The Best Ways To Clean Black Grime Off Your Pans

Burnt pans are a common problem, but there are several ways to tackle the issue. Firstly, it's important to note that different types of pans require different cleaning methods, and some methods may damage certain pans. For example, non-stick pans should not be cleaned with steel wool or strong cleansers. Instead, start with the gentlest possible fix and work your way up if needed.

One method is to use hot water to deglaze the pan. Place the pan on the stove, turn on the heat, and once a drop of water sizzles on the surface, pour in a cup of water and let it simmer. You can add some dish soap or baking soda. Then, use a wooden spoon or nylon spatula to scrape away the burnt areas.

Another approach is to scrub the pan with a dishwasher tablet. Cover the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water and warm it on low heat. Remove from the heat and scrape the tablet across the burnt areas. Then, rinse and wash the pan with warm soapy water.

If you're looking for a more natural solution, you can try boiling lemons. Cut two or three lemons into quarters, place them in the pan, and fill it with a few inches of water. Bring the water to a boil for 5-10 minutes, then discard the lemons and water, and rinse the pan.

For tough, burnt-on grease, you can try using oven cleaner. Spray the oven cleaner on the bottom of the pan, place the pan in an airtight garbage bag, and leave it for a couple of days. Then, wipe off the grease. If there is any residual grease, repeat the process or use a mild abrasive like Bar Keepers Friend.

Use vinegar and baking soda

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible. If you have a lot of burnt-on food, you can try to loosen it with a spatula or scraper.

Step 2: Boil Vinegar in the Pan

Fill the pan with enough vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan 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 when you add the baking soda, so it might be best to do this in the sink.

Step 4: Let the Pan Sit

Set the pan aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling has stopped. This reaction helps to loosen burnt-on food.

Step 5: Scrub the Pan

Discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon scrub brush or scouring sponge, adding more baking soda as necessary. Rinse the pan clean and dry it with a towel.

Tips:

• If you don't want to use vinegar, you can substitute it with lemon. Lemons are a great way to clean and shine stainless steel or copper cookware.
• If you want to avoid scrubbing, you can let the pan soak in the baking soda and vinegar mixture for 30-60 minutes before discarding the liquid and scrubbing.

Try coarse salt and dish soap

If you have black grime on your pan, one way to remove it is to use coarse salt and dish soap. This method is especially effective for greasy messes. To do this, start by sprinkling coarse salt on the pan. Then, scrub the salt into the pan using a brush, sponge, or scouring pad. You can also try using a metal spatula, a ball of aluminum foil, or even a potato cut in half to scrub the salt into the pan. The salt will act as a gentle abrasive to remove the grime. Once you have finished scrubbing, dump out the salt and wash the pan as normal with dish soap and hot water.

If your pan has tough, burnt-on food that is difficult to remove, you can try a slightly different method using coarse salt and dish soap. Begin by adding a small amount of water to the pan and placing it on the stove. Then, add a few drops of dish soap to the water and bring it to a boil. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes, using a wooden spoon or nylon spatula to scrape away at the burnt areas as the water loosens them. Finally, wash the pan as usual with dish soap and hot water.

Using coarse salt and dish soap is an effective way to clean your pan without damaging it. However, it is important to note that this method may not be suitable for all types of pans, such as non-stick pans. Always make sure to consult the manufacturer's instructions or seek expert advice before attempting to clean your pan.

Deglaze with hot water

Deglazing is a great way to clean a burnt pan and it's not as hard as it sounds! It is a technique that can be used to create super-flavorful broths, gravies, sauces, and more. But it can also be used to clean your pans.

To deglaze a pan, you simply add liquid to a hot pan. This allows all of the caramelized bits stuck to the bottom to release. You can use just about any liquid to deglaze a pan, but for burnt pans, hot water is the best option.

• Make sure your pan is made of stainless steel or enamel. Deglazing is not recommended for non-stick pans as it goes against the principle of deglazing. You want things to stick to the pan so that they can be caramelized and release flavor.
• Place the pan on the stovetop and turn on the heat.
• Once the pan is hot, pour in a cup of hot water. You can also add some dish soap or baking soda to the water if you like.
• Let the water simmer for a bit.
• Use a wooden spoon or nylon spatula to scrape away at the burnt areas while the water loosens them.
• Continue to simmer the water until it reduces.
• Once the water has reduced, discard it and rinse the pan with warm soapy water.

And that's it! Your pan should now be clean and grime-free. This method is a simple and effective way to clean burnt pans without having to use harsh chemicals or a lot of elbow grease.

Scrub with dishwasher tablets

If you're looking to get black grime off a pan, one method is to scrub with a dishwasher tablet. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Cover the bottom of the pan with a little water

Start by covering the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water. You don't need to fill the pan; just add enough water to cover the burnt or blackened areas.

Step 2: Warm the pan on low heat

Place the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low. You don't want to boil the water, but warming it will help loosen the grime and activate the dishwasher tablet.

Step 3: Remove from heat and scrape with a dishwasher tablet

Once the water is warm, turn off the heat. Take a dishwasher tablet and gently scrape it over the burnt or blackened areas of the pan. The dishwasher tablet will start to break down the grime and make it easier to remove.

Step 4: Rinse and wash with warm soapy water

After scraping with the dishwasher tablet, rinse the pan with warm water to remove any loose grime. Then, wash the pan with warm soapy water as you normally would. You can use a sponge or scouring pad to remove any remaining residue.

Tips and Tricks:

• It's best to wear gloves when handling dishwasher tablets, as they can be harsh on the skin.
• This method works well with Finish Powerball Deep Clean tabs, but other dishwasher tablets should also be effective.
• For heavily burnt pans, you may need to use more than one dishwasher tablet.
• If you don't have a dishwasher tablet, you can try using baking soda and vinegar, aluminium foil and baking soda, or Bar Keepers Friend.

Boil lemons

Boiling lemons is an effective way to clean a burnt pan. The citric acid in lemons helps to break down burnt food stains, and it will leave your kitchen smelling fresh, too. Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning your pan with boiled lemons:

First, remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. Then, cut two or three lemons into quarters or thick slices and place them in the bottom of the pan. Next, add enough water to cover the entire scorched area and bring the water to a boil on the stove. You should see the burnt food particles coming off the bottom of the pan as the lemon floats around.

Let the lemon water boil for about five minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and let it soak until the water cools to room temperature. This will help to further loosen any remaining burnt-on food. After soaking, discard the water and lemon pieces, then lightly scrub off any remaining grime with a soft sponge or scouring pad.

If there are any stubborn bits still stuck to the pan, you can try adding a little baking soda to your sponge or scouring pad and scrubbing the pan again. The mild abrasive properties of baking soda can help to remove any remaining burnt-on food, and its alkaline pH can neutralise acidic burnt foods.

With these simple steps, your burnt pan will be looking like new in no time!

Frequently asked questions