Whether you consider cooking a joy or a burden, there’s no denying how much easier high-quality tools can make your time in the kitchen. From nonstick pots and pans to sharp knives and plenty of innovative accessories, the proper tools can cut down preparation time and help you cook up a storm.

Pans are one of the most essential items we keep in our kitchens. We use them for frying, boiling, sautéing, and more. In fact, most of us pick up a pan at least once a day. Caring for your most-used appliances will be crucial if you hope to be successful in the kitchen and enjoy a long relationship with your cookware.

In this guide, we’ll explore some tried and tested ways to care for and clean your pans. We’ll share how to get rid of burnt-on food and oil. Looking to level up your kitchen with cast-iron cookware? We’ll help you get to grips with cleaning and seasoning your new pan, too.

So, you’ve burnt something onto the bottom of your pan. You’re not the first home chef to make this mistake, and you certainly won’t be the last. Perhaps you stepped away from your hob for a moment too long or forgot to stir something, and it caught on your favourite cookware. In that case, you’re sure to be asking yourself, “how do I clean a burnt pan?”.

There are plenty of ways to clean your tools with things you might already have in the cupboard – more than just old wives tales, these techniques can provide beautiful results.

 

• Hot water – use hot water to deglaze the burnt food off the base of your pan
• Salt – use a wet sponge to scrub salt into affected areas of your burnt pan
• Lemons – boil water and cut-up lemons in your pan for 10 minutes before washing
• Baking soda & vinegar – use equal parts of water and white vinegar with a few tablespoons of baking soda
• Cola – leave cola to soak for a few hours before scrubbing
• Tinfoil – scrunch some tinfoil into a ball, then use it to scour your pan
• A dishwasher tablet – add water and clean the burn with a dishwasher tablet

Keen to know a little more? Read on for how to clean your burnt pans with step-by-step instructions.

Cleaning things with boiling water is often a good idea. This straightforward technique can work wonderfully for getting burnt food off of pans. Just like you might deglaze the good stuff from the bottom of your pan when cooking, bring the temperature up and pour in some hot water to help lift away stubborn food and grease.

1. Put your pan on the stovetop and turn on the heat
2. When it’s hot enough to sizzle, pour in a good splash of water
3. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape away the burnt bits while the water helps loosen them

You’re sure to have table salt in your cupboards, but if you don’t, you can buy a bag for very little at the supermarket. It’s a good idea to keep some cheap salt in your stores at all times; it can be helpful for other kinds of cleaning and removing tough stains, not to mention seasoning your meals.

1. When your pan has cooled, sprinkle a generous layer of salt into the bottom
2. Use a damp sponge to scrub the salt into any affected areas
3. Rinse away and repeat as needed
4. Discard water and lemons, rinse and wipe away any remaining burnt bits

Lemons are excellent at cleaning, thanks to their antibacterial, acidic properties. These refreshing citrus fruits also boast a refreshing smell without any harsh chemicals. Here’s how to clean a burnt pan using lemon.

1. Chop 3 or 4 lemons into quarters, depending on the size of your pan
2. Toss them in with plenty of water and bring to a boil
3. Reduce the heat and leave the lemons and water to simmer for around 10 minutes; some burnt food might float to the surface
4. Discard water and lemons, rinse, and wipe away and remaining burnt bits

We love baking soda for lots of challenging cleaning jobs. It’s great at removing tough stains from clothes and soft furnishings, and there are no harsh chemicals to worry about. Add in some white vinegar, and we’re sold; it always pays to keep these ingredients in the house, for cooking and cleaning alike.

1. Add water and vinegar to your pan in equal measure
2. Bring the mixture to a boil
3. Throw in 2 heaped tablespoons of baking soda and watch it fizz up
4. Repeat if needed, adding water and baking soda and mixing to a paste; let it sit for 10 minutes
5. Wash your pan with dish soap as usual

Cola contains carbonic acid, which makes it excellent at cleaning away stubborn dirt and grime. Partial to a glass of cola on a sunny day? Don’t worry; its acid is less potent than what’s already in your stomach. It’s not a particularly healthy drink, but cola won’t burn away your insides. Still, it does a pretty good job on our cookware!

1. Pour some cola into your burnt pan and put it to one side
2. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight
3. Rinse away and clean your pan with dish soap as usual

Suppose you don’t have a scouring pad at home. In that case, you can make a practical and hygienic alternative by scrunching some aluminium foil into a ball. When you’re done, simply recycle the foil with the same as you do your cans.

1. Scrunch up a generous sheet of tinfoil into a ball
2. Scrub a cleaning agent, like baking soda or dish soap, into the burnt area with your tinfoil scourer
3. Rinse the pan with warm, soapy water to check the results

Dishwasher tablets are packed with enzymes that break down starch and proteins in food, helping them clean your kitchenware each time you use your appliance. So it makes sense that these small-yet-mighty capsules are excellent at cleaning pans, too!

1. Cover the bottom of your burnt pan with water and heat it for a moment
2. Remove your pan from the heat
3. Scrape a dishwasher tablet around any burnt areas, rubbing in small circles until the tablet starts to dissolve
4. Rinse and wash with warm, soapy water

If your cast-iron pan has burnt areas, you’ll need to clean it differently from a regular saucepan or frying pan. It pays to clean your pan after every use.

1. Use paper towels to remove excess food and oil while your pan is still warm
2. Rinse under hot water
3. Scrub with a non-abrasive brush or sponge to remove traces of food and oil; you can use a small amount of dish soap if you like
4. Rinse
5. Dry thoroughly with paper towels
6. Heat gently to dry traces of moisture
7. Add a drop of oil and rub it around with a paper towel until the inside surface is coated
8. Continue rubbing with paper towels until the surface looks dark and even