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7 TIPS TO CLEAN BURNT POTS AND PANS

Passionate home cooks love using their kitchens to experiment with culinary creations. Conquering challenging dishes like venison meatballs or Korean BBQ pork chop is satisfying but they leave a mess of scorched pans that are as tough to clean as those dishes are to cook.

Follow the steps outlined in this article to learn how to effectively clean burnt pots and pans so you can get right back to creating in the kitchen.

On the Cooktop of a KitchenAid Gas Oven, a cast iron pan with a steak and mushrooms cooks over a blue flame. Nearby is a cutting board with fresh herbs and garlic cloves. On the Cooktop of a KitchenAid Gas Oven, a cast iron pan with a steak and mushrooms cooks over a blue flame. Nearby is a cutting board with fresh herbs and garlic cloves.

HOW TO CLEAN BURNT COOKWARE

You can remove burns from cookware by using a combination of mild abrasives, like baking soda or other common household items, and heat.

Learn how to remove even the most stubborn burns from cookware, such as a cast iron skillet, in addition to getting tips on how to clean a burnt stainless steel or aluminum pan.

THE EASIEST WAY TO CLEAN A BURNT POT
While not an option for cast iron or stainless steel, simply boiling lemons can be an easy—and rather fragrant—way to help remove pesky burns from cookware. To use this method, quarter some lemons, add to the pot with the burnt mess and bring to a boil. Your pots will smell and look great and only require light scrubbing to clean.

A woman holds a glass while stirring green beans in a pan on a KitchenAid Induction Cooktop. Two other pans are on the cooktop: one with potato fritters frying and another with chicken, herbs and pineapple. Surrounding the cooktop are a wooden plate, a bowl with salad, a small bowl with seasoning, a cutting board and a plate where two potato fritters drain their oil onto paper towel. A woman holds a glass while stirring green beans in a pan on a KitchenAid Induction Cooktop. Two other pans are on the cooktop: one with potato fritters frying and another with chicken, herbs and pineapple. Surrounding the cooktop are a wooden plate, a bowl with salad, a small bowl with seasoning, a cutting board and a plate where two potato fritters drain their oil onto paper towel.

SOME WAYS TO CLEAN SCORCHED POTS AND PANS

If you have a badly burnt saucepan, you will want to clean it without damaging it, especially if it’s made of stainless steel, nonstick or ceramic. Remember the care method you employ for a pan should be based on its material.

Keep reading to learn scorched pan cleaning tips and how to thoroughly clean a stainless steel or aluminum pan. And, lastly, always refer to your cookware owner’s manual for specific care instructions.

1. BAKING SODA
For cleaning a burnt pot or pan, you should always avoid using acidic materials, like vinegar or lemon juice, as the acid may cause rust and deteriorate the seasoned coating. If you’re endeavoring to clean a cast iron skillet without negatively impacting the seasoning, baking soda should be your first choice.

Follow these steps to clean a cast iron skillet with baking soda:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Pour water into the pot or pan so that it covers the bottom with a thin layer.
  • Add a generous amount of baking soda, which should be mixed with the water with the goal of forming a paste consistency.
  • Scrub with either a scouring sponge or a nylon bristle brush.

2. BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR
As mentioned, vinegar is too acidic for stainless steel or cast iron, but it is a strong and effective cleaning agent for copper and aluminum.

Follow these steps to clean burnt pots and pans with baking soda and vinegar:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Add a thin layer of vinegar to the pot or pan
  • Spread baking soda over the vinegar
  • Allow the cleaning mixture to set overnight
  • Scrub using a non-scratching sponge or nylon brush
On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven is a wok with someone holding the handle. Next to the cooktop is a small glass bowl with seasoning and another ceramic bowl. On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven is a wok with someone holding the handle. Next to the cooktop is a small glass bowl with seasoning and another ceramic bowl.

3. THE DEGLAZING TECHNIQUE
Deglazing is a method that combines heat and abrasion to remove burns from pots and pans and is safe to use with most materials.

