My Grandma has five or six cookie sheets. Sure, she uses them to bake cookies, but what else can you do with one?
10 Uses for a Cookie Sheet
- Freeze individual foods. When we have a glut of fresh fruit, we freeze it to use later. Unfortunately, if you put a pint of raspberries into a zip-top bag and freeze the bag, you'll end up with a mass of frozen berries. Instead, we spread the fruit (cherries, berries, orange slices, or whatever) out in a single layer on a cookie sheet. A few hours later, after it's is completely frozen, we transfer it to the zip-top bag. That way, we have individually frozen fruits, and we can use a few at a time. We especially like to use those berries as ice cubes in a glass of water or added to a smoothie.
- Heat convenience foods. Whether you're heating chicken nuggets, frozen pies, or hot pepper poppers, a cookie sheet will allow air to circulate around the food, cooking it evenly.
- Homemade pizza. Normal pizza is great, but you can roll out a package of pre-made crescent rolls for a quicker crust. Top it with pizza sauce and cheese, ranch dressing, spiced cream cheese and veggies, or even sweetened cream cheese and fruit. Delicious!
- Quesadillas. Start with 2 flour or corn tortillas. Place the tortillas side by side on a cookie sheet, and cook for 4 to 6 minutes at 350. When both are crispy and toasted, top one of them with a couple of handfuls of shredded cheese, your favorite toppings, and the second toasted tortilla. Bake for another minute or two, until the cheese is melted.
- Baked tofu. I know that many people dislike tofu on principle, but I adore it. I think it's best when cooked so that the outside is crispy and the inside is a little soft. You can deep fry it to get that consistency, but baking is just as good. Start with extra firm tofu. Drain it and squeeze it lightly between two paper towels. Dice the tofu, roll it around in your favorite spice (mine is taco seasoning), and bake it at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour.
- Bagel chips. Cut a bagel into long strips. Sprinkle with seasonings (cinnamon and sugar for a sweet bagel or onion and garlic powder, BBQ seasoning, or ranch dressing powder for a savory one) and bake at 350 for 7 to 10 minutes. Flip over and bake another 5 to 7 minutes.
- Roast pumpkin seeds. After you've carved your jack-o-lantern or prepared your pumpkin puree, don't toss the seeds. Roast them on a cookie sheet for a wonderful evening snack.
- Shrinky dinks. I wonder if everyone's Shrinky Dinks stick to the cookie sheet like mine do. I have the easiest time unsticking them from a metal cookie sheet.
- Make an advent calendar. I think this is genius. To make it, you'll paint an old cookie sheet and use magnets to make the calendar.
- Bake clay ornaments. You can use cookie cutters to make homemade dough shapes, then bake the shapes on a cookie sheet to preserve them.
What do you use cookie sheets for?
Have you seen the rest of the series?
- 10 Things to Make with a Bundt Pan
- 10 Things to Make with a Muffin Pan
- 10 Foods and 10 Crafts to Make with Cookie Cutters
- 10 Things to Make with a Scoop
- 10 Things to Make with a Mandoline
- 10 Things to Make in a Springform Pan
- 10 Uses for an Icing Decorator
- 10 Foods and 10 Crafts to Make with Bamboo Skewers
- 10 Ways to Use a Coffee Grinder
- 10 Foods to Make with a Blender
MusingsfromMe says
I trained to be a DJ when I was in college. I loved music. Loved playing...dare I say it...my record collection. CDs were becoming popular. I know, I know, I'm kind of a dinosaur! But, what does my comment have to do with baking trays/cookie sheets?
Well, I'll tell you. My mother would send me 7" singles that she purchased from the HMV or Virgin Record Stores in England. She would go to the record store, ask someone what was popular, buy the records, and ship them to me sandwiched betweeen two baking trays or cookie sheets. I would "debut" the 7" singles on my radio show.
Now, bear in mind that I was playing English New Wave music...in the 80s...on a college radio station...in Lancaster, PA. I probably had an audience of 1! All the other DJs played heavy metal or Grateful Dead bootlegs.
jubilee says
We've done the pumpkin seeds and love them! And, yes, our shrinky dinks always, ALWAYS stuck to the cookie sheet! 🙂
kelly @ miskellany says
I love your tofu baking idea. I usually soak ours in soy sauce, bread it in a mix of wheat flour, cornmeal, italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, and fry it in olive oil. But I will definitely need to try baking!
Betsy (Eco-novice) says
Yes, I definitely need to try baking tofu. I often fry it for stir-fries, but I need to try baking it (as soon as it cools down). I like your top ten series with bakeware idea.
Susan Lindgren says
We use our cookie sheets for long car rides- perfect trays for eating and coloring and they slip underneath the car seat.
Anonymous says
On today's Oprah Show, Martha Stewart baked her homemade blueberry pie atop a cookie sheet. The cookie sheet caught the overflow from the fruit without making a big mess in the oven.
Anonymous says
On today's Oprah Show, Martha Stewart baked her homemade blueberry pie atop a cookie sheet. The cookie sheet caught the overflow from the fruit without making a big mess in the oven.
Robyn's Online World says
Cookie sheets also make great magnet boards for magnetic letters or for the little magnetic shapes, poetry words, etc. Nice for if the kids are sick in bed and want something to do or if you are homeschooling and need a portable magnetic surface.
If you are crafting and have small things like glitter, beads, sequins, etc., cookie trays with lips make a nice work surface.
Robyn's Online World says
Cookie sheets also make great magnet boards for magnetic letters or for the little magnetic shapes, poetry words, etc. Nice for if the kids are sick in bed and want something to do or if you are homeschooling and need a portable magnetic surface.
If you are crafting and have small things like glitter, beads, sequins, etc., cookie trays with lips make a nice work surface.
Rachel Ramey says
My mom just pointed out to my sister and me the other day that this can be laid across the top of a 13x9" or similar baking dish when it needs to be covered and doesn't have a lid. (It will be nice to avoid all the aluminum foil that wastes!)
Anonymous says
Great idea!
Anonymous says
I found another great idea at Parent Hacks. You can use a cookie sheet as a car travel tray.
http://www.parenthacks.com/2010/10/cookie-sheet-as-car-travel-tray.html
Lydia says
I love the quesadilla idea. Much healthier (and easier too!) than frying!
Loveofmath says
I put a brown paper bag on the cookie sheet before I put the shrinky dinks on and have never had them stick.
I use mine to take stuff out to the patio when we're eating out there, so I don't need to make so many trips with mustard, relish, etc.
Anonymous says
Oh, good plan! I never thought to use a paper bag with the Shrinky Dinks. Thanks!
Magnetic Beads says
Great! Thank for information, I'm looking for it for a long time,
Magnetic Beads says
Great! Thank for information, I'm looking for it for a long time,