Tillie Doyle
Keeping the outside of your pots and pans clean is important for several reasons. Not only does it help to maintain a clean kitchen, but it also ensures your cookware stays hygienic and looks good for longer. Luckily, cleaning the outside of your pots and pans is easy and can be done with a few simple steps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleaning solutions | Baking soda, dish detergent, vinegar, lemon juice, Alka-Seltzer, Coca-Cola, salt, cream of tartar, ketchup, tomato paste, oven cleaner, Bar Keeper's Friend, Bon Ami, Zud, Wright's Copper Cleaner and Polish, dish soap, tartar, lemon, dishwasher tablet, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, dishwashing liquid, vegetable oil, kosher salt, copper cleaner, polish |
| Tools | Non-scratch sponge, scrubber, Scotch Brite sponge, Scotch Brite Scrubber, soft sponge, steel wool, microfiber cloth, aluminium foil, flat-edged scoop or spatula, scrub brush, soft cloth, non-scratching sponge, stainless steel scrubber, paper towels, cloth, sponge, brush, scrubber, damp cloth, abrasive sponge, steel wool, soft sponge, soft cloth |
| Techniques | Boiling water method, soaking, scrubbing, rubbing, rinsing, drying, wiping, soaking, dipping, spraying, scraping, stirring, scraping, scrubbing, submerging, spreading, applying, sprinkling, pouring, boiling, washing, scrubbing, cleaning, scouring, immersing, squishing, scrubbing, scrubbing, boiling, scrubbing, dipping, scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing, cleaning, spraying, dipping, scrubbing, scrubbing, cleaning, scrubbing, rinsing, drying, storing, cleaning, rinsing, applying, rubbing, scrubbing, rinsing, drying, cleaning, rubbing, scrubbing, rinsing, drying, cleaning, dipping, cleaning, scrubbing, rinsing, drying, cleaning, rinsing, drying |
Baking soda and vinegar
Step 1: Remove Excess Food and Debris
Start by scraping away any large pieces of food or debris from the outside of your pot or pan. You can use a spatula or scraper for this step.
Step 2: Boil Vinegar
Fill the bottom of your pot or pan with water and add 1 cup of vinegar. Place the pot or pan on the stove and bring the water and vinegar mixture to a boil. The vinegar will help to break down any stuck-on food particles.
Step 3: Add Baking Soda
Once the water and vinegar mixture is boiling, remove the pot or pan from the heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. The baking soda will react with the vinegar, creating a fizzing reaction. This reaction helps to loosen burnt-on food and makes it easier to remove.
Step 4: Let it Sit
Set the pot or pan aside and wait for the fizzing and bubbling to stop. This may take a few minutes. During this time, the baking soda and vinegar will work together to break down any remaining food particles and stains.
Step 5: Scrub the Pot or Pan
After the fizzing has stopped, discard the liquid and scrub the outside of the pot or pan with a nylon scrub brush or scouring sponge. Add more baking soda to the brush or sponge as needed to help with the scrubbing process.
Step 6: Rinse and Dry
Once you have finished scrubbing, rinse the pot or pan with clean water to remove any remaining residue. Then, dry the pot or pan with a clean cloth or towel.
Additional Tips:
- For a more heavy-duty cleaning solution, use white vinegar instead of regular vinegar.
- If you are cleaning a non-stick pan, be sure to use a non-stick-safe nylon brush or sponge to avoid damaging the non-stick coating.
- You can also add a squirt of vinegar to the pot or pan after scrubbing and before rinsing to remove any residual odours.
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Lemon juice
To use lemon juice to clean your pots and pans, you can either cut a lemon in half and rub it inside the pot, and then wipe it with a cloth, or fill the pot with water and lemon juice, bring the mixture to a boil, and leave it for 2-3 hours before rinsing and drying.
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Bar Keeper's Friend
Bar Keepers Friend is a mild abrasive, bleach-free, oxalic-acid-based powdered cleaning product. It is ideal for stainless steel items but can be used on several other things, including tiles, imitation marble, chrome, porcelain, ceramic, and copper. It can be used to remove rust, tarnish, mineral deposits, and tough stains from most surfaces. It also helps protect the surfaces of your pans, preventing them from tarnishing and rusting in the future.
To use Bar Keepers Friend, start by wetting the surface of the pan. Then, make a paste using the powder and water. You can either apply this paste to a washcloth and scrub the pan or apply it directly to the pan and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. For lighter stains, you can simply wet a washcloth, sprinkle the powder on it, and scrub the pan. For heavier stains, make a paste and apply it to the pan, letting it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
For very tarnished or greasy pans, you may want to start scrubbing with steel wool. Once you've mostly cleared the surface of the pan, switch to a soft sponge or rag. Be sure to wear kitchen gloves to protect your skin, as the product is abrasive. Finally, rinse the pan well after cleaning, ensuring that you don't let the paste sit on the surface for longer than a minute.
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Coca-Cola
To use Coca-Cola to clean your pots and pans, follow these steps:
- Pour some Coca-Cola into the pot or pan. Ensure the cola covers all the areas with buildup.
- Place the pot or pan on a burner and turn the heat to low.
- Leave the Coca-Cola to heat for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Remove the pot or pan from the heat and use a scouring pad to scrub away the grime. You may need to put some muscle into it to remove stubborn stains.
- Rinse the pot or pan with warm water to remove any remaining Coca-Cola and residue.
- Dry the cookware with a soft cloth.
If the buildup is on the outside of the pot or pan only, you can also try the following method:
- Pour Coca-Cola into a basin and soak the cookware for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Remove the pot or pan from the basin and scrub with a sponge or scouring pad.
- Rinse, dry, and you're done!
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Ketchup
To clean the outside of your copper pots and pans with ketchup, place a layer of newspaper on a flat surface and turn the pan over. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to spread an even layer of ketchup onto the bottom surface of the pan. Let the ketchup sit for approximately 30 minutes, reapplying if it drips down the sides. After 30 minutes, wipe a small area with a paper towel to see if the dirty surface has thinned out. If the burnt-on part of the pan needs more time, let the ketchup sit for another 20 minutes. When you're ready to remove the ketchup, work with a metal spatula to scrape off the grime or ball up some aluminum foil and work in a circular motion. Finally, rinse the pan with warm, soapy water and dry it with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
In addition to ketchup, there are several other methods to clean the outside of pots and pans. For example, one can use baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice to clean the outside of stainless steel pans.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several methods to clean the outside of your pots and pans. One method is to use a mixture of baking soda and dish detergent. Apply the paste to the surface of your cookware and scrub gently with a sponge or cloth. Rinse with water and dry with a clean towel.
To clean the bottom of a cast iron pan, avoid using abrasive sponges as they will ruin the seasoning. Instead, rinse the pan with hot or boiling water. If there is stuck-on residue, use kosher salt, warm water, and a soft sponge to loosen it, then rinse again.
To clean the outside of a copper pot or pan, start by examining the exterior for a lacquered coating. If there is one, you can clean the exterior with dishwashing liquid. If there is no coating, use an acidic solution such as lemon, vinegar, or tartar to clean the cookware.
To clean the bottom of a stainless steel pan, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water. Boil the mixture and apply it with a cloth, or immerse the pan in the solution. After 30 minutes, wash the pan as normal.
