We both did – the recipe says to keep stirring over a boil, but you took your chance and walked away. It only takes a minute and you’ll be right back! Inevitably, the food will burn. The pot was a mess. uh, why did you do that?
When it comes time to clean up the mess, store-bought varieties from Barkeeper’s Friend, Bon Ami, Carbon Off, and others are popular; however, in a pinch (and for less $$$), consider these simple solutions that use materials you can find anywhere in your home to clean a burnt pan. You might even find them more effective.
Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner. Use it as a disinfectant, non-toxic glass cleaner, and of course, in the kitchen.
Salt, especially coarse kosher salt, is great for lightening scorching in pans, especially for greasy foods. Try it with Dawn dish soap and hot water, or massage it into a charred pan with a sliced juicy lemon core.
Cream of tartar is an abrasive substitute for baking soda.
Soak the burnt pan with soap and water, then add dryer sheets to the mixture. Let it sit for an hour. Dryer paper (you can substitute a tablespoon of fabric softener) will loosen the burnt food, leaving you with a shiny new pan.
While the pan is still hot, pour in the club soda (soda water or cheap store brand soda) and coat the bottom of the pan. Let the carbonation in the club soda loosen the burnt grime, then rinse the pan out.
This common household effervescent tablet is just as effective as soda. Add 1-2 tablets to hot water in a pot and let stand to prevent stubborn burns.
While it may not be acidic enough on its own to remove a bad burn from a pan, tomato paste is popular for bringing dull and tarnished pots and pans back to life. Apply a thin layer of America’s Favorite Dressing to affected areas and wipe off after 15 minutes.