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Panicking because you left the stove on for too long and now your favorite pot is all burnt? Ugh, now where will you cook that delicious pasta or that aromatic soup? Will you really have to get a whole new pot because of this one rigid stain? Don’t you panic! I have just the right tips and tricks you need to follow for cleaning those nasty burnt marks off your pots and pans.
I have listed some different items and products that you can easily find at home or quickly order online and get rid of the affected areas. So without further ado, grab your scrubber, and let’s dive right into it.
1. Water And Detergent
This is probably the most common way to clean your burnt pots and pans. First, soak your pot in some soapy water. Then mix any mild detergent with warm water until it forms suds. Apply those to the stained areas and scrub them off with a non-abrasive scrubber or an old toothbrush.
2. Cream Of Tartar And Vinegar
If you have cream of tartar at your place, it is one of the simplest ways to get rid of the scorched areas. Boil some cream of tartar with a spoon of vinegar in your burnt pan. This will lead to the greasy and burnt particles coming off. Turn the stove off and leave the mixture in for 10-15 minutes (till it cools down) and then scrub it off.
3. Salt
Hot water and salt can do wonders for burnt stains and greasy spots on your steel or aluminum pots and pans. Use double the amount of salt as compared to the water and let the mixture rest in your utensil for 20-35 minutes. Then wash the burnt pieces off with dishwashing soap.
4. Lime Juice
Lime is excellent when it comes to stains. Add some lime juice directly to your burnt pan or pot. Then sprinkle some salt on top of it and let it rest. After an hour, add some more salt and scrub out the stains. Make sure to use a non-abrasive scrubber for this.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda is available in almost all of our kitchens and is extremely useful in this scenario. Take a tablespoon of baking soda and add lukewarm water. Mix it till you get a thick paste. Then apply that to your burnt utensil and let it sit for 15-20 minutes (more if you have very rigid stains) before scrubbing it off.
6. White Vinegar
A little white vinegar mixed with baking soda can help your burnt utensils look brand new. A mixture of water and vinegar (equal parts of both) should be poured into the pan. Let this boil for about a minute before you discard this mixture. Only after the pan is dry and you’re rid of all the vinegar, should you add a spoon of baking soda. The baking soda will not only help clean but also mask the strong vinegar smell. Wash this all off with water and see your pan shine once again.
7. Cola
Cola can surprisingly clean your utensils. This is because it contains acid that can remove scorch marks. While your pan is hot, pour this over the burnt area and let it sit for a while. The cola will help loosen up the burnt pieces. Then wash or scrub the burnt particles off, depending on the stubbornness of the stain. Remember to use a non-diet soda/cola as it works best.
8. Alka Seltzer
This common household item works a little like soda or cola. Mix 2 tablets of this in the burnt pan along with water. Then boil it for a minute or two. After it cools down, wash the mixture away with water and watch the shine of your pans being restored.
9. Dryer Sheet
Place a dryer sheet in your burnt pan or pot after soaking it in warm water and dish-washing soap. Make sure to submerge the dryer sheet fully in this water and soap solution. Let it rest for some time to work its magic. After an hour, wash it out with water.
You can even use a fabric softener to clean your scorched pots and pans.
10. Ketchup
Ketchup is not acidic enough by itself to remove the burn marks from pans but it can be used to rejuvenate dull and stained pans. Pour ketchup over the burnt area and wipe it after 10-15 minutes. Then just rinse out your pan and voila! Your utensil is gleaming once again.
11. Dishwasher Tablets
Add one to two of these to some warm water and pour it into the utensil. Let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes and then wash the loosened particles away. You can even use a scrub or toothbrush if the burnt particles are too stiff.
12. Aluminum Foil
Crinkle up some aluminum foil and turn it into a ball a little smaller than your fist. Then add soap and water to your burnt pan and use the foil to clean away the stains and particles. You can use this to scrub off greasy stains too but remember that this may lead to the paint of your pan coming off a little.
13. Barkeepers Friend
You can easily find this powder on Amazon, plus it works amazingly and is very simple to use. Turn it into a paste with some water and then apply it to the burnt areas. Wash it away once the particles have loosened and watch them come off.
14. Bon Ami
Bon Ami is also available on Amazon and helps clean almost any type of stain. This is chemical-free and will not cause scratches on your utensil. It is an all-natural powder cleaner, and hence, safe to use. Mix it with water and pour it directly over the affected areas and then scrub it away with soap and water.
Now that we’re done discussing the various methods through which you can clean your burnt utensils, let’s go ahead and answer some other questions that you may have.
How to Clean the Outside of a Burnt Pan
This is actually a lot easier than it seems. Make a paste using baking soda, lime, and water. Then apply this to the bottom of your pan or pot. You can apply this paste to the affected areas on the inside of your utensils as well. Leave it there for 15 minutes and then scrub it off using a non-abrasive scrub or a tin foil. If the stains still refuse to come off, use an old toothbrush to scrub it out. You can do the same for the insides too.
How to Prevent Your Pots and Pans from Burning in the First Place
Precaution is always better than cure. In order to make sure that you don’t burn your pots and pots accidentally, you can take note of the following-
1. Grease your pan (with oil, butter, etc) before using it.
2. Don’t leave your stove unattended while cooking.
3. Use non-stick cookware.
4. Use durable and high-quality utensils.
5. Turn the heat lower or switch it off completely the second the bottom of your pot or pan starts becoming brown-ish.
6. Even if there are just tiny burn marks in your pots and pans, clean them off properly before using your utensils again.
With that, we have come to the end of our cleaning and maintenance tips for your burnt pots and pans. I hope this helps you get rid of those gross, sticky, and stubborn burn stains. Now come on, what are you waiting for? Go give those pans and pots a good wash and make them look brand new!