Scorched Food, Spotless Pan: Removing Stubborn Stains And Scorch Marks

Removing scorched food from a pan can be a challenging and time-consuming task. The internet offers a variety of methods to tackle this problem, ranging from using common household items like baking soda and vinegar to specialised cleaning products. While some methods may be more effective than others, the best approach depends on the type of pan and the severity of the scorching.

Use vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda are a great combination for cleaning a burnt pan. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible. It is important to do this before you begin the cleaning process, as it will make the rest of the task easier.

Step 2: Boil Vinegar in the Pan

Pour a small layer of equal parts water and white vinegar onto the bottom of the burnt pan. The amount of liquid you use will depend on the size of your pan, but aim for a thin layer that covers the bottom of the pan. Place the pan on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 3: Add Baking Soda

Once the vinegar mixture has come to a boil, remove the pan from the heat. Pour out the vinegar mixture down the sink, being careful as it will still be very hot. Now, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the empty pan. The baking soda will act as an abrasive to help lift the staining. You can expect a fizzing reaction when you add the baking soda, so it may be best to do this in the sink.

Step 4: Scrub the Pan

Use a scouring pad or sponge to scrub the baking soda into the pan, focusing on any remaining burn marks. The abrasive action of the baking soda combined with the vinegar will help to loosen and lift the burnt-on food.

Step 5: Rinse and Repeat if Necessary

Rinse the pan with clean water. If there are any stubborn marks that won't come off, you can repeat the process, or make a paste from baking soda and a couple of drops of water and leave it on the marks for a while before rinsing and scrubbing again.

Tips and Variations:

• If you want to create a stronger cleaning solution, you can add the baking soda to the vinegar before boiling. This will create a fizzing reaction, so be careful when handling the pan.
• For tougher stains, you can try a stronger method by adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of water to the pan, bringing it to a boil, and then scrubbing while the pan is still hot.
• If you are cleaning a cast iron pan, avoid using vinegar as it can create rust. Instead, create a paste from baking soda and a small amount of water, scrub with a stiff-bristle brush, and then rinse and dry the pan.
• For burnt pans with copper bottoms, turn the pan upside down and sprinkle baking soda over the copper bottom. Pour vinegar over the bottom of the pan and use a half lemon to scrub. Rinse and dry the pan afterward.

Try a dishwasher tablet

If you have a dishwasher tablet lying around, you can use it to clean your burnt pans. This method is simple, effective, and requires minimal elbow grease.

First, cover the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water and warm it up on low heat. Remove the pan from the heat source and, wearing gloves, rub the dishwasher tablet on the burnt areas of the pan. You can also try scraping the tablet against the burnt bits. The burnt-on food should come off immediately. Rinse the pan and wash it with warm, soapy water.

This method works best with Finish Powerball Tablets, but other tablets should also do the trick. While you may need to use two tablets to clean a particularly dirty pan, this method is still worth trying due to its effectiveness.

If you don't have a dishwasher tablet, you can try using a dryer sheet, baking soda, or aluminium foil to remove scorched food from your pan.

Boiled lemons

To use this method, slice two to three lemons and place them in your dirty pan. Cover the lemons with water and place the pan on medium-high heat. Bring the lemon water to a boil for five to ten minutes, or until you see food particles floating to the surface. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. Once it has cooled, pour out the water and discard the lemons. Finally, scrub away any remaining stuck-on bits with a scouring pad or brush.

If you want to add some extra cleaning power, you can also combine the lemons with baking soda. Simply sprinkle some baking soda into the pan before adding the lemon slices and water. The combination of acidic lemon juice and alkaline baking soda will create a fizzing reaction that helps to loosen burnt food.

While this method is effective and easy to do, it may require some heavy-duty scrubbing to remove all the burnt-on food. For best results, combine it with other cleaning techniques, such as using a dishwasher tablet or scrubbing with aluminium foil.

Soak in hot water

Soaking a burnt pan in hot water can help loosen burnt-on food, but it might not be strong enough on its own. For this reason, it is often combined with other cleaning agents like baking soda, vinegar, or dish soap.

If you want to try using hot water alone, follow these steps:

• Fill your burnt pan with hot water.
• Let the pan soak for up to 15 minutes. Check the pan at intervals of 5 minutes to see if the burnt-on food is starting to lift.
• If the food is still stuck, try adding some dish soap to the hot water and letting the pan soak for another 15 minutes.
• After soaking, try to remove as much of the burnt food as possible with a wooden spatula or similar tool.
• If there are any remaining burnt-on bits, scrub the pan with a scouring pad or sponge.

If hot water alone doesn't do the trick, try combining it with baking soda. Here's how:

• Fill the pan with hot water.
• Add 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda to the water and stir to create a paste.
• Let the mixture sit for a few hours or overnight.
• After letting the mixture sit, add more baking soda and scrub the pan with a nylon brush or scouring sponge.

You can also try boiling the water and baking soda mixture before letting it sit. Just be sure to remove the pan from the heat before the mixture boils over.

For an even more intensive cleaning method, combine hot water with vinegar and baking soda. Here's how:

• Fill your dirty pan with equal parts hot water and vinegar.
• Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Let the pan soak for up to 15 minutes.
• Discard the liquid and scrub away any remaining burnt-on bits with a sponge or scouring pad.

Remember to always test any new cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous part of your pan to ensure it won't damage the surface.

Use a dryer sheet

If you've burnt your meal and are left with a mess fused to the pan, there's no need to scrub and soak for 365 days! You can use a single dryer sheet (or fabric softener sheet) to clean your pan.

First, remove as much of the burnt food from the pan as possible. Then, fill the pan with warm water, ensuring that the water covers the charred bits. Next, place a dryer sheet on the surface of the water and let it sit. Depending on how burnt your pan is, you can leave it for as little as 15 to 20 minutes or let it soak overnight. Finally, use a sponge to wipe away the burnt food. You can also use the dryer sheet to scrub away any remaining bits.

Once you've removed the burnt food, wash your pan with soap and water as you normally would. It's important to note that dryer sheets aren't reusable, so this method may not be the most cost-effective solution for regularly burnt pans. However, it's a great fix for those extra tough, stubborn messes.

The success of this cleaning hack can be attributed to the conditioning properties of the dryer sheet, which help to soften and remove the burnt food from the pan. So, the next time you're facing a scorched pan, don't despair—reach for a dryer sheet instead!

Frequently asked questions