How to get baked on food off pan

To remove burnt food from a pot, start by filling the pot with warm water as soon as possible after the scorching occurs. Add a few drops of dish soap, stir the mixture, then let the pot soak for at least one hour. Soaking it overnight is better, if you have time! Next, use the rough end of a double-sided sponge to scrape the burnt food off. If some food is still stuck on, repeat the soaking process! To learn how to remove burnt food from a pot with baking soda and vinegar, read on!

Table of Contents Show

How to Clean a Scorched Pan
Clean a Burnt Pan Using Vinegar and Baking Soda
25 Things You Can Clean With Vinegar 25 Photos
More Ways to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans
Cream of Tartar
4 Clever Ways to Use Cream of Tartar Beyond Baking
Dryer Sheet
Use Soda to Clean Stains, Grout and Even Your Car
Alka Seltzer
How do you get baked on stuff off a pan?
How do you remove baked on food from a dish?
How do you remove baked on food from a stainless steel pan?
How do you get burnt food off a pan without baking soda?

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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.

How to Clean a Scorched Pan

Cleaning a pan that is scorched or burnt with food.

Emily Fazio, 2016

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.

Pour a small layer of equal parts water and white vinegar on the bottom of the pan.
Heat the diluted vinegar on the stovetop and allow it to come to a boil.
After it boils for a minute, remove it from the heat and drain the vinegar down the sink.
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.
Rinse it clean.

25 Things You Can Clean With Vinegar 25 Photos

Learn how to clean items around the home with white vinegar. Just a reminder: no matter what you’re cleaning, never mix vinegar with bleach because it produces harmful, potentially deadly fumes.

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.

More Advice

4 Clever Ways to Use Cream of Tartar Beyond Baking

We've got four ways to use cream of tartar in your next cleaning emergency.

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.

Use Soda to Clean Stains, Grout and Even Your Car

Use your favorite soft drink to help clean around the house.

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 do you get baked on stuff off a pan?

How It Works: Fill your dirty pan with equal part water and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil and then add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Remove from heat and let soak for up to 15 minutes. Discard the liquid down your drain and then use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining burnt-on bits.

How do you remove baked on food from a dish?

Method #1: Baking Soda and Dish Soap Add hot water and let the whole mixture soak for about 15 minutes. Then, grab a plastic or nylon sponge to scrub away the stains. (This is our Test Kitchen's go-to sponge.) Add more baking powder as you scrub; the abrasive texture will help with stubborn spots.

How do you remove baked on food from a stainless steel pan?

Simply wash your pan with vinegar and rinse with water to remove discoloration. Additionally, vinegar can be used to rid your pan of white calcium build-up stains. Make a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water and boil in the affected pot or pan. Allow the mixture to cool, empty the pan, and wash as normal.