How do you clean a burnt stainless steel, copper, ceramic, enamel or Tefal pan?

Do you sometimes happen that you preheat the oil, place the meat in the pot and while you are cutting the vegetables, your future meal burns, sticks to the pot and leaves a caked crust of oil? Do not despair ! Even seasoned cooks can scorch a pan! However, removing stubborn stains isn't that painful if you have the right ingredients. Based on the experience of professionals, here are the techniques to use to clean a burnt pan and restore its shine.

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How to clean a burnt stainless steel pan?

Stainless steel pans expertly conduct and hold heat, making them a great addition to any kitchen. However, if not properly maintained and used, stainless steel can quickly show unsightly burn marks and discoloration.

How to remove burnt on stainless steel dishes?

Even the most experienced chef can come across food particles that have stuck to the bottom of stainless steel pans. Below are several proven ways to fix the problem.

Boiling water

This method is perhaps the simplest of all. Start by removing as much food as possible with a non-abrasive sponge. Then fill the pan with water and a little dish soap. Boil the water. Once the water is boiling, you can use a spatula to scrape off excess food with ease.

Vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar is an effective cleaning solution thanks to its acetic acid content, which helps break down food particles.

Fill the bottom of your pot with water, enough to cover the stuck-on food. Add a cup of vinegar and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons baking soda. Mix everything briefly and empty the pan.

Use a non-abrasive sponge or brush to clean the pan of any remaining food particles.

cream of tartar

Although generally less available than baking soda, cream of tartar is an effective way to clean a pan burned with food. Simply mix the product with water to create a paste and cover the affected areas. Let soak overnight. Rinse and scrub the container to remove residue.

Salt and lime

Indeed, the acidity of the lime and the coarseness of the salt help to eliminate traces of food.

Squeeze the juice of a lime into your container and add salt. Let the mixture sit for several minutes. Sprinkle with salt again. Immediately begin scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush. Once the excess food has been removed, rinse and dry as usual.

How do you clean scorch stains from stainless steel pans?

How to get rid of nasty scorch marks on the bottom and inside of your pan? Here are some simple tips.

Baking soda

For this method, start by making sure the pan is completely dry. Then, sprinkle baking soda evenly over the bottom. Use a dry cloth to work the product into the burn marks. You can add a little water to make a paste if you prefer. Once you are satisfied with the result, rinse and dry.

Baking soda and dish soap

If you have mild dish soap on hand, simply make a paste using baking soda. Apply the paste to the affected areas and leave on for several hours. Afterwards, just wash thoroughly and dry as usual.

Coca Cola

This method also works on sticky, clingy substances like caramel, thanks to the acidic properties of cola.

Pour enough cola into your pot to cover the burnt areas. Bring to a slight simmer. When simmering is complete, remove from heat and use a spatula to scrape up any burnt oil or other substances.

Boil salt

This method is more effective for burns on the inside of the pan, rather than on the bottom. Salt can be replaced with lemon juice or vinegar.

Fill the pot with enough water to cover the stained areas. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add a few spoonfuls of salt and immediately turn off the heat. Let stand for a few hours.

Empty the water from the pan. Scrub the inside with a non-abrasive sponge. Repeat the operation if necessary.

How do you clean a burnt copper pan?

Copper is used on the bottom of pans because it heats up quickly and distributes the heat over its surface. Burnt copper loses its ability to heat evenly and can give your food an unpleasant taste. But instead of throwing away the burnt pan, try fixing it by following these simple cleaning methods.

Method 1

Remove large pieces of burnt food from inside the pan. Add two to three drops of liquid dish soap to the bottom. Fill the pot with hot water until the layer of food is covered. Stir in 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Allow to soak for at least an hour before scrubbing with a non-abrasive scouring pad and rinsing with water.

Method 2

Spread a layer of tomato ketchup evenly over the burnt copper bottom. Let sit for an hour to allow acids to eat away food buildup. Wash off the ketchup with hot water, rubbing the surface of the pan with a non-abrasive product. Dry with a soft cloth.

Method 3

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar. Heat for 30 seconds on medium-high power. Mix 1/2 cup table salt and 1/2 cup white flour in a second bowl while the vinegar warms. Add the vinegar to the dry mixture until a thick paste forms. Spread the dough on the copper bottom of the pan. Rub with a cloth. Let stand until dry. Wipe off excess paste with a cloth and rinse with warm water.

Method 4

Cut a lemon in half with a knife. Dip its cut surface in table salt. Rub the salted lemon over any remaining burnt or dull spots on the copper bottom of the pan until they disappear. Finally, rinse with warm water and dry with a cloth.

