How to Remove Burnt Sugar from Pots and Pans

From making caramelized sugar for flan to cooking up a thick sugar syrup-topped cheesecake, burnt sugar is an inevitable stain that can leave marks on even the highest quality stainless steel pans. Sugar does not easily clean off cookware, but trying to chisel the thick layer of burnt sugar off a pan or pot can damage the cookware.

Fortunately, there are a couple of tried and true methods for removing burnt sugar from a pan that doesn't take a lot of elbow grease and won't damage the surface of your quality cookware. Here’s how to remove burnt on sugar from a pan!

How to Clean Burnt Sugar from a Pan or Pot

White Vinegar

What You’ll Need

• White vinegar
• Sponge

Steps

1. Cover the bottom of your pot or pan with white vinegar until the burnt sugar parts are submerged.
2. Place the cookware on the stove and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
3. After letting it cool down, scrub away the loosened sugar bits with a sponge.
4. Rinse and wash your pot or pan with dish soap.

Baking Soda

What You’ll Need

• Baking soda
• Water

Steps

1. Sprinkle baking soda over the burnt sugar.
2. Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pot or pan.
3. Place the cookware on low heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. More severe burnt sugar stains will need to be boiled for 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Remove the cookware from the stove and let it cool down before washing as normal. The burnt sugar should have been sufficiently loosened and will be much easier to clean.

Boiling Water

What You'll Need

• Water
• Vinegar (optional)
• Stove
• Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
• Scrubbing tool - sponge or brush

Steps

1. Fill the pot or pan with water until the burnt sugar stains are submerged. For tougher stains, feel free to add a cup of white vinegar as well.
2. Place the cookware on the stove.
3. Once the water starts to boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for 5 to 10 more minutes. As the water boils, the sugar bits will be softened, making them easier to remove.
4. To help remove the sugar, stir the water with either a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, making sure to pay attention to the sides and the bottom of your cookware.
5. Remove the cookware from the stove and let the water cool down. Stir the water to dissolve any remaining sugar before draining the water and washing the pot as you normally would. Feel free to repeat this process if needed.

Note: The boiling method is the quickest way to clean burnt sugar from pans and pots, and requires less effort than scrubbing the sugar off a pan. This method is the best way to clean nonstick pans as well, as it uses no harsh cleaners or intensive scrubbing to remove tough burnt sugar stains from the nonstick material.

Fabric Softener

What You’ll Need

• Fabric softener sheets
• Fabric softener
• Water
• Sponge

Steps

1. Fill a quarter of the pot or pan with water.
2. Place the cookware on low heat and wait until it boils. If you’re using liquid fabric softener, then add it to the water as you’re boiling and stir everything together.
3. Remove it from the stove and add a fabric softener sheet. Skip this step if you’ve already added in the liquid fabric softener.
4. Leave the pan for a few hours or overnight.
5. Remove the sheet and start scrubbing the cookware with a sponge.

Soaking

If you’re not in a hurry to remove the burnt sugar from your pot or pan, then you can simply leave it to soak overnight after applying any of the following:

• Soapy Water: Fill your cookware with enough water to submerge the affected area before adding in a few drops of dish soapy and mixing everything together.
• Ketchup: Cover the burnt sugar bits with a thick layer of ketchup.
• Coca Cola: Add enough cola to cover the stained areas of your pot or pan.
• Baking Soda and White Vinegar: Cover the burnt sugar bits with water and white vinegar before gradually adding a cup or two of baking soda. The chemical reaction between the baking soda and white vinegar is crucial in lifting the sugar stains.

The next day, the burnt sugar should have been loosened up. Rinse your pot or pan under some running water before washing it as you normally would with some dish soap and a sponge. Soaking with any of these methods is the easiest way to get rid of burnt sugar from pots and pans.

Also Read: How to Remove Burnt Rice from Pots and Pans

How to Prevent Burnt Sugar

Sugar melts and burns quickly over the stove, and burnt sugar is especially difficult to remove from a pot or pan. Preventing your sugar from burning will help prevent stains from forming on your cookware, and will help reduce the time and effort it takes to clean your pans. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Before cooking with your pot or pan, make sure that it’s completely dry and that there are no traces of moisture on the surface.
• Once you’ve added the sugar, make sure that you keep stirring to prevent it from sticking as much to the bottom of your cookware.
• Don’t cook sugar over high heat. Instead, keep it on low or medium heat.
• Always wash or soak your cookware immediately after use and before stains have set.

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