From the unconventional dryer sheets to the cleaning staple like baking soda, here are some genius Life Hacks to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans!
When cleaning burnt pots and pans is not possible by dishwashers, consider these clever Life Hacks to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans using common ingredients found in the kitchen pantry.
Life Hacks to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans
The below methods takes off crusty layers of charred food and burn marks from aluminum, stainless steel, and non-stick pots and pan quite easily.
1. Hot Water
Before trying other life hacks, use this hot water method. Load the scorched stainless steel pot or pan about 1-inch with water. Put it on the stove and boil the water on high flame for 3-5 minutes. When the water simmers, take a wooden spoon and gently peel off the burnt-on food particles.
2. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Nothing can match the cleaning potential of vinegar and baking soda. Pour 1-2 cups of white vinegar into the pot/pan and boil for 3-5 minutes. Then, add a cup of baking soda and wait until the fizzing stops. Make sure to do this step in the sink. Dump the liquid, scrub with a nylon brush, rinse and dry.
3. Lemon
Another effective life hack to clean scorched pots involves lemons and water. Boil water with equal slices of 2-3 lemons in the charred cookware for 5-8 minutes. After that, cool down the pot, discard the mixture, and scrub its surface with a soft brush.
4. Liquid Dish Soap
Combine a tsp of dish soap and 1-2 cups of hot water into the pot/pan to make it sparkling clean. Wait for 1-2 hours and then scour with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad. Clean with ample water and dry.
5. Aluminum Foil
Give a new lease of life to your burnt cooking utensils with this simple hack. Soak the pot/pan in hot water for 15-20 minutes. After that, scrub its surface with a ball of aluminum foil until you get the desired result. Avoid this hack on non-stick cookware. You can add a tbsp of baking soda to increase its cleaning potency (optional).
6. Salt
Kosher salt is great for clearing greasy messes and scorch marks from pots and pans. Spread an equal amount of kosher salt and fresh lime juice on the crusty pot/pan. Let it sit for an hour and scrub to see the brown residue flaking off. Repeat the process if needed.
7. Dryer Sheets Hack
Lifting burned scraps from a scorched pan is surprisingly easy with dryer sheets. Begin this hack by adding 1-2 cups of hot water, 1/4 tsp of dawn dish soap, and a dryer sheet into the pan. After an hour, discard the mix, wipe it with a wet sponge, and clean it with water.
8. Cream of Tartar and Vinegar
Do a bang-up job cleaning your metal pots, pans, and glass cookware with the combination of cream of tartar and vinegar. This hack is effective because both are slightly acidic. Read the how-to here.
9. Club Soda
This technique is effective while the roasted pot or pan is still hot. Soak the soiled utensil in club soda for half an hour or so and then scrub it away. The carbonation of soda breaks down the stubborn stuck-on food easily.
10. Coke
Grab a can of coke to remove stains from charred cookware. Its sugar content softens the burned residue, and the acidity pulls it out. Empty a whole coke can in the pan/pot and let the coke do its work for 3-4 hours. Once the period is over, scrape the gunk off and wash it with water.
11. Ketchup
This hack sounds odd, but ketchup is a brilliant tool to revive lightly burnt pots and pans, thanks to its mild acidity. However, this trick does not work on heavy burns. Apply a thick layer of ketchup on the affected area. Wait for an hour, and then wipe it away.
12. Alka Seltzer
Add 4-5 tablets of Alka seltzer and 1-2 cups of hot water into the pot or pan. Let the fizziness do its work and after an hour, clean the dirty cookware as usual. The citric acid in these tablets is responsible for its cleaning potential.
13. Baking Soda
Baking soda is the ultimate cleaning workhorse and safest means to get spotless enameled cookware. Soak the pot/pan halfway with water and pour 2-3 tbsps of sodium bicarbonate into it. Simmer this mix for 3-5 minutes, and then peel off the crusty layer with a wooden spatula. In the end, wash the pan/pot with soapy water.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap
Use the combination of peroxide and dish soap to break down the burnt leftovers and lift stains from cookware. Drench the pot/pan with a cup of peroxide and add 3-5 drops of dish soap. Bring the mix to a rolling boil. When it looks foamy, turn off the stove and keep it aside for 15-20 minutes. Later, scour it with a soft sponge and wash as usual.
15. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
Restore the former glory of your discolored pots and pans with the concoction of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. In the absence of baking soda, you can use peroxide alone. Read more here.
16. Laundry Detergent
Add a tbsp of regular laundry detergent and a cup of water in the scorched pot or pan. Boil the mix for about 8-10 minutes. Then, gently wipe it with a sponge or soft brush. Rinse and dry as you usually do.
17. Dishwasher Tablet
Make your singed cookware brand new again with dishwasher tablets. Start this hack by soaking the pot/pan in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Next, scour the utensil’s surface with a dishwasher tablet to see the difference.
18. Shaving Foam
Yes, you read that right! Shaving foam removes burnt marks from the bottom of pots and pans easily. Spray a generous amount of shaving foam on the charred surface and let it sit for half an hour or so. Later, scrub with a scouring pad to get sparkling results.
19. Try Grapefruit and Salt
Spruce up the look of your burnt pots and pans with this quick fix. Sprinkle a dash of salt and squeeze one or two juicy grapefruit in the dirty cookware. Wait for half an hour, and then gently scrub it off.
20. Sugar Cubes
Don’t have the above supplies handy? No worries, all you need is some sugar cubes to de-scorch cookware in a flash. It’s an unconventional method but serves the purpose. Wet the dirty pot/pan with a bit of water and scrub it with a sugar cube. Use more sugar cubes if needed.
Quick Note-Â Before practicing these hacks, scrape out as many pieces of burnt food as possible using a wooden spoon. For enameled cookware, only use the baking soda hack to avoid mishaps. Make sure to wear good-quality rubber gloves.
How to Clean the Outside Bottom of Pots and Pans?
To clean the bottom exterior of your burnt pan or pot, the shaving foam method is the best bet. However, you can also use the salt, dishwasher tablet, tomato sauce, sugar cube, and aluminum foil hacks.