Home remedies to rescue your burnt pans and keep them spotless

Of course, it is best to prevent burns. This is easier said than done. A moment of inattention can cause the meat or vegetables to develop a brown crust, and the pan needs to be cleaned. We suggest some home remedies that will work in such situations.

Burnt foods are unhealthy, and we have written about this numerous times. For the same reason, all traces of burning should be thoroughly removed from utensils. If not done, each subsequent use will exacerbate the problem. Pans that are not properly cleaned will burn much faster in unwashed areas.

Pans, irrespective of the material their coating is made of, do not fare well with scrubbing pads or even abrasive sponges. It's easy to damage them this way. How about a dishwasher to solve the problem? Yes and no. Only pans with a special mark, often made of glass, enamel, steel, or titanium, can be washed in this device. However, we most commonly use nonstick pans whose coating wears off quickly in the dishwasher. Cast iron utensils are also not suitable for dishwashers. Generally, it's best to clean pans by hand without strong scrubbing. Fortunately, there are effective and inexpensive ways to do this.

You can clean a burnt pan using two products you usually have in your kitchen cabinet: baking powder and salt. Sprinkle burnt residues with baking powder and salt, then cover with a layer of paper towel and pour dishwashing liquid over it, followed by vinegar. This mixture will work effectively in about 10 minutes. The burnt residue under the paper will soften and dissolve. Then, just wipe the pan with the soaked paper towel and rinse it under running water.

Another method is to use products from your kitchen cabinet. Pour vinegar into the pan, then add a cup of water. Heat it until the mixture boils. Remove the pan from the burner and add a teaspoon of baking soda. When the water cools, gently wash the pan. If the pan is heavily burnt, leave the mixture in it for several hours. Then, wash the pan, and there should be no trace of burns.

If the burns are minor, sprinkle them with salt. The salt penetrates the stains and helps in thorough cleaning; leaving it for 2-3 hours is best. After that, remove it and gently wash the pan with a sponge and dishwashing liquid. For "small damages," you can also fill the pan with water and dishwashing liquid for a few hours.