The Ultimate Guide To Cleaning Your Crafond Pans

Crafond pans are easy to clean, requiring just a quick rinse with hot, soapy water. For lighter stains, a soft sponge and some dish soap should do the trick. For tougher stains, a paste made from baking soda and water can be left on the stain for 30 minutes before being scrubbed off with a scouring pad. For the most stubborn stains, a commercial cleaner like Bar Keepers Friend can be used, but be sure to wear gloves!

Use baking soda and vinegar

To clean your Crafond pan with baking soda and vinegar, follow these steps:

Removing Burnt-On Food from the Pan

Firstly, fill your pan with water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Bring this mixture to a boil, using medium heat if your pan is non-stick. You can use a spatula to help dislodge any food bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Next, pour out the vinegar solution and sprinkle baking soda generously over the base of the pan. Leave this to sit for a while. Then, begin to rub the surface with a scouring brush. If some burnt-on bits remain, repeat the process.

For Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, or Aluminum Pans

Use a steel scrubber to vigorously scrub your pan. To avoid scratch marks, scrub in the direction of the grain or in a circular motion. Once the blackened crust has been cleaned, wash the pan with dishwashing liquid. You can also use a soft sponge or a nylon-bristled, non-stick pan-safe brush to remove burnt-on food. If you are still struggling to remove the burnt-on food, repeat the process from the beginning. Be careful not to scrub too harshly to avoid ruining the non-stick coating.

Boil a Water and Vinegar Solution

Take your pan to the sink, but do not pour out the solution. Add baking soda, and you will see a fizzing reaction. Leave your pan to cool before washing it with a dishwasher.

Removing Grease from the Bottom of the Pan

Sprinkle baking soda generously over the bottom of the pan to clean away any grease build-up. Then, slowly pour vinegar over the baking soda. For extra strength, you can also add a squeeze of lemon juice. Keep the pan on a flat surface to avoid the mixture spilling over. Leave the paste on the bottom of the pan for 5-10 minutes. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar will break up the grease. Finally, use a scrubber to remove the grease marks from the bottom of the pan.

Important Notes

Do not use a scrubber on the bottom of an enameled or ceramic pan that does not have a stainless-steel plate. Instead, use lemon skin to rub and remove the grease marks. Additionally, avoid using baking soda and vinegar on cast-iron pans as this can create rust and destroy the pan's seasoning.

Use Bar Keepers Friend

Crafond pans are easy to clean, requiring just a quick rinse with hot, soapy water. However, if you're looking to remove tough stains from your pans, Bar Keepers Friend is a great option.

Bar Keepers Friend is a bleach-free, oxalic-acid-based powdered cleaning product ideal for stainless steel items. It can be used to remove rust, tarnish, mineral deposits, and tough stains from most surfaces, including stainless steel, glass, ceramic, and enamel-coated cast iron. It can also be used on copper and steel pans.

• Wet the surface of the pan.
• Sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend powder onto the surface.
• For lighter stains, use a soft, wet cloth to rub the powder into the surface in a circular motion.
• For tougher stains, make a paste with the powder and a small amount of water.
• Apply the paste to the stain with a soft cloth.
• Let the paste sit for about a minute.
• Rub the paste in a circular motion from the center outward.
• Wash the pan with hot, soapy water.
• Rinse and repeat if necessary.

It is important to note that Bar Keepers Friend is an abrasive product, so it is recommended to wear kitchen gloves to protect your skin while using it. Additionally, the manufacturer recommends wiping the product off after a minute to avoid discolouration, but in practice, it may be fine to scrub for longer, especially when using high-quality cookware.

By following these steps, you can effectively remove tough stains from your Crafond pans and restore them to their original shine.

Use aluminium foil and baking soda

Crafond pans are easy to clean—a quick rinse with hot, soapy water will do the trick. But if you have some tough stains, you can try the following method using aluminium foil and baking soda.

First, rinse your dirty Crafond pan in hot water and drain. Then, sprinkle the pan generously with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add a few teaspoons of hot water back to the pan to form a paste with the baking soda. Now, take a piece of aluminium foil, crumple it into a golf-ball-sized ball, and begin scrubbing the pan. Continue scrubbing until all the burnt debris lifts, then rinse the pan with warm soapy water to finish cleaning.

This method is like a "deluxe" version of the baking soda and vinegar method. It works just as well, but is faster and more effective thanks to the foil's enhanced scrubbing power.

Use a dishwasher tablet

How to Clean Crafond Pans with a Dishwasher Tablet

Step 1: Rinse the pan with hot water

First, you'll want to give your dirty Crafond pan a quick rinse with hot water. This will help to loosen any stuck-on food and grease, making it easier to scrub away.

Step 2: Grab a dishwasher tablet

Reach for a dishwasher tablet from your container. You'll be using this to scrub away the burnt-on food and grease. Most people already have these on hand, so it's a convenient and affordable option.

Step 3: Gently scrub the pan with the dishwasher tablet

Now, gently scrub the pan under warm water with the dishwasher tablet. Be careful not to scrub too aggressively, especially if your Crafond pan has a non-stick coating. You don't want to damage the surface. Scrub until all the food debris lifts away.

Step 4: Rinse the pan with warm water

Once you've removed all the stuck-on food and grease, give your Crafond pan a final rinse with warm water. This will remove any remaining residue and ensure your pan is clean and ready for its next use.

Tips:

• While this method is effective, it can be a bit pricey as it may take a couple of dishwasher tablets to fully clean a very dirty pan.
• It's recommended to leave the plastic coating on the dishwasher tablet while scrubbing to help it retain its shape.
• This method works well with Finish Powerball deep clean tabs, but other brands of dishwasher tablets are likely to be effective as well.

Remove food before cleaning

Removing food before cleaning is an important step in the process of cleaning your Crafond pans. Here are some detailed instructions to help you effectively remove food residue and prepare your pans for the next steps in the cleaning process:

• Allow the Pan to Cool: Before you begin cleaning your Crafond pans, it's important to let them cool down completely. Avoid placing hot pans directly under cold water as this thermal shock can cause warping. Giving the pan a few minutes to cool down is essential for effective cleaning and maintaining the pan's shape.
• Scrape Off Excess Oil: Use a spatula or paper towels to remove excess oil or grease from the pan's surface. This step ensures that you're not spreading the oil around during the cleaning process, making it easier to remove stuck-on food.
• Deglaze the Pan: Once you've removed the excess oil, add some hot water to the pan. The hot water will help loosen any stuck-on food and make it easier to remove. You can also use a small amount of dish soap or a drop of detergent to help with this process.
• Loosen Stuck-On Food: Use a long-handled dish brush or a soft sponge to loosen any fond (browned bits of food) that may be stuck to the pan's surface. Gently work your way around the pan, being careful not to scratch the surface.
• Soak in Warm, Soapy Water: Fill your sink or a large dishpan with warm water and add a few squirts of mild dish soap. Submerge the Crafond pan in the soapy water and let it soak for a while. This step will help soften and loosen any remaining stuck-on food particles.
• Remove Large Food Particles: Before proceeding to the next steps, use a soft sponge or dishcloth to remove any large food particles or residue that has loosened during the soaking process. Gently wipe down the pan's surface, being careful not to scratch the coating.

By following these steps, you'll effectively remove food residue from your Crafond pans and prepare them for the subsequent cleaning stages. Remember to be gentle during this process to avoid scratching or damaging the pan's coating.

Frequently asked questions