Burnt food stuck to your favorite pan can be a kitchen nightmare. Whether you’ve scorched dinner or neglected your cookware for too long, tackling a burnt pan is an inevitable chore. Luckily, rescuing your cookware is often possible, and faster than you might think. We tested five popular methods for cleaning burnt pans to determine the most effective solutions for restoring your cookware.
We also offer comprehensive cleaning guides for all areas of your kitchen. Explore our tips on how to clean an oven, discover the best way to clean a microwave (or even an air fryer), and learn how to clean a dishwasher.
Can a Burnt Pan Be Saved?
In most cases, absolutely! Don’t despair over a burnt pan. The cleaning methods we detail below are designed to revive even seemingly hopeless cookware. However, if your pan has suffered years of heavy use and relentless burning, and cleaning attempts consistently fall short, it might be time to consider replacing it.
Our Burned Pan Cleaning Experiment
To provide you with reliable recommendations, we established a consistent testing approach. We used stainless steel pans for all tests, burning the same food combination – cheese, eggs, and grape jelly – in each pan to ensure uniformity.
For methods involving soaking, we allowed a maximum soak time of 15 minutes, checking every five minutes to observe when the burnt food started to release. Active scrubbing was limited to 10 minutes, acknowledging the desire for a quick cleaning process.
The “after” photos illustrate the results achieved within these defined parameters.
Rating System
Each cleaning method for burnt pans is evaluated on a scale of one to five stars. Ratings are based on several factors: the time required for the method to show results, the amount of scrubbing effort needed to remove burnt food, and the overall effectiveness in eliminating residue within our test limits.
Important Note on Cleaning Techniques
Warning: Always test any cleaning method in a small, inconspicuous area of your pan first to ensure it doesn’t damage the surface. The following methods are designed for stainless steel cookware and are not recommended for nonstick pans.
5 Effective Methods to Clean a Burnt Pan
Essential Cleaning Tools
Before you begin, gather these helpful tools for tackling burnt pans:
Bar Keepers Friend is a powerful cleanser known for its effectiveness in removing tough stains and burnt-on food. $14.20 at Amazon
Gloves will protect your hands from harsh cleaning agents and vigorous scrubbing. $13.94 at Amazon
Sponges and scouring pads are essential for scrubbing away loosened burnt food particles. $12.99 at Amazon
Step-by-Step Cleaning Instructions
Method 1: Baking Soda and Vinegar
Benefits: This budget-friendly method utilizes common pantry staples.
How to Use:
- Combine equal parts water and vinegar to fill the burnt pan.
- Bring the water-vinegar mixture to a boil on the stovetop.
- Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the boiling liquid (add slowly to prevent excessive fizzing).
- Remove the pan from heat and let it soak for up to 15 minutes.
- Pour out the liquid and scrub the remaining burnt food with a sponge or scouring pad.
- For stubborn spots, create a paste of baking soda and a bit of water, apply it to the spots, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub again.
Our Test Results: We were optimistic about this method, given its success in our baking sheet cleaning tests. After only five minutes of soaking, we observed some burnt pieces lifting. We allowed the full 15-minute soak for tougher areas.
Following rinsing and 10 minutes of vigorous scrubbing with a scouring pad, we removed most of the burnt food. A baking soda paste application and additional scrubbing were necessary to eliminate the remaining residue.
Rating: 3/5
Method 2: Lemon Power
Benefits: A natural and chemical-free cleaning approach.
How to Use:
- Slice 2-3 lemons and place them in the burnt pan.
- Add water to just cover the lemons in the pan.
- Heat the pan over medium-high heat and bring the lemon water to a boil for 5-8 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat when you see food particles floating to the surface.
- Discard the lemons and water.
- Rinse the pan with hot water and scrub away any remaining burnt bits with a scouring pad or brush.
Our Test Results: This method was our least favored. While we appreciate the natural cleaning approach, it proved less effective than other methods. Significant scrubbing effort in hot water was needed to make a noticeable difference. In our opinion, standard dish soap might be equally effective without wasting lemons.
