Quickly Clean Your Pan: Easy And Fast Methods

Cleaning a burnt pan can be a tedious task, but with the right techniques and products, it can be done quickly and effectively. There are several methods to clean a burnt pan, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. One popular method is using a combination of baking soda, vinegar, and water, bringing it to a boil, and then scrubbing the pan. Another method involves using a dishwasher tablet, which can be an easy and quick way to clean a burnt pan. Additionally, natural ingredients such as lemons, dryer sheets, and ketchup can also be used to clean burnt pans. The key to success is finding the right approach for the type of pan and the severity of the burn.

Deglazing technique

Deglazing is a cooking technique that not only helps create a delicious sauce but also makes cleaning the pan a lot easier. It involves adding a liquid to a hot pan to remove the browned bits of food, also known as "fond" or "sucs", stuck to the bottom. These bits are a treasure trove of flavour and can be used to create a tasty sauce to accompany your meal. Here is a step-by-step guide to the deglazing technique:

Step 1: Remove the Cooked Food and Excess Fat

Take out the cooked food meat, poultry, or vegetables from the pan and pour off any excess fat or oil. Leave behind the fond, which will be used to create the sauce.

Step 2: Add Aromatics (Optional)

If you're making a sauce, add aromatic ingredients such as shallots or fresh herbs to the pan. This step is optional and can be skipped if you're not making a sauce.

Step 3: Pour in the Liquid

With the pan still on the heat, slowly pour in your chosen liquid. It can be broth, wine, vinegar, juice, or even water. The liquid will steam and bubble, so be careful and take a step back if needed. Use just enough liquid to cover the bottom of the pan by about a centimetre. If using alcohol, remove the pan from the heat while pouring to avoid flare-ups.

Step 4: Bring the Liquid to a Simmer

Allow the liquid to come to a simmer or gentle boil. This activates the release of the fond from the pan.

Step 5: Scrape Up the Fond

Use a wooden or silicone spoon or spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan vigorously. Be gentle but thorough to ensure all the flavorful fond is released. Pay attention to the corners and edges of the pan, where fond tends to accumulate.

Step 6: Simmer and Reduce the Liquid

Let the liquid continue to simmer until it reaches the desired consistency. If using alcohol, make sure it fully evaporates and cooks off. For a sauce, reduce the liquid by half before adding cream or butter to finish it.

Step 7: Create a Sauce or Clean the Pan

If you're making a sauce, season it to taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can also strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother consistency. Finally, finish it with butter, cream, or other enriching ingredients. Serve the sauce immediately while it's still warm. If you're not making a sauce, simply follow the same steps with water to easily clean the pan without scrubbing.

Baking soda and water method

The baking soda and water method is a great way to clean your pans without using harsh chemicals. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can help remove stubborn burnt-on food and neutralise odours. It's also a cheap, non-toxic household ingredient, so it's perfect for everyday pan cleaning. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Remove Debris

First, remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible. This will make the cleaning process easier and more effective.

Step 2: Make a Baking Soda and Water Paste

For this step, you have two options. You can either make a paste by mixing baking soda and water separately and then applying it to the burnt pan, or you can cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water and then sprinkle baking soda on top to create a paste in the pan. If you're making the paste separately, use a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, and make sure it's thick enough to fully coat the scorched portion of the pan. For a full pot bottom, try 1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of water.

Step 3: Apply the Paste

If you haven't already applied the paste to your pan, liberally coat the burnt areas of the pan with the baking soda and water paste. Make sure the paste is thick enough to fully cover the scorched parts of the pan.

Step 4: Let it Sit

Now, let the paste sit for a few hours or even overnight. This gives the baking soda time to work its magic and loosen the burnt-on food.

Step 5: Scrub

After letting the paste sit, it's time to scrub. Use a nylon brush or a scouring sponge to scrub away the burnt-on food and stains. If necessary, add more baking soda and scrub again.

