How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

We've all done it — the recipe says to mix constantly at a boil, but you take a chance and step away. Just for a minute, you’ll be right back! Inevitably, the food burns. And the pan is a mess. Ugh, why did you do that?

When it's time to clean up the mess, the store-bought varieties such as Barkeeper's Friend, Bon Ami, Carbon Off are popular; however, in a pinch (and for less $$$) consider these easy solutions that use materials found around the home to clean your scorched pan. You might even find them more effective.

Clean a Burnt Pan Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

Vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner. Use it as a disinfectant, a non-toxic glass cleaner, and yes, put it to use in the kitchen too.

  1. Pour a small layer of equal parts water and white vinegar on the bottom of the pan.
  2. Heat the diluted vinegar on the stovetop and allow it to come to a boil.
  3. After it boils for a minute, remove it from the heat and drain the vinegar down the sink.
  4. Add a tablespoon of baking soda to the empty pan (the point here isn’t to create a fizzy volcano by combining vinegar and baking soda, you want the two cleaning agents to operate independently). Baking soda is abrasive and will help to lift the staining. Use a scouring pad to massage the baking soda to combat any remaining burn marks on the bottom of the pan.
  5. Rinse it clean.

More Ways to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans

Salt

Salt, especially coarse Kosher salt, is great for alleviating scorch marks in pans and is especially great for greasy messes. Try pairing it with Dawn dish detergent and hot water, or massaging it into the burnt pan with the juicy core of a cut lemon.

Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is an abrasive substitute for baking soda.

  • Mix a tablespoon of it in a cup of water and bring it to a boil in a scorched pan.
  • Allow the water to cool.
  • Scrub the pan to bring it back to a shine.

Dryer Sheet

Soak a burnt pan with soap and water, and add a dryer sheet into the mix. Allow it to sit for an hour. The dryer sheet (you can substitute a tablespoon of fabric softener) will loosen the burnt-on food and leave you with a shiny like-new pan.

Soda

While the pan is still hot, pour soda (either club soda or an inexpensive store-brand soda) and coat the bottom of the pan. Allow the carbonation in the soda to loosen the burnt grime then wash the pan clean.

Alka Seltzer

This common household effervescent will work just as well as club soda. Add 1-2 tablets to hot water in your pan, and allow it to sit and take action against stubborn burns.

Ketchup

While by itself it may not be acidic enough to remove heavy burns on pans, ketchup is popular for reviving dull and tarnished pots and pans. Coat the affected area with a thin layer of America’s favorite condiment and wipe clean after 15 minutes.

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How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Though you may doubt if the burnt surfaces of your favorite cookware can ever be completely cleaned, it's not only possible but can actually be done with very little labor-intensive scouring. Here are seven simple methods for how to clean a burnt pot so it looks like new.

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: istockphoto.com

Fear not: Cleaning blackened, burned cookware doesn’t have to mean an arm-wearying afternoon of rigorous scouring. It doesn’t have to mean the use of harsh, toxic chemicals, either. You probably already own everything you need to save scorched pots and pans from stains left by screaming-hot burners and charred food. So if, and when, your usual let-it-soak-and-wait technique ultimately meets with failure, try one of these tried-and-true strategies for restoring scorched cookware to its original, shiny state.

7 Methods for Cleaning a Burnt Pot

Cleaning a burned pot may seem difficult, but these DIY strategies are simple and effective. Each utilizes items you likely already have on hand, including boiling water, white vinegar, dishwasher detergent, baking soda, and a dryer sheet. Read on to find the best solution for your scorched cookware situation.

Method 1: Boiling Water

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: istockphoto.com

This cleaning technique involves going back to the source of your problem—the stove. First, fill the pot with a few inches of water or enough to cover the charred area. Bring the water to a boil and let it roll for 5 to 7 minutes.

Next, remove the pot from the stove and set it aside to cool down. Once the water has returned to room temperature, pour it out. If needed, use a plastic spatula or wooden spoon to carefully scrape any large, now softened, burned bits into the garbage can.

Finally, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the wet pan and proceed to scrub any remaining stains with a cookware-safe sponge or scouring pad. You should find that the black residue comes off much easier, particularly with the potent, abrasive combination of baking soda paste and a little bit of elbow grease.

Method 2: Vinegar

If the boiling water strategy described above only helped somewhat, call in more firepower—that is, white vinegar. Pour equal parts water and vinegar, into the pot, enough to cover the charred area completely. Once again, boil it for about 5 minutes.

In addition to the heat, vinegar’s acidity will help to loosen the stubborn stains left by burned food. As it boils, you might even see blackened debris breaking away from the bottom and sides of the pot. Repeat the steps of letting the pot soak while the liquid cools, dumping it out, and scrubbing any remaining burned gunk away using a sponge that’s safe for the cookware you’re cleaning.

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: istockphoto.com

Method 3: Vinegar and Baking Soda

In the most extreme cases, try this alternative method: Fill the pot with enough vinegar to cover the charred area (here, vinegar is not diluted with water), then bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down slightly and let it simmer on the stove for a few minutes. Remove it from the heat and let the vinegar cool slightly.

Next, add about 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the pot. The mixture of these two ingredients will cause a fizzing reaction. (Helpful hint: You may want to do this part in the sink to minimize potential messes.) Once the fizzing has stopped, discard the liquid.