Rating: 2/5
Method 3: Bar Keepers Friend Magic
Benefits: Fast-acting and versatile cleaning product for various household surfaces. Bar Keepers Friend, containing oxalic acid, is a stronger acid than vinegar or lemon juice.
How to Use:
- Rinse the burnt pan with hot water and drain.
- Wearing gloves, create a paste by mixing a few tablespoons of Bar Keepers Friend with the residual water in the pan.
- Apply the paste to the burnt areas and let it sit for only 60 seconds. Do not leave it longer.
- Rinse thoroughly with hot water.
- Scrub away loosened burnt food with a sponge, brush, or scouring pad.
- Repeat the process for any stubborn spots.
Our Test Results: As a favorite cleaning product for home use, Bar Keepers Friend lived up to expectations. We were impressed by the amount of burnt food removed after a brief 60-second application and 10 minutes of scrubbing. Even the most challenging spots were fully removed with a second application and just a few more minutes of scrubbing.
Rating: 4/5
Method 4: Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda Scrub
Benefits: Utilizes readily available aluminum foil as an effective scrubbing tool.
How to Use:
- Rinse the burnt pan with hot water and drain.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of baking soda generously over the burnt areas.
- Add a small amount of hot water to create a paste with the baking soda.
- Crumple a piece of aluminum foil into a ball about the size of a golf ball.
- Use the crumpled foil to scrub the baking soda paste into the burnt food.
- Continue scrubbing until the burnt debris lifts.
- Wash the pan with hot, soapy water to finish.
Our Test Results: This method yielded surprisingly good results for cleaning a burnt pan. While a minor touch-up with more baking soda was needed after the initial scrub, we were impressed by the foil’s scrubbing power.
This method is essentially a more effective version of the baking soda and vinegar method. It works similarly but faster and more efficiently due to the enhanced scrubbing action of the aluminum foil.
Rating: 4/5
Method 5: Dishwasher Tablet Power
Benefits: Convenient if you already use dishwasher tablets.
How to Use:
- Take a dishwasher tablet and rinse the burnt pan with hot water.
- Gently scrub the pan with the dishwasher tablet under warm running water.
- Continue scrubbing until all burnt food is removed.
- Rinse the pan with warm water.
Our Test Results: We were amazed by the effectiveness of this method! In under five minutes, the pan was completely clean, requiring no additional scrubbing. We used Finish Powerball deep clean tabs and found it best to keep the plastic coating on the tablet while scrubbing.
The warm water gradually dissolves the tablet during scrubbing, helping it maintain its shape instead of crumbling. The only drawback is that we used two whole tablets for one pan, which could become expensive. However, the exceptional effectiveness makes it worth the cost.
Tip: Dishwasher tablets can also be used to clean your oven.
Rating: 5/5
Results Summary
While all five methods effectively clean burnt pans, dishwasher tablets were the clear winner in our tests. While we only tested one brand, we anticipate similar results with other dishwasher tablet brands for removing grease and burnt-on food.
Although dishwasher tablets were our top standalone choice, the other methods, especially Bar Keepers Friend and aluminum foil with baking soda, are excellent alternatives. They are particularly suitable if you prefer to spend a bit more time cleaning or are willing to put in some extra scrubbing effort.
Inspired to clean? Continue your cleaning momentum with our cleaning secrets to make your entire home sparkle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does burnt food stick to pans?
Food sticks to pans due to chemical reactions during cooking, often worsened by insufficient oil or butter. If burnt food isn’t thoroughly cleaned, subsequent cooking will likely result in more sticking.
Is it safe to eat food from a burnt pan?
Generally, yes, under certain conditions. If it’s a first-time occurrence, it’s usually safe. However, repeatedly cooking in an uncleaned burnt pan is not recommended. Clean burnt pans promptly to prevent potential chemical transfer to food.
Is it safe to use a burnt nonstick pan?
It’s questionable. Cooking with a burnt nonstick pan can increase the risk of toxic chemicals leaching into food, especially with nonstick pans containing PFAS. Adhering to the pan’s care instructions, like using low to medium heat, is crucial to prevent burning and damage.
