The Best Ways To Degrease Your Pans At Home

Cleaning greasy pans is a tedious task that most people don't enjoy. However, there are several easy and inexpensive methods to degrease your pans and make them look brand new. Some common household products that can be used include vinegar, baking soda, bleach cleansing powder, and hot water. The process typically involves filling the pan with water, adding the cleaning agent, letting the pan soak, and then scrubbing and rinsing it. With the right technique and cleaning substances, you can save time and effort in the kitchen and achieve sparkling clean pans.

Using vinegar and water

Degreasing a pan with vinegar and water is an easy and inexpensive way to remove grease and grime. This method is particularly useful if you don't have any heavy-duty cleaning products to hand.

Step 1: Prepare the Mixture

Pour vinegar into the pan first. The amount of vinegar should be about one-third of the pan's volume. Then, pour in hot water. The water should make up the remaining two-thirds of the pan's volume.

Step 2: Let the Mixture Soak

Allow the mixture to rest in the pan for around 20 minutes. During this time, the vinegar will begin to cut through the grease, making it easier to clean.

Step 3: Clean the Pan

After the mixture has had time to work, empty the solution down the sink and wipe the pan clean. You can add a couple of squirts of liquid dish soap to the pan and use a sponge or scrubber to wipe away any remaining grease. For extra cleaning power, dip the sponge in vinegar before wiping.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry the Pan

Once you have removed the grease, be sure to rinse the pan thoroughly to remove any traces of vinegar and soap. Finally, dry the pan before using or storing it away.

Boiling the pan

Boiling your pan is a simple and effective way to remove greasy residue without using any cleaning products. This method works for all types of pans, except non-stick pans, and is particularly useful for removing stuck-on foods. Here is a step-by-step guide to degreasing your pan through boiling:

Step 1: Fill the Pan with Water

Fill the pan with water to just over halfway. This ensures the water covers any food residue without overflowing when boiling.

Step 2: Boil the Water

Place the pan on a stovetop and heat for around 10 minutes. The exact time will depend on the amount of residue, but you should see the water bubbling and the residue starting to loosen. For glass or metal baking dishes, simply adding boiling water and letting it sit will be enough to loosen the residue.

Step 3: Let the Pan Cool

After boiling, remove the pan from the heat and set it aside to cool. It is important that the pan doesn't cool down completely, as this may cause the grease to stick back to the pan. You should wait for around 2-5 minutes, until the pan is cool enough to handle but still warm.

Step 4: Scrub the Pan

Use an abrasive scrub or steel wool to scrub the pan. Make sure to scrub the entire surface of the pan before rinsing. The softened residue should come off easily, leaving your pan clean in just a few minutes.

Tips:

• For scorched stainless steel pans or burnt-on foods, you can increase the boiling time to 5-7 minutes. The steam will help loosen residue on the sides of the pan.
• If your pan is made from a material that requires gentle cleaning, such as cast iron, avoid using abrasive sponges or steel wool. Instead, use a soft sponge and scrub the pan gently.
• Always wait for a hot pan to cool before submerging or rinsing it with cold water, as this can cause warping.

Bleach cleansing powder and hot water

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Firstly, gather your supplies. You will need bleach cleansing powder and hot water. For the bleach cleansing powder, you can use products such as Ajax, Comet, or Bon Ami.

Step 2: Fill the Pan with Hot Water

Fill your pan with hot water. Ensure the water is at a boiling temperature and covers the entire area of the pan with burnt-on food or grease.

Step 3: Add the Bleach Cleansing Powder

Generously sprinkle the bleach cleansing powder onto the surface of the hot water. There is no need to be precise with the amount, but ensure you add enough to effectively treat the affected areas.

Step 4: Stir the Mixture

Use a steel spoon or a similar utensil to stir the mixture. This will ensure the powder is thoroughly mixed with the water.

Step 5: Let the Pan Rest

Once you have applied the ingredients, set the pan aside and let it rest. Allow the mixture to sit for about 30 minutes to an hour. This will give the bleaching agent time to work and soften the burnt-on grease.

