How To Clean Burnt Residue From Pan

I've burned a few pans in my life (who hasn't?), simply my mom definitely takes the block. I recently got a text from her that read: "Lovely first to my day. Ruined my favorite pan and burned the porch." This was the photograph that came along with information technology:

A burnt pot, aka a kitchen nightmare. Photograph by Camryn Rabideau

Evidently she walked away while making hummingbird food—which is essentially just saccharide water—and somehow turned it into this monstrosity that looks more similar volcanic rock. When she smelled the burning, she grabbed the pot off the stove and put it outside on the porch, forgetting that a hot pan on wooden flooring would outcome in even more than called-for. Oops.

She was fairly distraught over the state of her stainless steel sauce pan (understandably so), merely I bodacious her that she could salve it. Equally a writer specializing in various home categories, I've learned my fair share of pan-cleaning techniques. Hither are a few of the tactics I recommended to her—and have tried on pots I've accidentally burnt myself.

There are many types of pans out in that location—stainless steel, ceramic, cast iron, you get it—and each 1 has a slightly dissimilar method of cleaning burnt bits. I've got tips for the specific pans below, but here is a little cheat sail that works for most pans. The one exception is cast iron—never soak your cast iron pan!

Whether you have a serious mess like my mom or simply a mildly burnt pan, the start pace is usually to take the pot off the stove and scrape off whatever you can while information technology'south however warm. Just make certain to utilize a wooden spoon to avoid scratching the pan's finish.

After the pan has cooled downward, make full information technology upward with a generous squirt of dish soap and warm water. You can also endeavor calculation a dryer sheet to the mix, just remember to rinse it very well afterward. Let it sit overnight and then go back in with your trusty wooden spoon or a sponge to scrape things off. Echo the soaking procedure, if needed, or try boiling water and dish soap to farther loosen things up.

If soaking in soap and h2o notwithstanding isn't cutting it, you might have to up the dues.

1. Deglaze with h2o or white vinegar

Y'all've probably used the deglazing technique while cooking. Turns out it tin aid when cleaning pans, as well! Heat the pan up on the stovetop, and when it's hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on it, slowly cascade in a cup of water or vinegar. You can then get in with your wooden spoon to scrape off the burnt-on bits.

2. Utilize a dishwashing tablet

And then, this technically isn't a pantry item, but dishwashing tablets can be used to make clean tough stains—after all, they're formulated to help suspension downward caked-on food. Fill up the burnt pot with h2o, then drop in a tablet. Bring the water to a eddy, then reduce it downward to a simmer for 10 minutes. The burnt bits should lift right off.

3. Boil with hydrogen peroxide

As suggested by one of our readers, hydrogen peroxide tin can assistance elevator stains without scrubbing. Simply fill the lesser of your pot or pan with ½ inch of the liquid, then bring it to a boil on your stove. (You'll probably want to open a window, equally this tin can start to smell.) Reduce the heat and let it simmer for ten minutes, and the stains should come off with minimal effort.

For mild burns on stainless steel and aluminum pans, you can commonly make practice with a few pantry staples. Notwithstanding, these tactics do require some manual ability, and then roll up your sleeves and get set to scrub.

1. Scrub with blistering soda

Baking soda is the jack-of-all-trades that no pantry should be without, so it should come as no surprise that information technology tin help make clean burnt pans. Mix the powder with a bit of water to create a paste, so spread information technology over the burnt area. You lot tin can become in with a gentle sponge and showtime scrubbing, or you can spray a piddling white vinegar over the paste to make it foam, and then scrub.

2. ...Or foam of tartar

Similar to baking soda, this mutual baking ingredient is mildly annoying, making it great for scrubbing off tough gunk without dissentious pans. Plus, it'due south acidic so it helps break down baked-on food. To use information technology on your burnt pan, create a thick paste using cream of tartar and white vinegar, then use it to scrub the trouble areas.

3. Soak in ketchup

No, that's not a typo! The acetic acrid in ketchup effectively breaks down the copper oxide that forms when you burn food, and then you can use the additive to clean up burnt pans. Only slather the burn in ketchup, let information technology sit for about 30 minutes, and scrub away.

4. Swap your sponge for tin foil

If your regular sponge isn't making a dent in the burnt-on mess at the bottom of your pan, here's a useful hack. Crumple upwardly a slice of aluminum foil into a brawl, and sprinkle a generous layer of blistering soda into the pan. Utilise the aluminum foil to scrub and go set up to be wowed by how easily it removes stains! This method should just be used on metal pans because it will scratch nonstick or ceramic finishes.

If your poor pot is all the same crying out for help, you might want need to grab a heavy-duty cleaner.

1. Bar Keepers Friend, $9.26 $7.79

Bar Keepers Friend is an extremely popular cookware cleaner that you can apply on most pans—stainless steel, porcelain, enamel, copper, and more. The production'due south combination of oxalic acrid and fine abrasive particles will lift off even the toughest stains. Just be certain to thoroughly wash and rinse your pans after using it.

2. Bon Ami, $9.49

Bon Ami is another highly-touted kitchen cleaner that can be used to banish burns and stains. Information technology uses all-natural ingredients, and some people say its aroma is less offensive than Bar Keepers Friend.

If you have a cast iron that needs cleaning, you lot shouldn't soak cast iron in water or even use soap or cleaners as information technology can impairment the pan's seasoning.

Instead, you'll want to use a "cleaner" like Ringer—a piece of chainmail that you lot utilize similar a washcloth to scrape off food particles—or but rub down the pan with lemon and coarse common salt, which will clean the pan without harming the finish.

With nonstick pans, you desire to avoid whatsoever type of annoying cleaner or sponge that can impairment the finish (though if you're having problems with food sticking to the surface, information technology may already be damaged). Instead, fill up the pan with water and add a generous sprinkling of baking soda. Bring the contents to a boil, and so let information technology simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. This should assist to loosen upwards the broiled-on gunk so you can scrape it away with a spoon.

This article was updated in December 2022 to include fifty-fifty more tips for removing those pesky burns and burn stains from pans. How exercise you clean your worst burnt-on messes? Tell united states in the comments below. All products are independently selected by our editors, and Food52 may earn an affiliate committee.