Removing Burned Food From Pans: Effective Cleaning Methods

Burnt pans are a common occurrence in the kitchen, but there are several ways to clean them without too much scrubbing. For stainless steel and enamel pots and pans, one method involves using water and baking soda. Bring a mixture of the two to the boil, then allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool for half an hour. Wash the pan as usual, gently scrubbing, and the burnt-on food should come off easily. For more stubborn residue, repeat the process or add a quarter of a cup of vinegar.

Another method involves using vinegar and baking soda. Fill the burnt pan with equal parts water and vinegar, bring the mixture to the boil, then add two tablespoons of baking soda. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture soak for 15 minutes. Pour the liquid down the drain, then use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining burnt bits.

For copper, stone, and enameled cookware, a gentle method using powdered dish detergent and water can be used. Add a tablespoon of powdered detergent to the pan, along with enough water to bring the mixture to a boil—around a cup should work. Bring the mix to a boil and wait 15 minutes, then dump out the hot water and scrub the pan with a heavy-duty scrub sponge.

Lemon juice and hot water can also be used to dissolve scorched food. Chop up two lemons and cover the bottom of the pan with the slices. Pour in one to two cups of water, then bring the water to a boil. Wait for the water to cool, dump it out, and scrub away grime with a brush.

Baking soda and vinegar

Step 1: Create the Mixture

Create a mixture of white vinegar, water, and baking soda directly in your non-stick pan. Pour enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, along with 2 tablespoons of both white vinegar and baking soda.

Step 2: Boil the Mixture

Bring the mixture to a boil and stir it continuously for 5 minutes to encourage any burnt residue to loosen.

Step 3: Let the Mixture Cool

Allow the mixture to cool down completely after boiling.

Step 4: Discard the Mixture and Rinse the Pan

Discard the vinegar solution and rinse the pan with warm water.

Step 5: Wash the Pan

Continue with the steps of the first method: wash the surface of your non-stick pan with dish soap, hot water, and a dish sponge. If food has been burnt on the surface of your pan, it’s likely dried out. Simply letting the pan soak in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes will help solve this issue. Once the pan has soaked, dump the water and add dish soap to both your dish sponge and the pan. The dish soap will help break down oil, grease, and pieces of burnt food. Using the rough side of your dish sponge, scrub the burnt areas of your pan clean.

Notes:

• Be careful not to use anything more abrasive, like chain mail, steel wool, or heavy-duty scrubbing brushes, as these can scratch and damage the delicate coating on your pan.
• Mixing baking soda and vinegar can cause a somewhat explosive reaction. For this method, you’ll want to make sure you’re slowly adding in the baking soda to the boiling water.

Lemon juice and hot water

Step 1: Prepare the pan

Quarter two or three lemons and place them in the pan. If you've been cooking with lemons, now is a great time to use the leftovers.

Step 2: Add water

Fill the pan with a few inches of water. Make sure all the lemons are covered.

Step 3: Bring to the boil

Place the pan on the hob and bring the lemon water to a boil. This should take around 5-10 minutes.

Step 4: Remove from the heat

Once you start to see food particles floating to the surface, remove the pan from the heat and pour the water and lemons down the drain.

Step 5: Scrub

Use a scouring pad or brush to remove any leftover bits. If necessary, add a little dish soap to help shift stubborn residue.

Tips:

• This method works best for stainless steel and copper pots and pans.
• For copper pans, you can turn the pot upside down and use the lemon solution to remove stains and restore shine.
• For really burnt-on food, you can try adding baking soda to the lemon solution. The alkaline baking soda will react with the acidic lemon juice, creating a fizzing reaction that helps to loosen burnt food.

Dishwasher tablet scrub

Dishwasher tablets are a great way to remove tough, burnt food from your pans. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use them effectively:

Step 1: Rinse the Pan

Firstly, rinse your dirty pan with hot water. This will help to loosen any burnt-on food and prepare the surface for scrubbing. Make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from the hot water and any harsh chemicals in the dishwasher tablet.

Step 2: Scrub with the Dishwasher Tablet

Now, it's time to grab your dishwasher tablet and get scrubbing! Gently scrub the pan under warm water, using the dishwasher tablet directly on the burnt areas. You may need to apply a little pressure and work the tablet in circular motions to break down the burnt food. The tablet will act as both a detergent and a scouring pad, so there's no need to reach for a sponge or scrubber.

Step 3: Rinse and Repeat

Once you've scrubbed away the majority of the burnt food, rinse the pan with warm water to remove any remaining debris. If there are still persistent stains or residue, don't worry! Simply repeat the process, or try the boil lemons method for extra tough stains.

Tips for Preventing Burnt Food

To avoid finding yourself in this situation again, here are some tips to prevent food from burning and sticking to your pans:

• Use a pan with effective built-in non-stick coating, so you can cook at lower temperatures without the need for excessive oil.
• Opt for high-quality cookware that distributes heat evenly, reducing the chances of hot spots and burning.
• Always cook with a clean pan and handwash it after each use with soapy water.
• Keep your hob clean and free from food, oil, and other debris that can cause uneven heating and burning.

Alternative Methods

If you don't have any dishwasher tablets on hand, there are several alternative methods you can try to remove burnt food from your pans:

• Baking Soda and Vinegar: Fill the pan with equal parts water and vinegar, bring it to a boil, then add baking soda. Let it soak for 15 minutes before scrubbing away any remaining bits.
• Boiled Lemons: Slice a couple of lemons and place them in your pan. Fill the pan with water, covering the lemons, and bring it to a boil. Let it cool, then scrub away any stuck-on bits.
• Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda: Rinse your pan with hot water, then sprinkle baking soda generously onto the burnt areas. Add a small amount of hot water to form a paste, and scrub with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil until the burnt food lifts off.

Salt and dish detergent

Firstly, fill your burnt pan with hot water and a few drops of dish detergent. You can also add a dryer sheet to the mix to help loosen the burnt-on food. Leave the pan to soak for an hour.

Next, drain the pan and generously sprinkle salt over the burnt areas. Using a scouring pad or sponge, scrub the salt into the burnt areas of the pan. The salt will act as an abrasive to help lift the burnt-on food.

Finally, rinse the pan with warm water and wash with dish detergent. Repeat the process if necessary.

This method is not suitable for non-stick or cast-iron pans.

Alka-Seltzer tablets and hot water

Alka-Seltzer tablets are an excellent way to remove burnt food from your pots and pans. The tablets are typically used to treat heartburn and indigestion, but they are also powerful enough to break down burnt-on food. The sodium bicarbonate in the tablets divides into sodium and bicarbonate ions when dropped in water, and the reaction with the hydrogen ions of citric acid produces carbon dioxide bubbles. These abrasive bubbles are what help to lift away burnt food.

To use Alka-Seltzer tablets to clean your pans, first, pour hot water over the burnt food to completely cover it. Then, drop in two tablets and let them fizz and dissolve. Leave the pan to soak until the food begins to break down and loosen, which could take a few minutes to a few hours. After the tablets have done their job, wash and dry your pan, and scrub away any remaining food.

If you have multiple pans to clean, you can save time by filling your kitchen sink with enough hot water to cover them, adding five to six tablets and letting them dissolve. Then, add your pans and let them soak until the food begins to lift. Finally, drain the sink and wash and dry the pans.

Alka-Seltzer is safe to use on all types of bakeware except cast iron. Cast-iron cookware should not be left to soak because the water will cause it to rust.

Frequently asked questions