How to Clean Burnt Food from a Saucepan

When food burns to the bottom of the pan, you could have a real cleaning challenge. Of course, try to salvage the food first and then use one of these methods to remove the burnt remains.

You Will Need:

• Salt
• Water
• Plastic scrubber
• Plastic or wooden scraper

Steps to Remove the Burnt On Food:

1. Place the bottom of the pan in cold water immediately to stop the cooking/burning.
2. Fill the pan with water. You want the water to cover the burnt areas. If the entire pan is burnt, you can choose to soak the entire pan or work on the bottom and then go for a second round to get the sides.
3. Add a good amount of salt to the water.
4. Allow the burnt on residue to soak in the salt water for an hour.
5. Use a plastic or wooden scraper to remove as much of the loosened food as possible.
6. If the burnt-on residue is not coming loose, bring the water to a boil.
7. Turn off the heat and allow the pan to soak with the saltwater in it for an additional 12 hours.
8. Bring to a boil a second time to loosen the food further.
9. Use a plastic scraper or wooden spoon to remove as much as possible.
10. Wash as normal.

You Will Need:

• Fabric softener sheets
• Water
• Plastic or wooden scraper

Steps to Remove the Burnt On Food:

1. Fill the pan with hot water.
2. Place a fabric softener sheet in the water.
3. Allow the pan to soak for several hours to overnight.
4. Use a plastic scraper to remove the loosened food debris.
5. Wash as normal.

You Will Need:

• 2-3 Lemons
• Water
• Plastic or wooden scraper

Steps to Remove the Burnt On Food:

1. Begin by filling the pan with water.
2. Cut a few lemons in half and place them in the pan.
3. Bring the water and lemons to a boil.
4. Allow the mixture to boil for several minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.
6. The burnt on food should be released and softened so that it can be removed with a plastic or wooden scraper.
7. Wash as normal.

You Will Need:

• Coca Cola or white vinegar
• Plastic scrubber
• Plastic or wooden scraper

Steps to Remove the Burnt On Food:

1. Fill the pan with Coca-Cola or white vinegar.
2. Allow it to set in the pan for several hours, or until the food is loosened.
3. Use a scraper to remove as much of the residue as possible, then clean with a plastic scrubber to scrub away the rest.
4. Wash as usual.

• If your burnt residue is from a sugary food, try the Coco Cola or Vinegar Method first.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbers, especially with non-stick pans, as it can ruin the coating.
• Never use washing soda on aluminum pans. It can lead to corrosion and damage the pans.
• If you have a glass pan, try soaking it in water with denture cleaner. The cleaner will loosen the burnt on food. If the baked on food is only on the inside of the pan (no spill-overs), simply fill the pan  with water and drop in a denture tablet.
• If there is just a thin film of burnt on residue remaining, sprinkle it with baking soda and scrub it away with a moist cloth or plastic scrubber. The baking soda acts as a minor abrasive and will aid in removing that final layer.
• One site user wrote in (Thanks!) to say they have success filling the pan with water and adding powdered dishwasher detergent for it to soak overnight.