How do you clean a burnt ceramic pan?

The ceramic containers benefit from a non-stick coating. It happens that they are damaged during cooking. In this case, you will need to know how to clean them easily.

How do you get rid of burnt-on food on your ceramic pan?

Hot soapy water

The first method you can try is to soak the ceramic pot in hot soapy water for three hours. This should remove the burnt oil and food scraps.

Sprinkle and rub baking soda

You can also sprinkle about two tablespoons of baking soda on the burnt ceramic surface. Then, using a soft damp sponge, work the powder into the food residue in a circular motion. If necessary, add a little hot water. Finally, wipe off the loosened dirt with a dry towel.

Mix baking soda and hot water

Cover the bottom of your burnt pan with baking soda. Then pour hot water until the pan is half full. Place it on the stove over medium or high heat. Allow this concoction to come to a boil, then simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Food particles are guaranteed to come off.

How to remove stains from ceramic pans?

Ceramic coatings eventually show stubborn food stains. Although the latter do not affect the quality of your utensils, they can be annoying to look at. Fortunately, it's easy to remove them.

White vinegar

Prepare a mixture of distilled white vinegar in a 1:4 ratio. For example, a quarter cup of vinegar to four cups of water.

Pour the mixture into the pot and let it sit overnight. Make sure the entire stained area is covered. You can also place the ceramic pot on the stove and boil the liquid for fifteen minutes.

Once done, rinse and dry with a soft dish towel.

Lighten stains with hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as a cleaning agent due to its whitening effect. This is why it is so useful for cleaning a burnt ceramic pan.

Start by coating the cooking surface of your container with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Bubbles should form; if not, the hydrogen peroxide is probably past its expiration date.

Then let the H2O2 sit in the pan for about 30 minutes. Lastly, rinse and use a soft cloth for drying.

How do you clean a burnt enamel saucepan?

The utensils in a cook's arsenal are often a source of pride. Enamel pans are valued for their culinary value as well as their aesthetic beauty. Nothing stains these containers like burnt food. The good news is that there are a few methods to fix this problem though.

1. Soak enamel pot in warm, soapy water for several hours. Scrub the burnt area with a soft scrub brush. Rinse the pan and repeat the soaking and scrubbing, removing as much residue as possible.

2. Pour two tablespoons of baking soda into the burnt enamel pan. Also add two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, two drops of dish soap and a cup of water. Place the pot on the stove over low heat. Gently boil the solution for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool before using the scrub brush to remove burnt material.

3. Use biological laundry detergent to decompose the burn. For example, biological laundry detergent contains natural water-activated enzymes that will digest burnt-on food particles. Cover the surface of the enamel pan with one inch of water and detergent. Leave on for several hours and rub away burnt food.

4. Fill the burnt enamel pot halfway with hot water. Put one or two denture cleaner tablets in it, depending on the size of the utensil and the severity of the damage. Allow to soak until the solution stops bubbling. Much like laundry detergent, denture cleanser tablets use digestive enzymes to clean out food particles, but also work by effervescence to loosen the burn.

5. Add five unwashed, unpeeled potatoes to the enamel pot. If the pot is too small, reduce their number. Add water until the container is full and place it on the stove over medium heat. Boil until most of the water has evaporated. Fill the pot and boil a second time. Drain the pan and discard the potatoes. Scrub the burn with a non-abrasive scrub brush to remove it.

How to clean a burnt Tefal saucepan?

While the nonstick surface makes cleanup a breeze, there are times when you'll end up with crusty food stuck to it. We'll show you how to clean a burnt pan without causing a mess.

Vinegar

Place your saucepan filled with hot water on the stove over high heat. Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar and let the liquid come to a boil. After a few minutes, you'll notice the dirty residue begin to float to the top of the boiling water. Remove the Téfal saucepan from the heat and drain the liquid. Use a little dish detergent and a nylon brush to clean. Rinse with cold water.

Baking soda

Mix equal parts water and baking soda in a small bowl to make a sticky paste. Use a soft sponge to spread the paste over the areas of the pan where the burnt food is. Let stand for about 15 minutes without rubbing. Finally, wash in cold water to remove all residue.

Dish soap

Place the pot in the sink and fill it with hot water and a few drops of degreasing dish soap. Leave on for about an hour until the soapy water begins to loosen food soils.

To clean, empty the dirty water and use a nylon brush to remove the softened dirt. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.

Salt

Fill the pot with hot water and pour in about three tablespoons of salt. Leave to act for a few hours. Once the pot is submerged, turn on the heat and bring the salted water to a boil. Empty the liquid and wash the utensil with a little water and soap.