You know what's not fun? When you're making a one pot meal for your family—and you accidentally end up burning the heck out of that pot. Even the world's best kitchen cleaners can be daunted by that crusty layer, whether inside the pot or maybe coating the bottom on the outside where the pot meets the burner. Rather than tossing your beloved pots and pans, there are a number of at-home remedies that can buff these beauties to their former glory. From the magic of baking soda to the scrubbing prowess of good ol’ salt, here are four ways to banish grease from your pots and pans for good.
How do you clean a burnt pan with baking soda?
Ah, baking soda, the often-praised natural cleaning marvel that’s been around for generations. Its favoritism comes with good reason: It works! According to the University of Wisconsin’s Oconton County Cooperative Extension, baking soda is a great cleaning agent because it's a mild alkali, and dirt and grease are powerless against it. Even better, all you need is a splash of water to remove it. And because it’s natural, it’s safe for kids, pets, and cookware.
To clean your burned pots and pans using baking soda, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda in the pan, add hot tap water and dish soap, and let the mixture sit in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then wash as usual and spend the rest of the day singing the praises of baking soda to all who will listen.
How do you get baked-on grease off a pan?
Residue that’s caked on after baking can require some elbow grease to remove. Try making a mixture of two-parts baking soda, one-part dish soap, one-part tap water. Rub this paste over the dirty portion of the pan, let it sit for an hour, then wash.
How do you clean a burnt pan with salt?
Another one of our favorite ways to clean a burnt pan involves kosher salt and a dash of lemon. Simply cut a lemon in half, sprinkle the bottom of your pan with kosher salt (the larger crystals make it more abrasive), and use the cut side of the lemon as a scrubber to work the salt into the grime. Don’t have a lemon on hand? Substitute hot water and dish detergent and scrub away.
How do you clean the outside of a burnt pan?
To clean the bottom exterior of your pan, try a mixture of one-part water to three-parts baking soda. Coat the dirty portion of your pot’s bottom with the mixture, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, get down and dirty with your scrubbing sponge. If your stains are really stubborn and you don’t mind opting for a store-bought product, products from Bar Keepers Friend, Bon Ami, and Carbon Off come highly recommended.
