How to clean a burnt pot
Whether you turned the burner up too high, skimped on cooking oil, or forgot you left food on the stove, yuck, it’s surprisingly easy to burn a pot or pan. But there’s no reason to cry over burned milk, meat, or other unidentifiable stains, because there are plenty of ways to clean a burnt pot and get rid of charred food and discoloration that can result from any number of kitchen glitches.
First things first: You can’t wash pots and pans, especially if your cookware is aluminum, she says. Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. “Aluminum can darken in the dishwasher because it reacts with minerals in the water or other factors, including the type of soap used,” he says.
So, it’s time to break out the oven mitts and get to it!
Related: How to Clean a Waffle Maker
How to clean a burnt pot
What you will need:
- kitchen gloves
- Hot water
- liquid dishwasher detergent or dish soap
- Sodium bicarbonate
- scrub brush or thick sponge
- Vinegar
- towel or rag
Related: How to Clean an Oven: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step by step guide:
- Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from grease and oil. Fill the dirty pot or pan with hot water and a few drops of detergent.
- Let the pan soak for between 20 minutes and two hours, depending on how dirty the dish is. If you are cleaning a regular (non-non-stick) pot or pan, place the pan on a burner set to high to speed up the degreasing process.
- After soaking, empty the water and pour some baking soda into the pan. Using a damp, thick sponge or brush and a few drops of dish soap, scrub the pot firmly.
- Using hot water again, wash the soap out of the pot. If there is still any residue, repeat until clean. Or, for tougher stains, cover the surface of the pot with baking soda and pour vinegar on it.
- Wait while the chemical reaction occurs, then clean with a soapy sponge.
Use a dry cloth to wipe off any remaining water before storing.
Related: How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
(swipe to continue reading)
More secret weapons to clean burnt pots
High-quality cookware
“If you buy cheap pots and pans,” says Peterson, “they don’t heat up as well and often need to be replaced sooner than those that cost more money and are made of a more heat-resistant material.”
a gentle touch
Believe it or not, harsh cleaners and aggressive scrubbing aren’t usually necessary to revive burned-out pots and pans. The above process requires no commercial grade cleaning ingredients and will help loosen debris without excessive effort.
dryer sheets
In a pinch, dryer sheets can be used as a hack to remove burnt-on food from pots and pans if the above approach doesn’t do it. Simply fill your pan with warm water and add a fresh dryer sheet, then let it sit overnight. In the morning, you’ll find it much easier to remove any remaining debris, says Peterson.
soda
Yes, we’re talking Coke and Pepsi: Peterson swears that the acid in soda can help remove burnt stains from pots. He just pours a can, let it sit overnight, and tries to lift his jaw off the kitchen counter when the stains are practically gone the next morning.
Hot water
The hotter the water, the better, as it can help eliminate tough problems, says Peterson.
Cold water
The one exception to the above rule should apply when cleaning dairy products, which tend to get stickier with warm water, according to Peterson, who prefers cold water for washing cheese dishes.
Vinegar
A mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water can help heal discoloration, Peterson says. Boil over low to medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, then wash with warm soapy water, rinse, and towel dry.
Lemon juice
Like vinegar, the acidity of lemon juice can help restore aluminum pots and pans. (Simply swap the lemon juice for vinegar and follow the directions above.)
Read Next: 10 Cleaning Hacks to Save Time and Money
