How To Clean A Burned Pot: Several Methods To Try

If you’ve ever stepped away from food cooking on your stove for even a minute too long, then you’re probably familiar with the burned and scorched pots and pans that can result from such a mistake. Perhaps you’ve even ruined some cookware this way.

Before you toss those scorched pots and pans in your trash, however, there are some methods you can try to restore them to their original glory. No matter how far gone your pots and pans may seem, one of these techniques could work to remove that stubborn cooking debris once and for all.

Before you get started with any of these pot-cleaning methods, there are some things to keep in mind. For starters, use common sense when it comes to avoiding further damage to certain types of pots and pans. For example, using abrasive cleaning solutions on a cast-iron pan isn’t the best idea, just as using sharp utensils to scrape burned food bits off a non-stick pan is probably not advisable. In general, it’s best to begin with the mildest and most gentle cleaning methods for your pots and pans before moving onto harsher ones. This will help you minimize or avoid any further damage to your cookware.

Different Methods To Cleaning Your Burned Pot

1. Start With Hot Water

This method tends to work best with pots and pans that do not have a non-stick coating. Using this technique on a non-stick pan could result in damage to the protective coating, so you may want to try other methods on non-stick cookware before resorting to this one.

For other types of cookware, such as stainless steel or ceramic, a little hot water can go a long way in removing burned food bits. The best way to use this method is to heat your cookware on the stovetop. Once it’s hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on the surface of the pot or pan, pour in just enough water the cover the bottom. From there, simply let it simmer for a while (30 minutes to an hour tends to yield the best results) before using a soft cooking utensil, such as a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon, to scrape away burnt particles. Dish soap or vinegar can also be added to the water while it’s simmering for added cleaning power against caked-on grease and fats.

2. Let it Soak Overnight

If you don’t necessarily have the time to tend to your cookware on a hot stove for an hour, a similar method you can try is that of letting it soak in your sink overnight. With this method, you’ll want to remove as much of the burnt-on bits from your pot or pan as possible before filling it with hot water and dish soap. From there, place a lid on top of the pot or pan and simply leave it overnight. During this time, the dish soap should gradually break down the burnt food so that when you wake up in the morning, you can more easily scrape it away. This method can even be safe on non-stick pans so long as you use a soft utensil or sponge to remove the debris.

3. Try the Dryer Sheet Hack

This one may sound a little unconventional, but it works! If you have dryer sheets lying around, try filling the burnt pot or pan with hot water before adding a dryer sheet (or two). Make sure that the dryer sheet itself is fully submerged under the water, then let it sit for a few hours and work its magic. The chemicals found in the dryer sheet should help to lift the debris from your cookware.

Once a few hours have passed, remove the dryer sheet and set it aside before draining the pot or pan. If you’re working with anything besides a non-stick pan, you can use the dryer sheet to scrub away the rest of the burnt debris. Otherwise, you’ll want to use something a little more gentle, such as a silicone spatula.

4. Remove Grime With Lemon Juice

For pots and pans with burnt-on grime, the acidity from a little lime juice can go a long way in removing it. For this method, you’ll want to begin by filling the pot or pan with warm water. Then, take some sliced lemons and add them to the water before covering the pot/pan and bringing the water to a boil. Allow the lemons to boil for about five minutes before turning off the heat.

Remove your pot/pan from the heat and allow it to cool. This may take a while. Once it has cooled, dump out the water along with the lemons and scrub the burnt debris from your cookware away.

5. Clean With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Last but not least, consider making your own cleaning solution for burnt pots and pans using baking soda and vinegar. Keep in mind that baking soda is abrasive, so scrubbing with it could cause damage to non-stick coatings.

To create the cleaning mixture, you’ll need a cup of distilled white vinegar, a couple of cups of water, two tablespoons of baking soda, and a spatula or wooden spoon. Begin by adding water and vinegar to the burnt cookware and bringing it to a boil. From there, turn off the heat and move your pot to the sink. Add the baking soda, which will cause the mixture to fizz (this is why you brought your pot into the sink) and let it sit for several minutes.

Once the fizzing seems to be settling down, dump everything out of the pan and down into your sink drain before using your spatula or spoon to scrape away at any remaining debris. You can repeat this entire process a couple more times for especially stubborn debris.

How to Avoid Scorched Pots in the Future

These are just a few effective methods for cleaning burnt pots and pans. However, to avoid scorched cookware in the future, there are some additional tips worth keeping in mind. For starters, be careful to never step away from your stove while cooking. When using high heat on the stovetop, be sure to stir your food regularly to prevent burning.

Any time you’re cooking on the stovetop, using a non-stick spray or cooking oil is a must for preventing foods from getting burned onto the pan in the first place. If a pot or pan begins to scorch, the best course of action to save it is to remove the food immediately and run cold water from your sink over the cookware itself. This will help to stop the cooking process and prevent further scorching.

Pots and pans made of quality materials will also be less likely to burning and scorching, so it may be worth it to spend a little more money on a quality set of cookware rather than having to replace low quality cookware due to scorching down the road.

Finally, when cooking on a gas stovetop, always choose a burner that’s appropriate for the size of your pot or pan. Placing a small pot on a large burner will cause flames to lick up the side of the pot, resulting in scorching or burning.

Keep Your Kitchen in Tip-Top Shape

Caring for your cookware can be enough work on its own; hiring a house cleaning service to handle other aspects of housekeeping can save you time and reduce stress. Maid Sailors offers a wide range of cleaning services to suit your needs, including deep-cleaning and routine cleaning for your entire home.

Contact Maid Sailors today to request your service or schedule from the convenience of your computer. We look forward to helping you keep not just your kitchen, but your entire home in tip-top shape for an affordable price.