Removing Burnt Crusts: Tips To Clean Your Pan

Burnt crust on a pan can be a pain to remove, but there are several methods to tackle this issue. The first step is to soak the pan in hot water for at least an hour to loosen the burnt food. If this doesn't work, you can try using an abrasive cleaner like baking soda, vinegar, lemons, Alka-Seltzer, or dishwasher tablets, along with a scrubbing pad or sponge. For example, you can fill the pan with equal parts water and vinegar, bring it to a boil, and then scrub the pan with a mixture of baking soda and water. Alternatively, you can use a dryer sheet by soaking it in the pan with hot water for an hour before scrubbing. For more stubborn crusts, you may need to use a heavy-duty cleaner like oxalic acid or Bar Keepers Friend, or a more intensive method like deglazing the pan with water and a wooden spoon.

Soak in hot water

Soaking a burnt pan in hot water can be an effective way to remove burnt crust, but it might not be strong enough on its own. For this reason, it is often combined with other cleaning methods.

If you want to try soaking alone, first fill your dirty pan with hot water and let it soak for up to 15 minutes. Check the pan at intervals of five minutes to see if the charred remains are starting to lift with ease. If the burnt crust is particularly stubborn, you can let the pan soak for a few hours or even overnight. Once the burnt crust has softened, you can use a scouring pad or brush to scrub away any remaining bits.

If you want to try a combination method, you can fill your dirty pan with equal parts water and vinegar and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn off the heat, then remove the pan from the heat and carefully empty the liquid. Add baking soda and let the pan cool enough for you to touch it, then add more baking soda and scrub away the burnt crust with a scouring pad or brush. You can also try this method with lemon instead of vinegar.

Use baking soda and vinegar

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean a Burnt Pan

Step 1: Boil a mixture of water and vinegar

Fill your burnt pan with equal parts water and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil. The acid in the vinegar will help to loosen burnt-on food.

Step 2: Add baking soda

Once the mixture is boiling, turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. The alkaline baking soda will react with the acid in the vinegar, creating a fizzing reaction that will further loosen burnt food.

Step 3: Soak the pan

Remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for at least 2 minutes. The longer you let the pan sit, the more effective this method will be.

Step 4: Discard the liquid

After the fizzing reaction has stopped, carefully pour out the excess liquid.

Step 5: Scrub the pan

Use a scouring pad, sponge, or nylon brush to scrub away any remaining burnt-on food. If necessary, add more baking soda and water to create a paste, and scrub the pan with this mixture.

Step 6: Wash and rinse the pan

Once all the burnt food has been removed, wash the pan with dish soap and rinse it with clean water.

Tips:

• Be sure to slowly add the baking soda to the boiling water and vinegar mixture to avoid a vigorous reaction.
• This method works best on stainless steel and aluminium pans.
• For cast iron pans, do not use water, soap, or acidic ingredients like vinegar, as these can create rust and damage the pan's seasoning. Instead, use a stiff-bristle brush or scouring pad to scrub the pan with a mixture of baking soda and water.
• For non-stick pans, do not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads, as these can damage the non-stick surface. Instead, use a non-scratch sponge or nylon brush to scrub the pan.

Try a dishwasher tablet

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to get burnt crust off your pan, a dishwasher tablet might be the answer. This method is best for stainless steel cookware and should not be used on non-stick or cast iron pans. It's important to note that while this method is effective, it can be a bit pricey since you might need to use more than one tablet.

Here's what you need to do:

• Rinse your dirty pan with hot water.
• Cover the bottom of the pan with a tiny bit of water and warm it up on low heat.
• Remove the pan from the heat source.
• Take a dishwasher tablet and, with a gloved hand, start scraping it over the burnt areas. You can also try gently scrubbing the pan under warm water with the tablet.
• Rinse the pan with warm soapy water.

You might need to let the tablet sit for a while before it starts to break down the burnt crust. If you're having trouble getting the tablet to work, try heating the water a bit more. The warm water will gradually dissolve the tablet, so it's best to keep the plastic coating on while scrubbing to help it retain its shape.

This method is a great option if you're looking for a fast and effective way to clean your burnt pan, but be prepared to use a few tablets to get the job done.

Boil lemons in the pan

Boiling lemons in your pan is an effective, natural way to clean burnt crust off your pan. The acid in the lemon, combined with the boiling water, will help to lift off the burnt-on food.

To do this, you will need two or three lemons and enough water to fill your pan to a few inches. First, quarter the lemons and place them in the pan. Then, fill the pan with water and bring it to a boil. You should boil the lemons for around five to ten minutes, or until you see food particles floating to the surface.

After boiling, discard the water and lemons, and rinse the pan. You may need to use a scouring pad or brush to remove any remaining bits of food. This method is simple and requires hardly any scrubbing effort. It is also a great way to get rid of any burnt smells and replace them with a sweet citrus scent.

Use a dryer sheet

If you're looking for a way to get burnt crust off a pan without too much scrubbing, a dryer sheet could be your secret weapon.

First, add a few drops of dish soap to the pan. Then, pour in some hot water—enough to cover the burnt bits. You can add a single dryer sheet or fabric softener sheet to the water and push it down so that it's completely submerged. If you're dealing with an extreme case, you can use two sheets.

Let the pan soak for at least an hour. For tough, stuck-on residue, you might want to leave it overnight. The silicone coating on the dryer sheet will help to soften the burnt food. Once the soaking time is up, use the dryer sheet to wipe away the burnt food. It's important to note that this method is not recommended for cast iron pans, which shouldn't be exposed to prolonged soaking.

After removing the burnt food, wash the pan with soap and water as you normally would. And that's it! Your pan should now be burnt-bits-free.

Frequently asked questions