Then, scrub the pot with a dish brush or scouring pad suitable for the type of cookware you’re working with. If needed, add a bit more baking soda and elbow grease until the stain is completely removed.

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: istockphoto.com

Method 4: Boiling Lemons

Another popular method to remove caked-on debris from your cookware involves lemon and water. Similar to the acetic acid in white vinegar, the citric acid in lemons helps to break down burned food stains—but without the pungent odor. The lemon method, rather, will clean a burnt pot and add a refreshing citrus scent to your kitchen. That’s a win-win! Here’s how to do it:

First things first, cut approximately two lemons into quarters or thick slices and place them along the bottom of the pot. Next, add enough water to cover the entire scorched area and bring it to a boil on the stove. You’ll see the burnt food particles coming off the bottom of the pan as the lemon floats around.

After about 5 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and let it soak while the water cools to room temperature. Discard the water and lemon pieces, and then lightly scrub off any remaining grime with a soft sponge.

Method 5: Dishwasher Detergent

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: fotosearch.com

Dishwasher detergent is another effective solution for restoring burnt cookware. Start by adding one dishwasher tablet or 1 tablespoon of powdered dishwasher detergent or 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to the pot. Then fill it with a few inches of piping-hot water from your faucet; let it soak for at least 30 minutes.

Next, use a plastic spatula or wooden spoon to gently scrape the bottom of the pot, testing to see if the charred food bits easily lift off of the surface. If so, pour out the soapy water and scrub off the remaining residue. If not, kick it up a notch by simmering the water-and-detergent mixture on the stove for about 10 minutes.

After removing the pot from the heat and allowing it to soak while it cools, discard the liquid and scrub off any remaining gunk. (It’s important to note that the type of detergent you use can affect how successful this method is.)

Method 6: Aluminum Foil

The aluminum foil hack for cleaning a burnt pot is effective and inexpensive, but it requires a bit more elbow grease than the techniques mentioned previously. It also comes with an important note of caution: Do not use the aluminum foil method on nonstick pans, as it will scratch the coating.

Start by adding enough warm water to the pot to cover the charred area. (It’s beneficial to also add a teaspoon of dish soap and let it soak for at least 30 minutes.) Then crumple a small sheet of aluminum foil into a ball. Use the abrasive foil ball to scrub the pot until the stubborn burnt food residue is removed. Once you’re done, toss the makeshift metal scrubber into the recycling bin.

Method 7: Dryer Sheet

Did you know that the conditioning properties of most dryer sheets will also help to loosen charred remnants from your pots and pans? It’s true! Here’s how to do it:

Fill the dirty pot with a few inches of warm water and submerge a dryer sheet. Let the concoction soak for at least 1 hour to overnight; then toss the dryer sheet into the trash and pour out the water.

Use a sponge to scrub off any remaining food bits, and be sure to follow it up by thoroughly cleaning the pot with your normal dishwashing method to remove any conditioning residue left by the dryer sheet.

How to get burnt food off pan with vinegar

Photo: fotosearch.com

FAQ for How to Clean a Burnt Pot

How do I clean a burnt stainless steel pot?

There are many ways to clean a burnt stainless steel pot, the most effective of which involve warm to boiling water and cleaning agents such as white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and dish detergent. However, hacks using common household items such as tin foil and dryer sheets can work wonders on scorched cookware, too.

Can a burnt pot be saved?

Yes, a burnt pot can be saved—it just might require some elbow grease to do so. The DIY tips outlined above are super-simple and use tools and materials you likely already have on hand in your pantry.

How do you clean a burnt pot with baking soda?

Baking soda is a go-to ingredient for cleaning a burnt pot. The best method involves first boiling vinegar for about 5 minutes. Then take the pot off of the heat and add about 2 tablespoons of baking soda. The mixture will fizz, loosening the stubborn charred bits off of the bottom of the pan. Once done fizzing, dump out the liquid and wash the pot as usual using dish soap, water, and a gentle scrub brush.

Final Thoughts

Gourmet chefs and home cooks alike scorch their cookware occasionally. But now you know not to dispose of burned pots and pans, as there are several simple ways to clean it—good as new. Though it may seem impossible at first, stubborn char can indeed be removed, and often without a great deal of effort on your part. You only need to know what household staples you need to gather and precisely how to use them. Before you know it, the scorched cookware will look shiny and clean once more!

How do you clean a badly burnt saucepan?

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

How do you get burnt vinegar off a pan?

Baking soda is abrasive and will help to lift the staining. Use a scouring pad to massage the baking soda to combat any remaining burn marks on the bottom of the pan. Rinse it clean.

How do you get burnt food off a pan without baking soda?

'For scorched pans, add several drops of liquid soap into the pan filled with boiling water' advises Heather..
'Boil for 10 minutes, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely before scrubbing with the abrasive side of a sponge. ... .
'For burnt pans, add lemon before boiling to lift stains off steel and enamel..

How do you clean a scorched pan with baking soda and vinegar?

The trick here is to add a bit of warm water to the pan, enough to cover the burnt area, and then add a cup of vinegar. Stir. Then, add half a cup of baking soda, stir that in, and leave for half an hour, or until the soda begins to fizz. Rinse and scrub off the rest with the scrubber side of a washing-up pad.