Baking Soda: The Ultimate Pan Savior?

Burnt pans are a common occurrence in the kitchen, but the good news is that they can usually be salvaged. There are several methods for cleaning burnt pans, and one of the most popular and effective methods is to use baking soda. Baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is a mild abrasive with alkaline properties, which can help to neutralise acidic burnt foods and loosen them from the pan. It can also be combined with an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice to create a fizzing reaction that helps to shift stubborn burnt-on food.

Baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda is a versatile natural cleaner that can be used to clean your burnt pans. It has mild abrasive properties and its alkaline pH can help neutralise acidic burnt foods. When combined with vinegar, it creates a fizzing reaction that helps loosen burnt food, making it easier to scrub off. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use baking soda and vinegar to clean your burnt pans:

Step 1: Remove Burnt Food and Debris

Start by scraping off as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. Use a spatula or scraper to dislodge the burnt-on food. You can also use a wooden spoon or a nylon brush to remove as much of the burnt residue as you can.

Step 2: Boil Water and Vinegar

Once you have removed the bulk of the burnt food, it's time to start cleaning the pan. Put the pan back on the stove and heat it until a droplet of water sizzles. Then, add one cup of water or a mixture of half water and half white vinegar to the hot pan. Let this mixture come to a boil and simmer for a few minutes. The vinegar will help break down the burnt-on food, making it easier to remove.

Step 3: Deglaze the Pan

As the liquid is simmering, use a spatula or scraper to deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening any remaining bits of burnt food. Continue to simmer the liquid and scrape the pan until most of the burnt-on food has been loosened.

Step 4: Add Baking Soda

After deglazing the pan, pour the liquid down the sink and do not dry or wipe the pan. Instead, sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool. The baking soda will react with the vinegar, creating a fizzing reaction that helps to loosen any remaining burnt-on food.

Step 5: Scrub the Pan

Once the pan has cooled, it's time to scrub off the remaining residue. Using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pan vigorously. The baking soda will provide extra scrubbing power, helping to remove even the most stubborn stains. If needed, add more baking soda as you scrub to create a paste.

Step 6: Rinse and Dry

Once all the stains and scorch marks have been removed, rinse the pan with warm water and dry it thoroughly. Your pan should now be clean and free of any burnt-on food or stains!

Additional Tips:

• For heavier duty cleaning, you can add white vinegar to the baking soda paste before scrubbing. This will create a stronger chemical reaction to break down burnt-on food.
• For non-stick pans, it is important to use a nylon brush or non-scratching sponge to avoid damaging the coating.
• Always allow your pans to cool completely before attempting to clean them to avoid warping or damaging the cookware.
• Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads, oven cleaners, bleach, or strong abrasive cleaners as these can scratch your cookware.

Deglazing technique

The deglazing technique is a great way to loosen burnt food from your pan and make a delicious sauce or gravy at the same time. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

First, remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. Then, put the pan back on the stove and heat it until a droplet of water sizzles when dropped on the surface. Next, add one cup of water or a mixture of half water and half white vinegar to the hot pan and let it boil. As the liquid simmers, use a spatula or scraper to deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening the bits of burnt food.

Once you have loosened as much of the burnt food as possible, pour the liquid into the sink and do not dry or wipe the pan. Instead, sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool. Finally, using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pot bottom vigorously. Wash and dry the pan as normal once all stains and scorched bits have been removed.

The deglazing technique is not only an effective way to remove burnt food from your pan, but it also allows you to harness all the extra flavor that would otherwise be scrubbed off and poured down the sink. So, the next time you have a burnt pan, give the deglazing technique a try!

Baking soda and lemon

Baking soda is a versatile natural cleaner that can be used to clean burnt pans. It has mild abrasive properties and its alkaline pH can help neutralise acidic burnt foods. It can also combine with an acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, to create a fizzing reaction that helps loosen burnt food.

The Baking Soda & Lemon Method

• Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Keep a thin layer of water in the pan, then sprinkle the bottom liberally with baking soda.
• Cut a lemon in half and use the flesh side to scour the pan with the baking soda slurry. The combination of the acidic lemon juice and the alkaline baking soda may fizz slightly, which is a good sign!
• If your pan has a copper bottom that has become blackened or tarnished, turn the pot upside down and use this method to remove the stains and restore the shine.

Other Methods

There are several other methods for cleaning a burnt pan with baking soda:

The Deglazing Technique

• Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Put the pan back on the stove and heat until a droplet of water sizzles.
• Add 1 cup of water or a mixture of ½ water and ½ white vinegar to the hot pan and allow to boil. Use more liquid for a large pot or pan.
• As the liquid simmers, use a spatula or scraper to deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening bits of burnt food.
• Pour the liquid into the sink and do not dry or wipe the pan.
• Sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool.
• Using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pot bottom vigorously.
• Wash and dry as normal once all stains and scorched bits have been removed.

