Removing Grease From Ceramic Pans: Easy And Effective Methods

Grease and burnt food can be frustrating to clean off your ceramic pans, but there are several simple and effective methods to get your pans looking like new. It's important to act fast when removing grease, as the longer it is left, the harder it will be to remove. Always allow your pan to cool to room temperature before cleaning, to avoid thermal shock and possible damage. Warm water, baking soda, vinegar, salt, and dish soap are all you need to tackle grease and stains, but be sure to avoid abrasive cleaning tools and harsh chemicals, which can damage the pan's surface.

Use baking soda and vinegar

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean a Ceramic Pan

Step 1: Allow the Pan to Cool

Before cleaning your ceramic pan, it is important to let it cool down to room temperature. This prevents thermal shock, which can cause the pan to shatter. Place the pan on a counter or a placemat and wait about 10-15 minutes.

Step 2: Remove Large Food Particles

Once the pan has cooled, use a spatula or scraper to remove as much burnt food and debris as possible. Scrape gently to avoid scratching the pan's surface.

Step 3: Boil Water and Vinegar

After removing the large food particles, put the pan back on the stove and add enough water and vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan. Aim for a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 (water:vinegar). Turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 4: Add Baking Soda

Once the mixture is boiling, remove the pan from the heat and add baking soda. For a standard-sized pan, use about 1 cup of baking soda. You will see a fizzing reaction as the baking soda combines with the vinegar. This reaction helps to loosen burnt food.

Step 5: Let the Pan Cool

Set the pan aside and wait for the fizzing and bubbling to stop. This may take a few minutes. It is best to perform this step in the sink, as the reaction can be quite explosive.

Step 6: Scrub the Pan

After the reaction has stopped, discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon scrub brush or scouring sponge. Add more baking soda as needed to create a paste. Rinse the pan with warm water and dry it with a soft cloth or let it air dry.

Tips:

• If there is still food stuck to the pan, create a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the pan. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight, then scrub with a nylon brush or sponge.
• For very stubborn stains, create a mixture of 2 cups water and 1/2 cup vinegar, and let the pan soak in this solution overnight. Alternatively, you can boil this mixture in the pan for a few minutes to loosen the stain.
• Always hand-wash ceramic pans with warm, soapy water after each use to prevent food particles from building up and causing discolouration.
• Avoid using steel wool, abrasive nylon, metal pads, or abrasive cleaners, as these can scratch the ceramic coating and reduce its non-stick quality.

Let the pan soak in warm water

Allowing your ceramic pan to soak in warm water is an effective way to remove grease and burnt-on food. This method is especially useful for ceramic pans, as they can be easily damaged by harsher cleaning methods.

Firstly, fill your sink or a large dishpan with warm water. Add a few squirts of dish soap to the water. Then, submerge your ceramic pan and leave it to soak for at least 30 minutes. This will help to loosen any burnt-on grease or food.

If your pan is new, soaking it in warm soapy water will also help to remove any ceramic dust particles and dirt that may have settled on the surface during the manufacturing and shipping process. Therefore, it is a good idea to wash new ceramic pans in warm soapy water before using them for the first time.

After your pan has soaked, you can use a non-abrasive sponge or soft dishcloth to clean the surfaces. Never use steel wool, abrasive nylon, metal pads, or abrasive cleaners on ceramic coatings, as these can cause scratches and damage the non-stick finish.

If your pan is very greasy or has burnt-on food, you may need to soak it for longer, or try adding some baking soda or vinegar to the warm water to create a stronger cleaning solution.

Use salt to scrub grease

To remove grease from a ceramic pan, one method you can try is using salt to scrub the grease away. This is what you do:

Firstly, let the pan cool down. Always allow ceramic cookware a few minutes to stop sizzling and cool down completely before attempting to wash it. Quick and drastic changes in temperature can damage the ceramic coating. Once the pan is cool, fill a sink or dishpan with warm water and a few squirts of dish soap. Blue Dawn is a recommended brand for this purpose. Submerge the pan and use a non-abrasive sponge or soft dishcloth to clean the surfaces.

Now, to tackle the grease, prepare white vinegar to soak the pan for an hour. Place salt on the bottom of the pan, focusing on the stains. Sea salt is preferable as its texture is coarser. Put a small amount of dish soap on a scrubbing pad and vigorously scrub the pan's bottom, applying more salt and soap as needed.

If you are dealing with caked-on grease, you can pre-soak the pan in vinegar for half an hour before applying the salt and scrubbing. The vinegar will help to loosen the grease, and the salt will act as an abrasive to help lift it from the pan.

Use white vinegar for tough stains

White vinegar is an effective way to remove tough grease stains from your ceramic pan. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Scrape Off Large Chunks of Burnt Food

Use a rubber spatula to remove any large pieces of burnt food from the pan. This will make the cleaning process easier and prevent scratching during scrubbing.

Step 2: Prepare a Vinegar and Water Solution

Combine one part white vinegar with four parts warm water. The vinegar's acidity will help break down the grease buildup.

Step 3: Boil the Solution in the Pan

Pour the vinegar and water solution into the pan and place it on the stove. Turn the heat to medium-high and let the mixture boil for 3-4 minutes. The heat will help loosen the grease and stains.

Step 4: Let the Pan Cool

After boiling, turn off the heat and allow the pan to cool down to room temperature. This is important to prevent thermal shock, which can damage the ceramic coating.

Step 5: Scrub the Pan

Once the pan has cooled, use a soft sponge or non-scratch scrub pad to scrub away the grease and stains. Work the sponge in circular motions to cover all stained areas.

Step 6: Rinse and Dry the Pan

Rinse the pan thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining vinegar and grease residue. Dry the pan with a soft dish towel or let it air dry on a drying rack.

Tips for Using White Vinegar on Ceramic Pans:

• Always allow your ceramic pan to cool completely before cleaning to avoid damaging the ceramic coating.
• For very stubborn grease, you can soak the pan in a mixture of 2 cups water and 1/2 cup vinegar overnight.
• White vinegar is a mild acid that is generally safe for ceramic coatings, but always spot test in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn't affect the finish.
• If you're concerned about scratching, you can also try using a microfiber cloth or towel instead of a sponge to scrub the pan gently.

Use hydrogen peroxide for dark stains

To remove dark stains from your ceramic pan, you can use hydrogen peroxide. This method will help lighten the finish of your ceramic pan and remove any discolouration.

First, ensure your ceramic pan has cooled down completely. Then, pour enough 3% hydrogen peroxide into the pan to cover the bottom. The hydrogen peroxide should bubble to indicate that the solution is fresh and effective. If it doesn't bubble, discard it and try a new bottle.

Let the hydrogen peroxide sit in the pan for around 30 minutes. After this, simply rinse and dry your pan. The bleaching action of the peroxide will brighten the finish.

You can also try this method with white vinegar. Mix a solution of one part vinegar to four parts water and pour it into your pan, ensuring that it covers any dark stains. Let the pan sit overnight, then rinse and dry in the morning. Alternatively, boil the mixture for 15 minutes, let the pan cool, and then rinse and dry.

Frequently asked questions