Baking trays are one of those things that we use to death – you’ll know the ones I’m talking about. There’s a layer of burnt food residue on the surface, and they’re singed to the point that we cringe when guests spot them. There’s no alternative but to replace them – or hide them under a layer of foil and try not to think about it (only joking – please do replace when it reaches this stage!).
But, before you chuck them out and send them to landfill – you can only recycle them via a local recycling centre – there are ways you can repurpose these old trays and give them a new lease of life. Here are seven of our favourite options.
1. Plant-drip tray
Plant-drip trays catch the residual water that trickles through the plant pot and out of the drainage holes. It keeps a reserve of moisture for the roots, so you don’t have to water the plant so often.
Old baking trays can act as plant-drip trays for several plants at once (depending on the size). You just sit the tray below the pot(s) – and voilà! Just remember to empty the trays routinely; if the roots sit in stagnant water for too long, it encourages rotting.
2. Magnet board
Being made of metal, your old oven tray can be reused as a makeshift magnet board in the kitchen! They’re ideal for pinning up shopping lists, to-do lists, receipts and any other bits of paper you want to keep handy.
If you want to make it look a little less rustic, you can always paint over it first and use a bookstand to keep it upright – or hang it on the wall directly with some picture hanging strips.
3. Oven crumb-catcher
Just because you’re done cooking on it doesn’t mean its work is finished in the oven. Old baking trays can be used to catch crumbs and spills from the lower shelf in the oven. It’s an alternative to buying an oven liner. Just remember to take it out and routinely clean it – otherwise the crumbs will start to smoke. This isn’t an excuse to stop wiping out the oven; you’ll still need to know how to clean an oven for a thorough sweep!
4. Muddy boot container
No one appreciates muddy footprints in the hallway. Instead, repurpose your old baking tray as a handy catchall for wet shoes and Wellington boots. Just keep it closely positioned to your doormat, so you can make the exchange seamlessly.
And when the time comes to wash the tray, it’s good to go straight in the dishwasher, but remember to scrape off any residual dirt first.
5. Washing machine cleaner
An oven tray might seem an unorthodox tool when you need to clean a washing machine, but it does help when the time comes to drain the filter (found behind the hatch at floor level). Some modern washing machines come with small built-in tubes to direct the filter water, but most just spill out on to the floor as you unscrew the filter.
An oven tray is one of the few things short enough to catch the stinky water, allowing you to drain it gradually without making a mess. Although we still recommend keeping a few towels on the floor, in case of spillages!
6. Birdbath
Give your garden birds something to chirp about with a makeshift birdbath. Just thoroughly clean the oven tray first (make sure there’s no rust), suspend it above ground level (you can create your own pedestal with an upturned plant pot or place it on the shed roof) and fill with water. Put a couple of stones in there to give them something to perch on, too.
Remember to clean the bath and replace the water regularly; every couple of days or so is recommended. Keep the water shallow, so it’s more attractive to passing birds.
7. Deep-clean it
If you want to give your oven tray a thorough once-over (there may still be life in it!), try soaking it in a solution of hot water (a large container or bathtub’s worth) mixed with 250g of soda crystals. Let it sit for a couple of hours then scrub with crumpled foil (unless it’s non-stick, in which case stick to a non-scratch scouring pad).
Alternatively, if it’s deep enough, you could fill it ¾ full with hot water, chuck a dishwasher tablet in, then heat it on the hob. Let it simmer for 10-20 minutes, then leave to cool and wash.
![Ninja Foodi ZeroStick Baking Tray ]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1773137502-ninja-tray-69afee42ec307.png?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Ninja Foodi ZeroStick Baking Tray ]")
