Revive your damaged cookware: Handy kitchen tips to restore scratched and burned pans

The pan is an essential part of every kitchen. We use it to heat and fry a variety of dishes, sometimes more than once a day. As a result, it's look starts to differ over time.

Is there a way to restore its former glory? Absolutely. Here I've prepared several tips that will help you preserve a scratched or burned pan. Instead of tossing it out immediately, consider these methods to try and salvage it first.

A scratched pan can be a real nightmare for culinary enthusiasts. Using it can be a hassle, and its cleaning can become dauntingly laborious. Often, using inappropriate utensils for stirring or flipping the food may be the cause of these scratches. Fortunately, this doesn't spell doom for your pan.

Remarkably, there's a simple and low-effort way to renew your scratched pan. All you need to do is wash it thoroughly and then dry the coating using a paper towel. Next, heat up the pan and pour an ample amount of salt onto it. The trick here is to patiently wait until the salt turns brown. After a few minutes, swipe it off with a paper towel. This method works well for cast iron and aluminum pans. However, it isn't recommended for Teflon-coated pans.

Frequently, whenever we're using a pan, there's a risk of burning it. These accidents usually occur at the most inconvenient times - such as when frying fish for the holiday meal. A momentary diversion can swiftly lead to a kitchen disaster.

In such circumstances, swift action is required. Soak the pan in water and dish soap before it cools down. This helps soften the charred residue, making removal easier. Nevertheless, sometimes the damage can be so severe that this method can be quite time-consuming and strenuous. In such a scenario, try this solution: mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1/2 cup of water. Soak the pan in this mixture for a few minutes and then clean as usual. The burn marks should disappear quickly. This mixture is suitable for all unenameled surfaces.