Burnt-on messes are a common problem for home cooks, but there are several ways to clean a burnt stainless steel pan. One method is to deglaze the pan by boiling water or a mixture of water and vinegar in the pan, scraping with a spatula, and then scrubbing with a brush or sponge. Another option is to use a mixture of baking soda and water, spreading it over the burnt areas and leaving it for several hours before scrubbing. Adding vinegar to this mixture can also help to remove stubborn stains.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
First Steps | Remove as much food as possible from the pan |
Deglaze | Heat the pan, pour in water or a mixture of water and vinegar, boil, then simmer while scraping the pan |
Baking Soda | Add warm water and baking soda to the pan, spread the mixture over the burnt areas, wait for several hours, scrub the pan, and rinse |
Vinegar and Baking Soda | Boil vinegar in the pan, add baking soda, dump the mixture, and scrub the pan |
Salt | Fill the pan with water, bring it to a boil, add salt, let the water cool, dump the water, and scrub the pan |
Soap and Water | Fill a bowl or sink with warm water and dish soap, scrub the pan with a non-abrasive sponge |
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda | Wet the pan, sprinkle with baking soda, cut a lemon in half and use it to scour the stains |
Boiling Water | Fill the pan with water, bring it to a boil, pour off the liquid, coat the bottom of the pan with baking soda or Bar Keeper's Friend, and scrub with a mesh dish cloth |
What You'll Learn
Deglaze with water and vinegar
If your pan has food burned onto it, deglazing it with water and vinegar can help remove some of the remnants. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Remove Burnt Food
Start by removing as much of the burnt food from the pan as possible. You can use a wooden spatula or scraper to do this.
Step 2: Heat the Pan
Place the pan back on the stove and heat it up. You want it to be hot enough for a droplet of water to sizzle.
Step 3: Add Water and Vinegar
Once the pan is hot, add one cup of water or a mixture of half water and half white vinegar. The amount of liquid you add can be increased if you have a large pot or pan.
Step 4: Boil and Simmer
Let the water and vinegar mixture come to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and let it simmer.
Step 5: Deglaze
As the liquid simmers, use a spatula or scraper to deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening any remaining bits of burnt food.
Step 6: Rinse
Pour the liquid down the sink and rinse the pan. Do not dry or wipe the pan after rinsing.
Step 7: Sprinkle Baking Soda (Optional)
If there are still stubborn stains or scorch marks, sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool. Then, using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pan vigorously.
Step 8: Wash and Dry
Once all the stains and scorched bits have been removed, wash and dry the pan as normal.
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Use baking soda and lemon juice
To get burn marks out of an organic pan, you can use baking soda and lemon juice. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Remove Burnt Food and Debris
Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. This will make the cleaning process easier and more effective.
Step 2: Prepare the Pan
Fill the pan with a thin layer of water. You can use warm or hot water for this step. The water will help create a paste with the baking soda and initiate the cleaning process.
Step 3: Apply Baking Soda
Generously sprinkle baking soda over the water in the pan. The baking soda will react with the water to form a thin paste that will help lift and remove the burn marks.
Step 4: Cut a Lemon in Half
Cut a fresh lemon in half. You will use the flesh side of the lemon to scour the pan and enhance the cleaning process. Lemons are a natural cleaner and help restore shine to stainless steel and copper cookware.
Step 5: Scour the Pan
Use the cut side of the lemon to scour the pan. The acidic lemon juice will react with the alkaline baking soda, creating a fizzing or foaming action. This reaction helps to loosen and lift burnt food and stains from the pan. Scour the entire surface of the pan, including the sides and corners, to ensure thorough cleaning.
Step 6: Rinse and Scrub
Once you have finished scouring with the lemon, rinse the pan with warm water. Use a nylon scrub brush or a non-scratch sponge to remove any remaining burnt-on food or stains. If necessary, you can add more baking soda to create a scrubbing paste.
Step 7: Dry and Shine
After rinsing and scrubbing, dry the pan thoroughly with a clean cloth or towel. If your pan has a copper bottom, you can turn it upside down and use the lemon and baking soda mixture to remove any blackened or tarnished areas. This will help restore the shine to your cookware.
Using baking soda and lemon juice is an effective and natural way to clean your organic pan, removing burn marks and restoring its shine. It is important to follow these steps carefully and adjust as needed depending on the severity of the burn marks. With regular maintenance and proper cleaning techniques, you can keep your organic pan looking like new.
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Try a dishwasher tablet
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get burn marks out of your stainless steel pan, a dishwasher tablet is a great option. This method is especially useful if you already have a dishwasher and some tablets lying around, as it requires very little time and effort.
Here's what you need to do:
- Cover the bottom of your burnt pan with a small amount of water.
- Place the pan on your stove and warm it up on low heat.
- Remove the pan from the heat source.
- Take a dishwasher tablet and scrape it across the burnt sections of the pan. You can keep the plastic coating on the tablet if you like, as this will help it retain its shape.
- Rinse the pan with warm water and wash it with some soapy water.
And that's it! This method should take no more than 3 to 5 minutes, and it leaves very little mess. It's worth noting that the tester in one source used two Finish Powerball Deep Clean tablets to clean their pan, so you may need to use more than one tablet, depending on the severity of the burn marks.
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Boil lemons in the pan
Boiling lemons is an effective, natural way to remove burn marks from a pan. The citric acid in lemons helps to break down burnt food stains, and it will leave your kitchen smelling fresh, too.
Here's how to do it:
Step 1:
Quarter two or three lemons and place them in the pan. Fill the pan with water, ensuring that the water covers the burnt area by a few inches.
Step 2:
Place the pan on the stove and bring the lemon water to a boil. You should do this on a medium-high heat setting.
Step 3:
Let the lemon water boil for around 5-10 minutes. You'll know that the pan is ready for a final scrub when you start to see food particles floating to the surface of the water.
Step 4:
Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. You can speed this process up by running the pan under cold water.
Step 5:
Discard the water and lemon pieces.
Step 6:
Use a scouring pad or brush to remove any remaining burnt bits. If necessary, add a little dish soap to help lift the remaining grime.
Tips:
- This method is ideal if you've already been cooking with lemons and have some leftovers to use up.
- If you're struggling to remove stubborn stains, try using a combination of lemon and baking soda. First, remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible. Then, keep a thin layer of water in the pan and sprinkle the bottom with baking soda. Cut a lemon in half and use the flesh side to scour the pan with the baking soda slurry. The combination of the acidic lemon juice and alkaline baking soda will create a fizzing reaction, which will help to lift burnt food from the pan.
- Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning a burnt pan to avoid irritating your hands.
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Use a dryer sheet
If you're looking to remove burn marks from your pan, one method is to use a dryer sheet. This method has been floating around online for a while, and it's supposed to help remove stubborn, baked-on food from pans.
To use this method, start by adding a few drops of dish soap and some hot water to the pan. Then, submerge a dryer sheet in the water and let it sit for about an hour. After an hour, remove and discard the dryer sheet and rinse out the pan using a scouring pad and dish soap.
It's important to note that this method may not remove all the burnt-on food in one go. It might just loosen the top layer, so you may need to follow up with another cleaning method to get your pan completely clean. Increasing the soak time or using multiple dryer sheets could also help improve the effectiveness of this method.
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