Blackened, crusty, and burnt food at the bottom of a pan may happen to anyone, including skilled cooks. You may have given up hope of cleaning the mess, but a badly charred saucepan may be saved with ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda and a little elbow effort.
How to Clean a Burnt Stainless Steel or Aluminum Pan
With some basic kitchen staples, there are several techniques you can use to clean a badly burnt stainless steel pan.
- Ingredients
- Baking soda
- Water
- White vinegar
- A Scouring pad and scraper, such as a wooden spatula.
- A fresh lemon, cut in half.
- The Deglazing Technique
Direction
The Baking Soda & Water Method
If you have a scorched pan with burnt food, you can use baking soda and water to get the job done.
- Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Cover the scorched portion of the pan.
- Pour 1 cup baking soda and 1/3 cup water for a full pot bottom,
- Rub the paste to the burnt pan.
- Cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water.
- Add enough baking soda to create a paste.
- Let the combination sit for a few hours or overnight, then add more baking soda and scrub with a nylon brush or scour sponge.
- If you don’t want to wait, add another ¼ – ½ cup water to thin the paste then put the pan on the stove and let it come to a boil.
- Remove it from the heat quickly – you don’t want it to burn again!
The Baking Soda & Vinegar Method
- Add a enough white vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan with at least ½ inch of liquid.
- Boil the vinegar in the pan and let simmer for a few minutes.
- Remove from heat and add 1 cup baking soda.
- Set the pot aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling dies down.
- Dispose of the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon scrub brush or scour sponge, adding more baking soda as necessary.
- Soak clean and dry.
The Baking Soda & Lemon Method
- Maintain a thin layer of water in the pan
- Dust the bottom liberally with baking soda.
- Cut a lemon in half and use the flesh side to scour the pan with the baking soda slurry.
- If your pan has a copper bottom that has gotten blackened or tarnished, turn the pot upside down and use this method to help remove the stains and restore the shine.