Step 6: Rinse and Wash

Once you've removed all the burnt-on food and stains, rinse the pan with warm water and wash it with dish soap and a clean sponge or brush. Then, dry the pan thoroughly.

Variations:

If you don't want to wait for the paste to sit, there are a couple of variations you can try. One option is to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water to the paste in the pan to thin it out, then place the pan on the stove and bring it to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat quickly so you don't burn the paste, and let it cool. Finally, wipe or scrub the pan to remove any remaining scorched bits.

Another option is to try boiling water and baking soda in the pan. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of water to the pan and bring it to a boil. As the water evaporates, scrub the pan with a scrubby sponge or kitchen scrub brush.

Baking soda and vinegar method

The baking soda and vinegar method is a great way to clean a burnt pan without using harsh chemicals. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Remove Burnt Food and Debris

First, remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. Use a spatula or scraper to get rid of any loose pieces.

Step 2: Boil Vinegar

Next, add enough white vinegar to the pan to cover the bottom with at least 1/2 inch of liquid. Place the pan on the stove and bring the vinegar to a boil. Let it simmer for a few minutes.

Step 3: Add Baking Soda

Remove the pan from the heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. You will get a fizzing reaction, so it's best to do this in the sink. The combination of baking soda and vinegar creates a powerful cleaning effect.

Step 4: Wait for Fizzing to Stop

Set the pan aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling dies down. This may take a few minutes. The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen burnt food and makes it easier to remove.

Step 5: Discard Liquid and Scrub

Once the fizzing has stopped, discard the liquid. Use a nylon scrub brush or scouring sponge to scrub the pan and remove any remaining burnt-on food. Rinse the pan with water and dry it thoroughly.

Tips and Variations:

• Be careful when adding baking soda to boiling vinegar, as it may cause the mixture to boil over.
• For tougher stains, you can add a tablespoon of baking soda to the pan before adding the vinegar. This will create a stronger cleaning solution.
• If you're concerned about the strong smell of vinegar, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the mixture to help neutralize the odour.
• Always test this method on a small area of the pan first to ensure it doesn't cause any damage to the surface.

Baking soda and lemon method

Step 1: Remove Burnt Food and Debris

Start by removing as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. You can use a spatula or scraper to get rid of the burnt food stuck to the pan.

Step 2: Add Water and Baking Soda

Keep a thin layer of water in the pan and then sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda. The water should just about cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Use Lemon to Scour the Pan

Cut a lemon in half and use the flesh side to scour the pan. The combination of the acidic lemon juice and the alkaline baking soda will create a fizzing reaction, which is a good sign! The lemon will also help to clean and shine stainless steel or copper cookware.

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.

Step 4: Remove Burnt Food and Stains

Continue scouring the pan with the lemon and baking soda mixture until you have removed as much burnt food and stains as possible. The fizzing reaction should help to loosen the burnt food, making it easier to remove.

Step 5: Rinse and Dry

Once you have removed as much burnt food and stains as possible, rinse the pan with warm water and dry it thoroughly. You can also use a nylon brush or non-scratching sponge to scrub the pan and remove any remaining bits of food or stains.

Hydrogen peroxide boil

To clean your pans with hydrogen peroxide, you will need to mix it with baking soda. This method works best on aluminium or aluminised steel pans.

First, sprinkle baking soda liberally all over the surface of the pan. Then, spray or pour a generous amount of hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda until all the powder is wet. Let the mixture sit for at least two hours or up to eight hours for bigger messes.

Afterward, use a plastic scraper to scrape all the baking soda into a pile and dump it into the garbage. Wash the pan in warm, soapy water with a scrubby sponge. If there is any residue left, scrub the pan as you normally would.

You can also bring the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to a boil in the pan before removing it from the heat and letting it sit for 10-30 minutes. During this time, you can stir the mixture with a wooden spoon to help dislodge the burnt material.

Frequently asked questions