You should consider these easy solutions that use materials found around the home to clean your burnt pans. You might even find them more effective. Here are a few amazing tips that you can to shine your pans.
Before you start these ways, keep this in mind: Depending on what your pan is made of (most of the ones on the market are made of stainless steel, enameled cast iron, or aluminum), you can damage it if you use a too-scratchy scrubber like steel wool or an ultra-strong cleanser.
So remedy your burnt pans with homemade natural cleaning solutions. We also don’t recommend these methods for nonstick pans.
1. Soak and Scrape
The best method to clean a burnt pan is using the soak and scrape method. Here’s how to do it:
- Coat the burnt spots of the pan in dish soap
- Fill the pan with super hot water
- Let sit for 2+ hours or overnight
- Scrape off the burnt pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula
Using this method, you should be able to fully clean your pan after only 2-3 soak and scrapes.
2. Clean with Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner. Use it as a disinfectant, a non-toxic glass cleaner, and yes, put it to use in the kitchen too.
- Pour a small layer of equal parts water and white vinegar on the bottom of the pan.
- Heat the diluted vinegar on the stovetop and allow it to come to a boil.
- After it boils for a minute, remove it from the heat and drain the vinegar down the sink.
- Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the empty pan (the point here isn’t to create a fizzy volcano by combining vinegar and baking soda, you want the two cleaning agents to operate independently). Baking soda is abrasive and will help to lift the staining.
- Use a scouring pad to massage the baking soda to combat any remaining burn marks on the bottom of the pan.
- Rinse it clean.
3. Use Salt as a Great Cleaner
Salt, especially coarse Kosher salt, is great for alleviating scorch marks in pans and is especially great 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.
4. Boil Lemons
Like vinegar, lemons are also acidic, which can help lift the burnt parts of the pan. Here’s how to use lemons to clean a scorched pot:
- Cut up three lemons into quarters
- Add the lemons and plenty of water to your pan
- Boil the lemons for 10-15 minutes
- Discard the lemons and water and scrub your pan
This method is supposed to remove the burnt-on bits without requiring tons of scrubbing.
5. Cream of Tartar
Cream of tartar is an abrasive substitute for baking soda.
- Mix a tablespoon of it in a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a scorched pan.
- Allow the water to cool.
- Scrub the pan to bring it back to a shine.
6. Dryer Sheet
Soak a burnt pan with soap and water, and add a dryer sheet into the mix. Allow it to sit for an hour. The dryer sheet (you can substitute a tablespoon of fabric softener) will loosen the burnt-on food and leave you with a shiny like-new pan.
7. Scrub with Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil
If you don’t have a pot scrubber, this method is for you. It can work well to remove the remaining burnt on crud after you use the soak and scrape method.
Liberally coat the bottom of your pan with baking soda
Add a tiny bit of water to create a paste
Ball up a piece of tin foil and use it to scrub the bottom of the pan
8. Ketchup
While by itself it may not be acidic enough to remove heavy burns on pans, ketchup is popular for reviving dull and tarnished pots and pans. Coat the affected area with a thin layer of America’s favorite condiment and wipe clean after 15 minutes.
