Removing Crusted Food: Pan Cleaning Tips And Tricks

Burnt food on pots and pans can be a real pain to clean, and if not removed quickly, it may become a permanent feature of the pan. While it may be tempting to throw the pan away, there are several methods to help remove the crust. The best method depends on the type of pan and the severity of the burn.

Soak in hot water

Soaking a burnt pan in hot water is a great first step to get crusted food off. However, this method alone might not be strong enough to remove stubborn, burnt-on food.

To start, fill your sink with hot water and add a squirt of dish soap. Place the pan in the soapy water and let it soak for at least an hour. Sometimes, a good soak is all that is needed to loosen food particles and remove the burnt crust from the pan. If the crust is still stuck, you can try bringing water to a boil in the pan to further loosen the burnt-on food.

For very stubborn crusts, you may need to repeat the soaking process or try adding common household cleaners like baking soda, vinegar, or salt to your hot water soak. These ingredients can help boost the cleaning power of the hot water and make it more effective at removing burnt-on food.

After soaking, use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining food particles. If necessary, repeat the soaking and scrubbing process until your pan is clean.

Remember to always exercise caution when handling hot water and avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on non-stick or cast-iron pans, as these can damage the coating.

Use vinegar

Vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner. It can be used as a disinfectant, a non-toxic glass cleaner, and yes, you can put it to use in the kitchen too.

To use vinegar to clean a burnt pan, start by pouring a small layer of equal parts water and white vinegar on the bottom of the burnt pot or pan. Place the pan on the stove and heat until a droplet of water sizzles on its surface. Then, bring the diluted vinegar to a boil. After it boils for a minute, remove the pan from the heat and drain the vinegar down the sink.

Now, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the empty pan. The point here is not to create a fizzy volcano by combining vinegar and baking soda but to let the two cleaning agents work independently. Baking soda is abrasive and will help to lift the staining. Use a scouring pad to massage the baking soda onto any remaining burn marks on the bottom of the pan. Finally, rinse the pan clean.

If you don't want to use baking soda, you can also try using coarse salt, which is great for alleviating scorch marks in pans, especially for greasy messes. Try pairing it with dish detergent and hot water, or massaging it into the burnt pan with the juicy core of a cut lemon.

Try baking soda

Baking soda is a mild abrasive that can help break apart crusted food in your pan. To use this method, start by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda on top of the burnt food at the bottom of your pan. Then, pour in enough hot water to cover the deposits. Leave the mixture to soak for at least an hour or, ideally, overnight. In the morning, scour the pan, and the food debris should come off easily.

You can also create a paste by mixing baking soda with water. Apply this paste to the inside of your pan and use an abrasive scrubbing pad to work it into the burnt crust. If you rinse the pan during this step, make a new paste until all of the crust is removed.

For stainless steel cookware, add a few drops of dish soap to the dirty pan, along with a tablespoon of baking soda and enough water to fill the pan a quarter of the way. Put the pan on high heat and let it simmer for a few minutes. Carefully pour out the hot liquid, add another tablespoon of baking soda, and use a cleaning toothbrush or a double-sided sponge to scrub away any remaining grease. Finally, rinse the pan with water.

If your pan is severely burnt, you can also try a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Add about half an inch of hydrogen peroxide and a quarter of a cup of baking soda to the pan. Bring this mixture to a boil, then remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for 10 to 30 minutes. During this time, you can stir the mixture with a wooden spoon to help lift away the burnt material. Finally, scrub the pan as usual.

Add salt

Salt is a great option for cleaning burnt food off your pans. It is gentle on the pan but tough on burnt food. Salt is gritty enough to scrub away burnt bits without scratching your pan. It is also a safe and natural method.

• First, let the pan cool down completely. Do not add water to a hot pan as this can damage the pan and cause the water to evaporate quickly.
• Once the pan is cool, fill it with some warm water. You can also use regular tap water, but warm water will help loosen the food particles.
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of regular table salt to the water. You can also eyeball this and be generous with the salt.
• Stir the salt and water mixture, ensuring that the salt is evenly distributed.
• Let the pan soak for a couple of minutes.
• Transfer the pan to the stovetop and boil the water and salt mixture for 15 minutes.
• Wipe off any excess water from the bottom of the pan.
• If there is still burnt residue, pour out most of the hot saltwater, leaving about half an inch in the pan.
• Pour in a couple more tablespoons of salt.
• Use a scrub sponge or scrubbing pad to wipe away the remaining residue. Be sure to wear dish gloves or wait for the water to cool before cleaning to avoid burns.
• Rinse the pan with hot, soapy water and dry as usual.

If you are dealing with particularly tough stains, you can also try adding vinegar or baking soda to the saltwater mixture. Vinegar helps to further break down burnt food, and baking soda is a mild abrasive that will help to lift it off.

With these simple steps, your pan will be squeaky clean in no time!

Use dishwasher detergent

If you have a particularly dirty or burnt pan, you can use dishwasher detergent to clean it. Firstly, check that your pan is dishwasher-safe. Look for a stamp on the bottom of the pan or check the original packaging or manufacturer's website.

Next, use a wooden spatula to scrape off as much of the burnt-on food as you can into the bin. Then, fill the pan 3/4 full with water and add some dishwasher detergent. Bring the water to a boil and let it simmer for 15 minutes. After this, clean the pan as normal, repeating the process if necessary.

If you have a dishwasher, you can also put your dirty pans inside and let the machine do the work for you. Place the pans mess-side down on the bottom rack, and refer to your owner's manual for further instructions. Use a dishwasher setting if available, or select the longest cycle if not.

For best results, use a dishwasher detergent with special enzymes that can break down food, such as Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPac.

Frequently asked questions