How To Clean Stuck On Pan

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clean metal pan

Have you ever been cooking something on the stove and walked away for just a second only to return several minutes later to a completely burned pan? Well, I have. I get easily distracted as dinner time can be pretty hectic around here with a busy toddler running around. I have burned more than my fair share of pans.

Today I am going to share with you a super easy way to remove burned-on food from pots and pans – that charred, black, cooked-on food from the bottom of your stainless steel or enamel pots and pans. No more scrubbing and scrapping.

All you need for this method is water and some baking soda. That's it. I learned this trick from a friend whose house burned down, and her husband used it to salvage her expensive All-Clad stainless cooking set. I was blown away how amazing they looked after he cleaned them up.

close up of burned cooing pot

How to Remove Burned-on Food from Pots and Pans

Fill the pot or pan with about 2-3 inches of water. Add 1/4 cup of baking soda. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer rapidly for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool for a half hour.
After a half hour, wash the pot or pan as usual, gently scrubbing. The burnt-on food should come off easily. I find that using a plastic pan scraper makes this job much easier and doesn't scratch the bottom of the pan.
If the burnt residue is stubborn, simply repeat the process. You can add a 1/4 cup of vinegar for extra serious jobs.

This technique is for stainless steel and enamel pots and pans only. I cannot recommend this technique for non-stick cookware. And using this on cast iron would require you to re-season the pan afterwards.

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clean all-clad metal pan

That's it. Pretty easy, huh?

I have another tip for you that I have learned from personal experience:

ALWAYS set a timer when you are cooking, even if you think you will remember to turn it off. It has saved me many times.

Like household tips? Check out my 5 Tips for Removing Laundry Stains Naturally.

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