The Baking Soda & Water Method

• Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Make enough to cover the scorched portion of the pan. For a full pot bottom, try 1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of water.
• Liberally apply the paste to the burnt pan. It should be thick enough to coat fully.
• Alternatively, cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water. Then add enough baking soda to create a paste.
• Let the mixture sit for a few hours or overnight, then add more baking soda and scrub with a nylon brush or scouring sponge.
• If you don’t want to wait, add another ¼ - ½ cup of water to thin the paste, then put the pan on the stove and let it come to a boil. Remove it from the heat quickly – you don’t want it to burn again!
• Let the pan cool and wipe or scrub to remove the scorched bits.

The Baking Soda & Vinegar Method

• Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Add enough white vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan with at least ½ inch of liquid.
• Boil the vinegar in the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. You will get a fizzing reaction. It might be best to do this in the sink.
• Set the pot aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling dies down.
• Discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon scrub brush or scouring sponge, adding more baking soda as necessary.
• Rinse and dry the pan.

Removing burnt food from non-stick pans

It's happened to the best of us: a burnt pan. But fear not, there are several ways to restore your non-stick pan to its former glory.

Method One: Soap and Water

Simply washing the pan with dish soap, hot water, and a dish sponge can do the trick. Soaking the pan in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes will help loosen any dried-out, burnt food. Then, add dish soap to the pan and sponge. The soap will help break down oil, grease, and burnt food. Using the rough side of the sponge, scrub the burnt areas clean. Avoid anything more abrasive, like steel wool or heavy-duty brushes, as these can scratch the pan's coating.

Method Two: Vinegar and Baking Soda

If your non-stick pan is visibly charred, a mixture of white vinegar, water, and baking soda should help loosen and remove any black residue.

Step 1: Create the Mixture

Create a slurry of white vinegar, water, and baking soda directly in your non-stick pan. Pour enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, along with 2 tablespoons of both white vinegar and baking soda.

Step 2: Boil and Stir

Bring the mixture to a boil and stir to dissolve using a silicone or wooden spoon. Continue stirring for 5 minutes to encourage any burnt residue to loosen.

Step 3: Cool, Rinse, and Wash

Allow the mixture to cool completely after boiling. Discard the vinegar solution and rinse the pan with warm water. Then, wash the pan with dish soap and a sponge or brush.

Other Methods

If the above methods don't work, there are several other natural approaches you can try. One is to wet the pan and add enough baking soda to make a paste. Then, use a wad of crumpled aluminum foil to scrub away the stains, before washing and rinsing the pan as usual.

You can also combine baking soda with vinegar to create a fizzing reaction that helps loosen burnt food. Fill your dirty pan with equal parts water and vinegar and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, remove from the heat, and let it soak for up to 15 minutes. Discard the liquid, then scrub away any remaining burnt bits with a sponge or scouring pad.

Another method is to slice two to three lemons and arrange them in your dirty pan. Cover the lemons with water and bring to a boil for 5 to 8 minutes. Once food particles start floating to the surface, discard the lemons and drain the water. Rinse with hot, clean water and use a scouring pad or brush to remove any remaining bits.

Tips to Prevent Burning

To avoid burning your non-stick pan, always add cooking fat or other ingredients before turning the heat on. Overheating occurs when the pan is left over very high heat for too long, so it's best to cook on medium-high heat, maximum.

Removing burnt food from cast iron pans

Step 1: Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible

Scraping off as much of the burnt food as possible is the first step in cleaning your cast iron pan.

Step 2: Create a baking soda paste

Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda. Then, add 2-3 tablespoons of water until it is moist but not a liquid. You want the consistency of a sandy paste.

Step 3: Scrub the pan

Scrub the pan with a stiff-bristle brush or scouring pad. Do not add soap, as this can damage the pan's seasoning. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps remove stubborn burnt-on food, and its alkalinity helps neutralise odours or flavours that may have been cooked into the pan.

Step 4: Rinse and repeat if necessary

Rinse the pan with water and repeat the process if necessary to remove any remaining burnt food. The more you scrub, the more of the pan's seasoning you will remove, so don't overdo it.

Step 5: Dry the pan

Fully dry the cast iron pan.

Step 6: Re-season the pan

Rub the entire surface of the pan with vegetable oil applied to a paper towel. Coat the bottom of the pan and the sides. Place the pan on a stove burner and heat over medium-low heat for about an hour, or place it in your oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the same amount of time. The pan may smoke as it seasons, so be sure to turn on your vent hood to prevent setting off smoke detectors.

Frequently asked questions