Yeah, cooking is fun but a burnt pan? Maybe not. Roll up your sleeves people as we help you make your burnt pots and pans squeaky clean before the holiday season!
You can never run away from a burnt pan no matter how good you are in the kitchen. Not only is your cooking ruined but cleaning up is also time-consuming. It also leaves charred stains. However, don’t throw your scorched pots and pans away just yet! We have chemical-free remedies to keep your cookware sparkling.
Here are the 6 tricks to clean a burnt pot or pan especially for anyone with better things to do.
Note: These hacks are not suitable for non-stick kitchenware as the methods require scrubbing with an abrasive sponge. Therefore, please check your type of pots and pans before proceeding.
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1. Vinegar and baking soda
This combination is superhero worthy. Vinegar and baking soda have always been the go-to ingredients when it comes to do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning. They are great for multipurpose use and are great disinfectants too. Here’s what you need to do:
- Fill the pan with equal parts of water and vinegar.
- Boil the mixture and then remove it from the heat.
- Then, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the mixture. Leave the mixture for a couple of minutes until it starts to fizz
- After that, drain the mixture down the sink and scrub the remaining burnt bits with a scouring pad.
- Rinse it and you’ll be surprised at how shiny your pans and pots are!
2. Coca-Cola (Coke)
Yes, Coke. Everyone’s favourite carbonated drink. This method wouldn’t work like magic because it may take a while before it starts to kick off. So, if you have zero patience, you will probably want to skip this one. All you need to do is to fill the pan with Coke and let it sit for a couple of hours (or for as long as you can). The carbonic acid in Coke will remove any grime off the surface. Then, scrub it off with a wire brush and wash it with water as usual.
3. Cream of tartar
Cream of tartar is a white powdery ingredient that is usually used in baking and cooking. But, its function doesn’t stop there! On its own, it can be used as an effective non-toxic household cleaner and can be mixed with other ingredients like lemon juice and vinegar. It is also a good substitute for baking soda if you don’t have any. This is how you do it:
- Mix a cup of water with a tablespoon of cream of tartar.
- Then, pour the mixture into a scorched pan or pot.
- After that, boil the mixture then allow it to cool.
- Scrub away the way grime and burnt food.
4. Ketchup
Who knew spilling this all-time American favourite could be a blessing in disguise? The ingredients in ketchup make it effective to clean up burnt surfaces due to its acidic nature. To make it work, slather ketchup onto burnt pots and pans. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. After that, scrub off the burnt bits, wash the pan as usual, and ta-da!
5. Salt
It not only adds seasoning to your cooking but also brings your dish-washing game into a whole new level. Salt, especially Kosher salt, is the best to scrub off light burn marks on pots and pans. It is also great for greasy grimes.
- Sprinkle and slather a generous amount of salt to your pan.
- Then, use a sponge to scrub the burnt area.
- Repeat this process if needed.
On a side note, you can pair salt with a lemon slice and rub the burnt pot. You can also sprinkle salt on a potato slice to rub the burnt bits. You’ll be surprised how easy it cleans your pot. Voila!
6. Old wine
Don’t toss away that uncorked wine! You can use it to clean up pots and pans as it removes crusty food effortlessly. Follow the same method as vinegar and baking soda because wine is a great substitute for vinegar. It’s as easy as pie!
Isn’t it interesting how your kitchen pantry’s common ingredients can work wonder when it comes to chemical-free cleaning hacks? Let us know which tips work for you. Do share with us if you have more tricks for cleaning burnt pots and pans!