Step 6: Clean the Pan

After the resting period, the bleach mixture should have done most of the work. Empty the solution into the sink, and if desired, add a small amount of liquid dish soap to the pan. Use a sponge to clean the pan, and it should be noticeably cleaner after a minute or so of gentle scrubbing.

Step 7: Rinse the Pan

Rinse the pan thoroughly to remove any remaining bleach and soap. This step is crucial, as you don't want your food to taste like bleach or soap the next time you use the pan.

Tips and Precautions:

• Always wear rubber gloves when handling bleach to protect your skin.
• Ensure the room is well-ventilated when working with bleach.
• If the pan is not as clean as you would like after the first attempt, you can repeat the process, adding more bleach cleansing powder.
• Dry the pan with a paper towel, especially if it is made of aluminium, to prevent rusting.
• For cast iron pans, avoid using abrasive sponges as they can ruin the seasoning (oil-treated surface).

By following these steps, you can effectively remove grease and baked-on residue from your pans using bleach cleansing powder and hot water.

Baking soda and vinegar

To degrease a pan with baking soda and vinegar, start by sprinkling baking soda into the pan. Next, add vinegar to the baking soda to create a paste. The baking soda will fizz and froth when the vinegar is added, but this will quickly calm down, creating a spreadable paste.

Once you have your paste, spread it across the surface of the pan and leave it to sit for 20-30 minutes. The longer you leave it, the more effective it will be, although leaving it for longer than 30 minutes may not make much difference.

After leaving the paste to sit, scrub the pan with a damp sponge or scrub pad. You may need to use a scrubby sponge for this, rather than a regular one, and you may need to put in a bit of elbow grease.

Finally, rinse the pan with warm, soapy water and dry it.

Bar Keeper's Friend

Bar Keepers Friend to the Rescue!

Bar Keepers Friend is a bleach-free, oxalic-acid-based powdered cleaning product ideal for stainless steel items. It can also be used on many other things, like copper-bottomed pans, and is great for cleaning enameled cast iron. It can easily remove rust, tarnish, mineral deposits, and tough stains from most surfaces. It also protects the surfaces of your pans, helping to prevent them from tarnishing and rusting in the future.

How to Use:

• Wet the surface of the pan.
• Make a paste using Bar Keepers Friend and water.
• Use a soft cloth, sponge, or steel wool to scrub the paste onto the pan.
• Let it sit for one minute. DO NOT let the paste sit for longer.
• Rub the paste in a circular motion from the center outward.
• Wash in hot soapy water.
• Rinse and repeat as needed.

Tips:

• For very tarnished or greasy pans, you may want to start scrubbing with steel wool. Once you've mostly cleared the surface of the pan, switch to a soft sponge or rag.
• Always wear gloves when cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend, and avoid getting it on your skin.
• Do not leave Bar Keepers Friend on the pan for longer than one minute, as it may cause discolouration and scratches.
• Do not mix Bar Keepers Friend with other cleaning products, especially bleach or ammonia, as it may create toxic fumes.
• Do not use Bar Keepers Friend on non-stick surfaces, cast iron, granite, marble, wood, fabric, leather, or painted surfaces.

Alternatives:

If you don't have Bar Keepers Friend, you can try the following methods to degrease a pan:

• Baking soda and vinegar paste
• The Amazing Whip It! Multi-Surface Cleaner and Odor Neutralizer
• Steel wool and water
• Oven cleaner spray
• Boiling water and white vinegar
• Boiling water and dishwasher soap
• Baking soda
• Magic eraser
• Self-cleaning setting on the oven
• Drill brushes with Bar Keepers Friend
• Easy Off
• Steel wool and hot soapy water
• Green scrubbie pad
• Tin foil ball
• Lye
• Degreaser
• Scotch-Brite scrub pad
• Baking soda and lemon juice paste

Frequently asked questions