Follow these steps to clean burnt pots and pans using the deglazing technique:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Put the pot or pan on the stove and set the heat to low
  • Add 1 cup of water and bring it to a boil
  • As the water heats, take a wooden spatula and scrape the bottom and sides of the cookware. This is the deglazing part of the process
  • Once the water has boiled, pour it into the sink but do not dry it
  • Add a generous amount of baking soda into the pot or pan and let it cool
  • Once it’s completely cool, scrub the pot or pan with a wet bristle brush or scouring sponge
  • Wash and dry the pot
On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven, a lidded pot is on an activated burner with a blue flame. Next to the counter are butter on a butter holder, fresh herbs in water and a container of rice. On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven, a lidded pot is on an activated burner with a blue flame. Next to the counter are butter on a butter holder, fresh herbs in water and a container of rice.

4. BOILED LEMONS
You can clean aluminum kitchenware with the natural combination of heat and lemons. Another benefit of this method is that your kitchen will smell fresh and lemony.

Follow these steps to clean burnt pots and pans using boiled lemons:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Quarter 2-3 lemons
  • Add the lemon wedges to the pot or pan
  • Pour in 2-3 inches of water
  • Place the pot or pan on the stove and boil the water for 5-10 minutes
  • Pour the remaining water and lemon wedges into the sink
  • Use a scouring pad to scrub the scorched areas

5. SALT
Salt can be useful for removing tough grease stains and scorch marks from cast iron pots and pans. For additional cleaning power, use a more abrasive salt like kosher salt.

Follow these steps to clean burnt pots and pans with salt:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Sprinkle salt along the bottom of the pot or pan
  • Scrub with a bristle brush or sponge
A woman adjusts the setting on a KitchenAid Over-the-Range Hood Vent. On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven is a pot on a burner with a blue flame. Next to the cooktop is a green bell pepper, a cutting board with pasta nests, an oil container and a kitchen utensil holder. A woman adjusts the setting on a KitchenAid Over-the-Range Hood Vent. On the cooktop of a KitchenAid Oven is a pot on a burner with a blue flame. Next to the cooktop is a green bell pepper, a cutting board with pasta nests, an oil container and a kitchen utensil holder.

6. CREAM OF TARTAR
Cream of tartar is a baking soda alternative that contains gentle yet abrasive properties that are great for cleaning aluminum and stainless steel pots and pans.

Follow these steps to clean burnt pots and pans with cream of tartar:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Combine 1 tablespoon with 1 cup of water in the scorched pot or pan
  • Boil the mixture and then let it cool
  • Scrub pot with a nylon bristle brush or sponge
  • Dispose of any remaining water into the sink

7. KETCHUP
Ketchup can help restore the original shine to dull copper and tarnished stainless steel cookware. On its own, it won’t completely remove scorches but as a follow-up step, it can help return a sheen to cookware.

Follow these steps to use ketchup to help cookware shine again:

  • Remove any loose food or debris from the pot or pan
  • Add ketchup to the tarnished areas to coat them
  • Let the ketchup sit for 15 minutes
  • Wipe away the ketchup
Someone cooks sausages and other food items in a pan on a KitchenAid Cooktop as steam escapes. With one hand, they grip the handle of the pan and hold the lid with their other hand. Next to them is a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, crumbs, a small bowl of garlic, fresh herbs in water and a cutting board with various produce. Someone cooks sausages and other food items in a pan on a KitchenAid Cooktop as steam escapes. With one hand, they grip the handle of the pan and hold the lid with their other hand. Next to them is a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, crumbs, a small bowl of garlic, fresh herbs in water and a cutting board with various produce.

HOW TO REMOVE BURNT STAINS FROM STAINLESS STEEL PANS

Citrus-based cleaners and vinegar-based products may cause damage to stainless steel cookware, so the deglazing method is one way to use heat to your cleaning advantage.

Always refer to your manufacturer’s guide for accurate information and specific instructions on how to clean your cookware and to confirm that certain cleaning agents are safe to use.

HOW DO YOU CLEAN A BADLY BURNT SAUCEPAN?

For a badly burnt saucepan, try cleaning it with a mix of mild abrasives (baking soda, for instance) and low heat. One method is to heat a small amount of water in the pan and then proceed to scrub.

CAN I USE VINEGAR TO CLEAN A BURNT PAN?

Vinegar has a reputation for being able to help clean a burnt pan when combined with a mild abrasive. You should note, however, that vinegar can be corrosive to some materials, including cast iron or stainless steel.

Always consult your manufacturer’s guide for details and instructions.

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