to keep fat hot while I add roast potatoes before putting back into the oven.

organic_wanabe

Thanks Maypole - maybe I should have stuck to enamel as they don't change colour at all, they still look as good as the day I bought them. I have always wanted 'Mermaid' because all the chefs seem to rate them highly- and when I see them using them they always look new (of course maybe they are!). I get the distinct feeling that I'm going to be disappointed and would have been better spending my money on wine!!!

liz545

I don't have any mermaid tins, but I do have a hard-anodised frying pan, which is the same kind of material. It's very durable so should be fine to use directly on the hob, but don't put them in the dishwasher or use abrasive cleaners like power sprays etc - just hot soapy water should be fine.

noonesperfect

I wouldn't advise putting them in the dishwasher, the harsh (almost sand-blasting) action of the detergent would most likely harm them. Better to be safe than sorry.
I don't put any baking tins/sheets in mine now. I tried when I first got it (the dishwasher) but they came out rusty :eek: .

scotrae

Have you ever used Teflon baking sheets? You can buy them for around £1.99 and use them at any standard oven temperature. It saves having to grease tins or having things stick to the bottom and mine have always washed very easily in soapy water, no matter what's been stuck to them.

Unfortunately a parent helper threw mine away in her enthusiasm to clean up for me after a school cookery class! (Where have those angry, jumping smilies disappeared to?!)

MONEYMAKINGMUM

Are the mermaid tins non stick? All non stick coating peels over time so the metal goes rusty. My enamel tins cost a little more but have outlasted others by years.
I hadn't heard of the mermaid ones til just now... amazon £45 omg! Wash them with cotton wool & tepid water like a baby

deebee

like the wine idea myself

organic_wanabe

Thanks for the replies. I'll do as scotrae recommends and line them with the Teflon as I already use it when I am baking my bread and scones - though it means that I'll have to go to the added expense of buying another roll! I just hate it when tins get a burnt on residue of grease and it makes them look dirty. However, if I ever have to buy any more (and I hope I wont) I will certainly go for enamel as they are easy to clean, don't mark but have the same good heat conducting properties.

maypole

The beauty of the mermaid baking tins is that they do not warp or bend like some cheaper ones do.

They do not have a non stick coating, they are hard anodised, this is not a surface coating.

Look up on the lakeland website maybe they can tell you more. You can get a special cleaner for them I believe at Lakeland too.