Removing Burnt Marinade: Quick And Easy Pan Cleaning

Burnt marinade on a pan can be a real pain to clean, but there are several methods to tackle this problem. One of the most popular methods is to use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. This involves filling the pan with equal parts water and vinegar, bringing it to a boil, adding baking soda, and then letting it soak. After discarding the liquid, the pan can be scrubbed with a sponge or scouring pad. Another method is to use a dishwasher tablet. This involves covering the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water, warming it on low heat, and then scrubbing the pan with the dishwasher tablet. For non-stick and cast iron cookware, it is important to avoid harsh scrubbers and prolonged soaking.

Soak in hot water

Soaking your pan in hot water is a great first step to removing burnt marinade. However, you may need to combine this method with other techniques to fully restore your pan. Here is a guide to using hot water to remove burnt marinade from your pan:

Step 1: Soak in Hot Water

Firstly, fill your burnt pan with hot water. Ensure the water is hot, but not boiling, as you don't want to burn yourself during the cleaning process. You can also add a small amount of dish soap to the water to begin breaking down the burnt marinade. Allow the pan to soak for at least an hour, or even overnight for best results.

Step 2: Scrape and Scrub

After soaking, use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently scrape away any loose bits of burnt marinade. Be careful not to scratch or damage the surface of your pan during this process. Once you have removed as much of the loose debris as possible, it's time to scrub the pan. Use a nylon brush, scouring sponge, or non-stick surface-safe scrubber for this step. Apply some elbow grease and scrub the pan vigorously to remove the remaining burnt residue.

Step 3: Repeat if Necessary

If your pan still has some burnt marinade stuck on, don't worry. Repeat the soaking, scraping, and scrubbing process until your pan is fully clean. You may also need to try additional methods, such as using baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice, which are known to be effective in removing burnt residue.

Remember to always exercise caution when handling hot water and cleaning products, and ensure the cleaning products you use are safe for the type of pan you are cleaning.

Use baking soda and vinegar

Step 1: Boil a mixture of vinegar and water

Fill your pan with equal parts water and vinegar. Place the pan on your stove and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 2: Add baking soda

Once the mixture is boiling, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Remove the pan from the heat. You may want to do this step in your sink as it will cause a fizzing reaction.

Step 3: Soak

Let the mixture soak for up to 15 minutes. The longer you leave it, the more burnt-on food should come away from the pan.

Step 4: Scrub

Discard the liquid down the drain. Use a scouring pad or sponge to scrub away any remaining burnt-on bits. If spots remain, apply a paste made of baking soda and a small amount of water and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing again.

Tips

• This method works best on stainless steel pans.
• If you're dealing with cast iron, avoid using vinegar as it can cause rust.
• If you're short on time, you can skip the boiling step and simply fill your pan with hot water and vinegar, add the baking soda, and let it soak.

Try a dishwasher tablet

If you've burnt your marinade and are struggling to get it off your pan, one option is to try a dishwasher tablet. This method is best for most pots and pans except non-stick and cast iron cookware.

First, add enough water to cover the burnt-on area and place the pan on the stove. Heat the water on medium to high heat until it boils. You can also warm the water on low heat, but make sure to remove the pan from the heat source before the next step.

Then, take a dishwasher tablet and rub it across the burnt-on bits. You can wear gloves for this step if you want to protect your hands. The dishwasher tablet will act as both a detergent and a scouring pad, so there's no need to use a sponge. If you're using Finish Powerball tablets, it's best to leave the plastic coating on the tablets while scrubbing.

Finally, rinse the pan with warm soapy water. You may need to repeat the process for very burnt-on marinade, as dishwasher tablets may not completely remove all the discolouration.

Boil lemons in the pan

Boiling lemons is an effective way to clean a burnt pan, and it's very simple! The acid in the lemon and the boiling water will get rid of the burnt gunk, and the lemon will replace the burnt smell with a sweet citrus scent.

Here's what to do:

Step 1:

Quarter two or three lemons and place them in the pan. You can also cut them into eighths or slices, as long as you have enough pieces to cover the bottom of the pan.

Step 2:

Fill the pan with water. Add enough water to cover the burnt area of the pan. It's okay if the lemons aren't fully submerged, as long as the burnt part is covered.

Step 3:

Bring the water to a boil. You will see the burnt bits start to come off the bottom of the pan as the lemons float around. Let the water boil for 5-10 minutes, or until you see food particles floating to the surface.

Step 4:

Let the water cool, then pour it out along with the lemons. You will likely be left with a thin brown layer at the bottom of the pan.

Step 5:

Scrub the pan lightly with a brush or scouring pad to remove any leftover grime.

Step 6:

Rinse the pan. It should now be clean and free of burnt marinade!

This method is a great, natural way to clean your burnt pans without the need for harsh chemicals.

Use a dryer sheet

If you've burnt your marinade and are left with a crusty, blackened mess fused to the bottom of your pan, don't despair. There's a simple solution that will save you from hours of scrubbing: dryer sheets.

The method is simple: fill your pan with hot water, add a couple of drops of dish soap, and then place a dryer sheet in the water. Leave the pan to soak for at least an hour, or even overnight for tougher jobs. The burnt-on bits should then easily flake off, with minimal scrubbing required. Finally, wash the pan with soap and water as usual.

This method works due to the conditioning properties of the dryer sheet. The silicone coating on the dryer sheet helps to soften burnt-on food, making it easy to wipe away without harming the finish of non-stick surfaces.

So, next time you're faced with a burnt pan, don't reach for the scouring pad. Instead, try this simple, effective, and inexpensive trick using dryer sheets.

Frequently asked questions