Many enjoy cooking, but the same can’t be said for the clean-up that often follows, especially when dealing with burnt oil on your pans. Baked-on oil and food particles can damage your pans, and burnt food bits can get into your meals as you cook them, which can be dangerous to your health. In this article, we'll show you how to clean a burnt pan without using elbow grease or harsh chemical cleaners.
How to Clean Burnt Oil from Pan or Pot: X Methods to Try
Baking Soda and White Vinegar Method
Baking soda and white vinegar are very popular household cleaning alternatives that are often combined for a stronger and more heavy-duty cleaning. Here’s how you can use this powerful combination to remove burnt oil from your pan or pot:
- After removing all the food debris and particles from the bottom, fill it with ½ inch of white vinegar.
- Boil the white vinegar and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Remove the cookware from the heat before adding a cup of baking soda. This may cause a fizzing reaction, so make sure to be careful in this step.
- Once the chemical reaction stops, drain the liquid before using either a nylon scrub brush or a scouring sponge to scrub away the remnants of the burnt oil. Feel free to sprinkle a bit more baking soda on, which will help give your scrubbing a bit more grit.
- Wash your pot or pan and let it dry.
Baking Soda and Lemon Method
If you want to give your pot or pan a nice shine along with thorough cleaning, then you can try out this baking soda and lemon method. Here’s what you should do:
- After removing as much debris and particles as you can, add a small amount of water to the pot or pan. All you need is a thin layer that covers the entire bottom.
- Add a generous amount of baking soda to the cookware.
- Cut a lemon in half and use this to scrub and scour the stained areas of your pot or pan. The combination of both lemon and baking soda may cause a reaction, but that’ll help further loosen up the burnt oil.
- Once you’ve gotten all the stains out, rinse out the pot or pan and let it dry completely.
Bar Keepers Friend Method
For those of you who simply want to get an easy solution off the supermarket shelf, then Bar Keepers Friend is definitely the way to go. Follow these steps to clean burnt oil from your pan or pot:
- Rinse your cookware under some hot water.
- After making sure that you have the proper protective gear on, add a few tablespoons of Bar Keepers Friend into your pot or pan before mixing it with the leftover water and moisture.
- Cover the stained areas with the paste and gently scrub it in before letting it sit for a minute.
- After a minute, wash your pot or pan under some hot water before using a sponge, scouring pad, or scrubbing brush to remove any remaining burnt oil and food particles.
- Rinse the pot or pan one final time before letting it dry.
Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda Method
Sometimes, all it takes to remove burnt oil from your cookware is a bit of elbow grease, and a ball of aluminum foil and baking soda can help you get things done more efficiently. Here are the steps you should follow:
- After rinsing your pot or pan under some hot water and draining it, cover the burnt oil stains with baking soda.
- Add a bit of water to create a paste.
- Get a piece of aluminum foil and crumple it into a ball.
- Use the aluminum foil ball to scrub away the burnt oil stains, as well as any food particles and debris.
- When all the stains are gone, rinse the pot or pan before giving a final wash with some dish soap and leaving it to dry.
Dishwasher Tablet Method
This will be a great method to try for those of you who already have dishwashers in their homes. Follow these steps to clean off burnt oil with a dishwasher tablet:
- Rinse the dirty pot or pan under some hot water.
- Get a dishwasher tablet and use it to scrub the cookware under running water.
- Keep scrubbing until all the stains and debris have been washed away.
Tips to Prevent Burnt Pots and Pans
- Avoid leaving the pot or pan on the stove, even when the stove is turned off. Residual heat can burn oil and grease, which causes staining.
- Properly season and oil a stainless steel pot or pan with a high-heat oil. Stainless steel is used for cooking at high temperatures, and using cooking oil that can withstand high heat will help prevent the oil from burning.
- Clean the bottom of the pot or pan as well as the inside to make sure that it’s fully cleaned all around.
- Avoid using excessive force, especially when using scrubbing tools, as they may scratch the surface, leaving notches where stains can stick.
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