Before you bring out the big guns , remember: Depending on your pan (most on the market are stainless steel, enameled cast iron, or aluminum), you can damage it if you use an abrasive that’s too abrasive, like steel wool or a hard cleaner. So start with the smallest solution possible and only if necessary, move on to something stronger. We don’t recommend any of these methods for nonstick pans.
Here are some different ways to clean a burnt pan.
Use warm water to remove it.
If you have a stainless steel or enameled pot , place it on the stove and turn on the heat. When the pot is hot enough to boil a drop of water, pour in a cup of water and let it boil for a while (add dish soap or baking soda if desired). Then scrape the burned areas with a wooden spoon or nylon spatula as the water loosens them.
Clean the pot with a dishwasher.
It turns out that these powdered dishwasher tablets (not liquid) are good for a lot more than just the dishwasher. (We’ve used Finish Powerball tablets for all sorts of things.) In this case, simply cover the bottom of the pan with a small amount of water and heat it over low heat. Then remove the pan from the heat and scrape the tablet onto the burnt parts. Rinse and wash with warm, soapy water.
Soak the drying plate.
A drying sheet can work wonders for burnt pieces—we’ve seen it! Fill the pan with hot water, add a dryer sheet (submerge it under water to saturate it completely), and wait a few hours before using the fabric softener to remove the debris. We understand that this method may not be for everyone, as many prefer to stay away from chemicals on dryer sheets.
Boil the lemons.
Is there anything lemons can’t do? The idea is that the acid in two to three-quarters of a lemon is enough to remove the burnt bits and little to no cleaning is required. Let the lemons boil in a few inches of water for 5 to 10 minutes, then drain the water and lemons and rinse.
Line the pan with aluminum foil.
This method won first place in our official contest for the best way to clean burnt pans . Sprinkle a lot of baking soda on the burnt bits and add a little water to make a paste. Crumple up the foil and rub it until all the food and stains are clean. Rinse the pan with warm, soapy water.