Is there burnt food stuck to the bottom of your favorite pot or pan? No worries! We’ve got tons of easy ways to use everyday household supplies to restore pots and pans, including the stainless, ceramic, enamel, and nonstick varieties. Here, we’ll teach you to give your scorched pots or pans TLC so they’ll stay in tip-top condition for years to come.

1

Vinegar, baking soda, and water

  1. The chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda cleans the pot. Coat the bottom of the pot with 1 cup (240 mL) of water and 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar, then bring the solution to a boil. Turn off the stove and set the pot down so it’s away from any heat. Drizzle baking soda into the pot. Once the burnt food fizzes up, scrub it off with a scouring pad.[1]
    • Soak your pot to prevent set-in stains. Right after you've burnt food, fill your pot with the solution of vinegar, baking soda, and water to tackle scorch marks.[2]
    • To avoid too much fizz that you'll have to clean up later, pour out the vinegar and water solution before you sprinkle in baking soda.
    • For stubborn stains, make a paste with baking soda and just a couple of drops of water. Apply the paste all over your pot and wait several hours so the mix can penetrate the stains.
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2

Dish detergent and water

  1. Wash away scorch marks with powdered dish detergent and water. Scoop out 1 tbsp (14.3 grams) of powdered dish detergent and drop it into your pot. Add enough water to bring your cleaning solution to a boil—around 1 cup (240 mL) should work. Bring the mix to a boil and wait 15 minutes. Then, turn off the stove, dump out the hot water, and scrub your pot with a heavy duty scrub sponge.[3]
    • Before emptying the pot, scrape the scorch marks with a spoon to see if the cleaning solution is working and breaking them up or if you need to keep the soapy water in the pot a bit longer.
    • A cleaning method that uses powdered dish detergent and water is great for copper, stone, and enameled cookware since you need to care for these varieties of pots and pans with really gentle products.
3

Lemon juice and hot water

  1. Lemon juice and hot water offer a natural way to dissolve scorched food. Chop up 2 lemons into 8 pieces. Cover the bottom of your pot with the lemon slices. Pour in 1–2 cups (240–470 mL) of water so you cover the scorched bottom of the pot. Bring the water to a boil. Wait for the water to cool, dump it out, and scrub away grime and crust with a kitchen brush.[4]
    • As you boil the water, you should already see flakes of burnt food loosen up.
    • You’ll probably notice brown water at the bottom of the pot. If there are still any scorch marks, they’ll be easy to break up with your kitchen brush.
    • Rinse out your pot once you’ve scrubbed off food particles like burnt noodles.
    • The natural acids in lemon juice work great for treating stains in aluminum cookware.
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6

Oxalic cleaning powder

  1. Oxalic cleaning powder is a heavy-duty solution for scorched pots. Use an oxalic acid cleaning powder that you can sprinkle onto your pot—Bar Keepers Friend is a popular choice for cookware. Soak your pot for 20 minutes. Then, drizzle oxalic cleaning powder onto the burnt areas on your pot. Once they’re coated, scrub them with a non-scratch scrub sponge.[7]
    • Be careful not to get any oxalic cleaning powder on your skin or in your eyes. To be extra cautious, wear a particulate respirator mask when you apply it.
    • When you’re done rubbing away stains, rinse out your pot and throw it in the dishwasher to eliminate any residue from oxalic cleaning powder.
10

Heat

  1. Sometimes, all enamel or stainless steel pots need is a little heat. Place your pot on the stove and turn on the heat to a high temperature that's 212 °F (100 °C) or higher to “deglaze” it, or break up burnt food. Then, pour about 1 cup (240 mL) of lukewarm water into the pot. Aim for spots where burnt food has crusted on. Scrape the burnt food off with a long-handled spatula.[11]
    • After adding the water, step back quickly to avoid any rising steam.
    • To be extra careful, turn off your burner, remove the pot and let it cool before scraping off the food.
    • If you remove the crust while the stove is still hot, wear heat-protective cooking gloves to avoid burns.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How do you remove bad grease stains on the outer rim of a Magnalite pot?
    wikiHow
    wikiHow
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    wikiHow
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    Expert Answer
    Since a Magnalite pot is a type of cast aluminum cookware, it will oxidize easily and can get stained. If you want to remove those stubborn grease stains, don't soak your Magnalite pot in water or put it in the dishwasher. Instead, use a paste made of cream of tartar and water. After you've rinsed your pot and dried it with a towel, apply the paste to the grease stains. Scrub off the paste with a wool pad to rub away the grease stains, then dry your pot again.
  • Question
    How do I clean a burnt glass pan?
    wikiHow
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    Our goal at wikiHow is to deliver trustworthy articles that engage our readers and meet their informational and emotional needs. For 15 years, we've committed to our step-by-step teaching model, and we continue to refine our content to create the best how-to experience on the Internet. We’ve helped millions of people solve problems, learn new skills, and feel supported in the ordinary and complex moments of life.
    wikiHow
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    Expert Answer
    This process is actually pretty simple! Pour 4 cups (946.35 mL) of water into your glass pan. Then, add 1 cup (236.58 mL) of vinegar. Mix up the solution. Put the pan on the stove, turn on the heat, and bring your solution to a boil. Take off the pan and set it down somewhere to cool. Drain your pan and rinse it. Finally, add 2 drops of liquid dish detergent to a sponge and scrub the stains away. Then, wash and dry your pan.
  • Question
    How do I clean a badly burnt aluminum bowl?
    wikiHow
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    Our goal at wikiHow is to deliver trustworthy articles that engage our readers and meet their informational and emotional needs. For 15 years, we've committed to our step-by-step teaching model, and we continue to refine our content to create the best how-to experience on the Internet. We’ve helped millions of people solve problems, learn new skills, and feel supported in the ordinary and complex moments of life.
    wikiHow
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    Expert Answer
    Aluminum cookware can stain easily, but you can still restore it with natural ingredients. Take out a pot and combine 2-3 tablespoons (14.3 grams-28.3 grams) of cream of tartar with 2-3 tablespoons (14.3 grams-28.3 grams) of lemon juice and 4 cups (946.35 mL) of water. Place the pot onto the stove and bring your solution to a boil. Turn off the stove, pour the hot solution into your aluminum bowl, and let it soak for 10 minutes. Put on heat resistant gloves and lightly scrub the scorch marks on your aluminum bowl with a sponge.
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  1. https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/how-to-clean-burnt-pots-and-pans/
  2. James Sears. Professional Cleaner. Expert Interview. 28 August 2019.

About This Article

James Sears
Co-authored by:
Professional Cleaner
This article was co-authored by James Sears and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano. James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James is an expert in all things clean and provides transformative experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a current Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California. This article has been viewed 144,403 times.
2 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: November 11, 2022
Views: 144,403
Article SummaryX

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!

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