Cleaning Black Baking Pans: Tips For Sparkling Cookware

Blackened, crusty, burnt food in a pan can be off-putting, but it happens to the best of us. While it may seem like your pan is beyond saving, there are several techniques to rescue it. One of the most popular methods involves using baking soda and vinegar. The alkaline pH of baking soda helps neutralise acidic burnt foods, and when combined with an acid like vinegar, it creates a fizzing reaction that loosens burnt food. Another method is to use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, which can be left overnight to loosen burnt food, making it easy to wipe away.

Baking soda and vinegar

To clean black baking pans with baking soda and vinegar, follow these steps:

First, fill your sink with hot water and add in an equal amount of baking soda and vinegar—approximately half a cup each. Baking soda is alkaline, and vinegar is acidic, so when they are combined, they will create a fizzing, bubbling chemical reaction that will help to break down burnt food and stains on your pan. Place your black baking pan in the sink and let it soak in this mixture for 30 to 60 minutes.

Next, you can begin scrubbing the pan with the abrasive side of a basic kitchen sponge to remove any remaining baked-on residue. If you are cleaning a non-stick pan, you may want to skip vigorous scrubbing and opt for a non-stick-safe nylon brush or non-abrasive sponge instead. After scrubbing, wash the pan with mild dish soap and warm water, then dry it thoroughly.

If your black baking pan has particularly stubborn burnt-on food or stains, you can try a heavier-duty cleaning method by adding a layer of white vinegar to the bottom of the pan—enough to cover it by at least half an inch. Boil the vinegar in the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add in one cup of baking soda; you will get a fizzing reaction, so it is best to do this in the sink. Set the pan aside and wait until the fizzing and bubbling have stopped. Then, discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon brush or scouring sponge, adding more baking soda as needed. Finally, rinse and dry the pan.

Deglazing technique

The deglazing technique is a simple and effective method to clean black baking pans. It involves using a liquid to help release the fond, or burnt-on food particles, from the pan. Here is a step-by-step guide to the deglazing technique:

Firstly, remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. This can be done by scraping the pan with a spatula or scraper. Next, put the pan back on the stove and turn on the heat. Allow the pan to heat up until a droplet of water sizzles when dropped onto the surface.

At this point, you will want to add a liquid to the pan. For deglazing, you can use a variety of liquids, including water, wine, broth, stock, fruit or vegetable juice, or vinegar. Slowly pour your chosen liquid into the hot pan. The amount of liquid added will depend on the size of your pan; for a standard-sized pan, 1 cup of liquid is usually sufficient. As you pour, the liquid will likely steam and bubble vigorously, so exercise caution and take a step back if necessary.

As the liquid simmers in the pan, use a spatula or scraper to loosen and lift off the burnt food particles from the pan's surface. Continue scraping until you have removed as much of the burnt-on food as possible. Once you are satisfied, pour the liquid into the sink and do not dry or wipe the pan just yet.

Now, it's time to use a cleaning agent to scrub the pan. For this, baking soda is an excellent choice due to its mild abrasive properties and alkaline pH, which can help neutralise acidic burnt foods. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the bottom of the pan and let the pan cool down. Then, using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pan vigorously to remove any remaining stains or scorch marks.

Finally, once all the stains and burnt bits have been removed, wash and dry the pan as you normally would. Your black baking pan should now be clean and ready for its next use!

Baking soda and water

First, remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible. This can be done by simply scraping off the excess with a spatula or similar tool. Once the majority of the food has been removed, cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water. Then, sprinkle baking soda over the water to create a paste. The amount of baking soda required will depend on the size of your pan, but it should be enough to form a thick paste when mixed with the water. For a full pot bottom, you may need approximately 1 cup of baking soda.

Let the paste sit for a few hours or even overnight. The longer you leave it, the more effective it will be at breaking down the burnt-on food and stains. After letting the paste do its work, add a little more baking soda and scrub the pan with a nylon brush or scouring sponge. If you don't want to wait, you can add a small amount of water to thin the paste and then place the pan on the stove to boil. However, be careful not to burn the pan again! Let the pan cool, and then wipe or scrub to remove the remaining scorched bits.

This method can be used for various types of pans, including non-stick, stainless steel, ceramic, and cast iron. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can remove stubborn stains and scorched food without damaging the surface of your cookware. It also helps to eliminate any lingering food odours.

Baking soda and lemon

To clean black baking pans with baking soda and lemon, you'll need to first remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible. Then, keep a thin layer of water in the pan and sprinkle the bottom of it 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 help remove the stains and restore the shine. You can also rub half a lemon around the bottom and sides of stainless steel cookware for extra shine.

Lemon juice is a great natural cleaner for pans, and when combined with baking soda, it can remove black, yellow, or rainbow oxidization stains and help restore a burnt pan.

Cream of tartar and vinegar

To clean black baking pans with cream of tartar and vinegar, start by sprinkling cream of tartar evenly over the pan's surface. Next, spritz the cream of tartar with enough vinegar to soak through and activate it. Let the mixture dry for a minimum of eight hours. Finally, scrub the pan with a scrubby sponge and warm water, then rinse with soap and water.

Cream of tartar, an acidic byproduct of the wine-making process, can be used to clean a variety of household items. When mixed with vinegar, it forms an acidic, abrasive paste that effectively breaks down grime. This cleaning method is especially useful for removing tough, burnt-on messes from baking pans.

For best results, it is recommended to let the cream of tartar and vinegar mixture sit for as long as possible. The longer the mixture sits, the less time and effort are needed for scrubbing. If any stains persist after the initial cleaning, the process can be repeated.

While this method is effective, it is important to note that it requires a significant amount of downtime. If a quicker solution is needed, other cleaning methods, such as using baking soda and vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, can be considered.

Frequently asked questions