Eradicating Burn Marks: Restoring Stainless Steel To Its Former Glory

Burnt stainless steel pans can be unsightly, but thankfully, these stains are rarely permanent. There are several methods to remove burn marks from stainless steel pans, and most of them use common household ingredients. Some of the most popular methods include using baking soda, vinegar, lemon, salt, or dishwasher tablets. Each of these methods can effectively remove burnt-on food and stains, leaving your pan looking like new again.

Deglaze with water and vinegar

Deglazing your stainless steel pan with water and vinegar is a great way to remove black burn marks. This method is effective, and you likely already have the necessary ingredients in your kitchen.

First, remove as much of the burnt food from your pan as possible. Then, heat the pan and pour in a cup of water, or more for a larger pan, or use equal parts water and vinegar. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. While the liquid simmers, use a spatula or turner to scrape away the remaining food.

Although deglazing helps remove a lot of the burnt food, you will likely need to follow up with additional cleaning methods. For example, you could try the baking soda cleaning method as a follow-up to deglazing. Simply add warm water to the pan, covering the bottom of the pan. Then, pour in baking soda and stir it with the water to create a thick paste. A general guideline is to use 1 part water to 3 parts baking soda. Spread the paste over the burned areas and wait several hours or overnight. Finally, use a cleaning brush to scrub the pan, rinse it, and repeat the process if necessary.

Another method you can try after deglazing is using vinegar and baking soda. Bring about half an inch of vinegar in the pan to a boil and then simmer for about five minutes. Move the pan off the heat and add a cup of baking soda. This will create a bubbling effect. Once the bubbling stops, dump the mixture and scrub the pan to remove the burn marks.

Use baking soda and water

To remove black burn marks from a stainless steel pan using baking soda and water, follow these steps:

Firstly, remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. This can be done by deglazing the pan. To do this, heat the pan and pour in a cup of water or equal parts water and vinegar. Let it boil, then reduce to a simmer while you scrape the remaining food with a spatula or turner.

Next, make a paste by mixing baking soda and water in a ratio of 3:1. For a full pot bottom, use 1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of water. The paste should be thick enough to fully coat the burnt areas of the pan. Alternatively, you can cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water and then add enough baking soda to create a paste.

Spread the baking soda paste over all the burnt areas of the pan. Allow the paste to sit for several hours or overnight. Then, use a nylon brush or scouring sponge to scrub the pan. Rinse the pan and inspect it. Repeat the process if necessary to remove any remaining burn marks.

If you don't want to wait, you can thin out the paste with a little extra water and put the pan on the stove until it boils. Be careful not to leave it on the heat for too long. Let the pan cool, then scrub and rinse.

Try salt

If you have black burn marks on your stainless steel pan, salt can be an effective treatment to remove them.

Firstly, fill the bottom of the pan with water so that all the burned areas are covered, and bring it to a boil. Next, add a few tablespoons of salt and turn off the heat. Let the water cool for several hours, leaving it in the pan. Then, dump the water and scrub the pan with a brush or sponge. Repeat this process as many times as necessary to remove all of the burn marks.

You can also put salt directly onto the burned spots. Scrub the salt using a scouring pad or sponge to work as an abrasive without scratching the pan. Wash the pan as normal once you have removed all of the burn marks.

Soak with dish soap and water

To remove black burn marks from your stainless steel pan, you can try soaking it with dish soap and water. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Fill your sink or a large container with warm water and add a good amount of dish soap. You want to create a soapy solution for your pan to soak in.
• Place your burnt stainless steel pan in the soapy water and let it soak for a while. The duration of the soak will depend on how badly burnt your pan is. For lighter stains, a quick soak might be sufficient, while tougher stains may require a longer soak or even an overnight soak.
• After the initial soak, use a non-abrasive sponge or brush to gently scrub the burnt areas. You can also use a wooden spoon or spatula to help scrape away any burnt-on food residue.
• Rinse the pan with warm water to remove any soap residue.
• If the burn marks are particularly stubborn, repeat the process, allowing the pan to soak for a longer period this time. You can also try using a stronger dish soap or adding a small amount of vinegar to the soaking water to boost its cleaning power.
• For extremely tough burn marks, you may need to use additional cleaning methods after soaking and scrubbing. For example, you could try creating a baking soda and water paste, applying it to the burnt areas, and letting it sit for several hours or overnight before scrubbing and rinsing the pan again.

Remember to always exercise caution when handling a hot pan and avoid using harsh abrasive tools or cleaners that could damage the surface of your stainless steel pan.

Clean with vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda are effective tools for cleaning burnt stainless steel pans. The acetic acid in vinegar helps break down tough food particles, while baking soda has mild abrasive properties and an alkaline pH that can help neutralise acidic burnt foods. When combined, they produce carbon dioxide bubbles that can help loosen bits of stuck-on food.

• Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Add enough vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan with at least 1/2 inch of liquid.
• Boil the vinegar in the pan and let it simmer for a few minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. This will create a fizzing reaction. It might be best to do this in the sink.
• Set the pan aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling stops.
• 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.

If the burn marks are still visible, repeat the process. Alternatively, you can make a paste with baking soda and water and let it sit on the burn marks overnight before rinsing.

Frequently asked questions