Burnt Cookware? Here’s How to Clean It
Accidents happen. Even the most experienced home cooks occasionally let a recipe cook for a little bit too long, which not only results in less-than-tasty food (ugh!), but can also create quite the cleaning challenge.
The good news? With the right techniques and a bit of elbow grease, most burnt cookware can be made as good as new. Here we share exactly what to do if you’ve burned a pot or pan.
4 Tried & True Methods for Cleaning a Burnt Pot or Pan
There are a few routes you can take to tackle restoring a burnt pot or pan. Here, we share four of our go-to methods for cleaning cookware of all types, including nonstick and cast iron.
1. Soak & Scrub
Before you resort to more complicated cleaning techniques, it is always worth trying to loosen up burned-on food particles by soaking your pan in warm water and gentle dish soap overnight. Once your pan is done soaking, use a nylon brush or sponge and more warm water and dish soap to begin removing debris.
Important Note: This method is a great starting point for cleaning a burnt pot or pan of any material, with the notable exception of cast iron. Because cast iron is prone to rust, it is never a good idea to let it soak for prolonged periods. Instead, try this:
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Fill your cast iron pan with a few inches of water and a squirt of gentle soap.
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Transfer your pan to the stove and turn on the heat to medium/medium-low.
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Let the water simmer for a few minutes.
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Use a wooden spoon or spatula to loosen up burned-on food.
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Once you’ve removed the debris, let the water cool completely before transferring the pan back to the sink.
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Wash as usual before drying thoroughly.
2. Baking Soda & White Vinegar
If the good-ol’ soak and scrub method didn’t work, this is a great next step to try. The chemical reaction created by combining baking soda and vinegar can work wonders to lift stubborn burned-on food and discoloration.
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Fill your burnt pan with equal parts water and white vinegar.
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Transfer to the stove and bring to a boil.
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Once the mixture is boiling, add two tablespoons of baking soda and stir with a wooden spoon until it is dissolved.
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Turn off the heat and let the mixture stand for 15-20 minutes, or until you see debris begin to lift from the surface of the pan.
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Dump the mixture into the sink and use a nylon brush or sponge to scrub away any remaining debris.
3. Lemons
Due to their naturally high acidity and the oils found in their rinds, lemons do an excellent job of cutting through grease and stains and can help remove any odor that may linger after burning a pan.
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Cut two to three lemons into thin slices (you’ll want enough slices to cover the cooking surface of your pan).
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Place the lemon slices in your burnt pan and fill with just enough water to cover them completely.
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Place your cookware on the stove, and bring the water to a boil.
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After boiling for about 5 minutes, turn off the heat and let the pan sit. You should see debris begin to lift!
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After the water has cooled completely, use a wooden spoon to remove any debris still stuck to the bottom of the pan.
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Dump your mixture down the drain, then clean and dry the pan as you normally would.
4. Baking Soda Slurry
This method works great if you’re trying to clean a pan that has particularly stubborn debris—or if you’re trying to remove burn stains on the outside of your cookware (which isn’t as easily targeted by the boiling/soaking methods we’ve covered above.). Here’s how to do it:
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Combine one part baking soda, one part water, and one part vinegar and mix until a slurry forms.
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Apply slurry to areas with stubborn burn marks and let it sit for about an hour.
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Use a sponge to work the slurry over the surface of the burnt area and watch as debris and stains begin to lift.
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Clean and dry the pan as you normally would!
Cleaning Tips & Tricks
Cleaning burnt cookware isn’t hard—and can usually be achieved with kitchen staples like baking soda, lemons, and dishwasher tablets. But there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible…and to avoid doing any lasting damage to your cookware.
Clean Your Burnt Cookware as Quickly as Possible
The longer you let burned debris sit on your pan, the harder it will be to clean off. That’s why it’s best to tackle cleaning a burned pan as quickly as possible. Once the pan has cooled to room temperature and is safe to handle, transfer it to the sink and begin cleaning.
Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals on Porous Materials like Nonstick & Cast Iron
It can be tempting to reach for the strongest cleaning product you have in your arsenal when trying to restore a burnt pan to its former glory. But exercise caution! Products like Bar Keepers Friend can work wonders on tough stains, but should not be used on pans with a nonstick coating or made with cast iron. That’s because both of these materials are porous, and are prone to stripping when they come into contact with strong cleaning products.
That said, Bar Keepers Friend is a safe option if you’re trying to clean stainless steel cookware. It can also be used to clean tough burn marks or discoloration on the outside of nonstick pans clad in stainless steel, like those in Circulon’s C1 Collection.
Avoid Abrasive Scrubbers
Similarly, fight the urge to automatically reach for the steel wool when tackling a burnt pan. Steel wool does a fantastic job removing debris, but can scratch and damage nonstick- and ceramic-coated cooking surfaces. Instead, stick to softer scrub brushes to remove burned-on debris. They may take a little bit longer to do so, but will ensure your pan lasts for years to come.
How to Avoid Burning Your Cookware
The best way to care for your cookware is to prevent burns from happening in the future. Here are a few of the most common mistakes we see home chefs make that can result in burnt pots and pans.
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Using too high of heat. If you’re in a rush to get dinner on the table, it can be tempting to crank up the heat while cooking. But doing so can cause your food to burn and can degrade the nonstick coating (which, in turn, makes your pan more prone to stuck-on food debris). Instead, let pans come up to temperature gradually over medium heat. Get in the habit of turning your skillet on low as you prep your food instead of turning it on right before adding your ingredients—that way, by the time you’re ready to start cooking, your pan will be nice and hot!
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Using the wrong oil or fat. When choosing a cooking oil, pay attention to its smoke point—which is the temperature at which it will begin to burn. Olive oil and butter have lower smoke points (both will begin to burn at temperatures higher than 350°F), while avocado oil and grapeseed oil can withstand much higher temperatures. Burned oil will start to smoke and break down, which will leave a sticky/tacky residue on the surface of your pan that is very hard to remove.
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Using aerosol oil sprays. Similarly, aerosol oil sprays tend to have a much lower smoke point (even avocado oil sprays have a lower smoke point than regular avocado oil). Over time, residue from these sprays can build up on your pan and cause burn spots on your pan.
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Multitasking. Getting distracted in the kitchen is one of the most common ways burns happen! Always keep an eye on your stove while cooking, and be sure to check on your food every couple of minutes to ensure nothing is burning.
Cook (and Clean!) With Confidence
It’s easy to feel frustrated if you’ve accidentally burned a pot or pan while cooking. But, as we hope we’ve demonstrated in this article, you don’t need to despair! Most pots and pans can be made as good as new using ingredients and products you likely already have in your kitchen.
For more tips, recipes, and to shop some of the best nonstick cookware on the market, visit circulon.com.