8 Ways to Clean Burnt Pots & Pans

I’m a rather amazing cook in the kitchen – but I will tell you one small secret… 

I get distracted SO easily. 

And when I mean distracted, I mean it in a sense where I go to “check laundry” or switch laundry quickly… next thing you know I’m sucked into picking up toys. Then putting clothes away. Then cuddling with the baby. And before you know it, I’m reminded when I smell a nasty burn stench emanating from the kitchen.

Just this last week, I was making this amazing potato soup… I poured in the milk, and push saute on the Instant Pot. Then I said “well, let me just switch out those clothes in the laundry fast before I forget and they sit in the washer…”

One thing turns to another and by the time I made it back to the kitchen, I questioned why I had even walked to the laundry room and why I turned on the saute button knowing that I would get sucked into house work. Does that happen to you?

Thankfully I saved the soup by pouring into a second “inner pot” for my Instant Pot, but the bottom of the inner pot I was using was BURNT. Now if that’s not enough to upset you… I don’t know what is.

Thankfully I have several remedies I usually resort to in this case, and they always work out super. .. Lemon Juice is usually my #1 go-to … and I rarely if ever have to resort to another method. 

Give them a try & see which one you love the most, or keep them all fresh in your mind when you are faced with a burnt pot or pan from your culinary adventures.

#1 – Hydrogen Peroxide

ALWAYS keep a bottle on hand at home. It’s a neat cure for burnt pots & pants. Take the pot & dump out the food (get as much out as you can). Then cover the bottom of the pan with a few inches of Hydrogen Peroxide and let it sit overnight (or 6-8 hours).

That hydrogen peroxide should just lift off the burnt stain and it should be laying in the liquid as it lifts.

#2 – Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon Essential Oil is the swiss army knife in the kitchen – it’s great at taking crayons off the walls, cleaning glue or gum from surfaces and even working in place of “Goo Gone” — it’s an all purpose, it really is.

Clean out the pan or pot as much as you can, then add 6-7 drops of Lemon Essential Oil -use a magic eraser OR a scrub sponge and within just a few minutes the lemon essential oil (which is great at working off gunk) should get quite a bit of it off.

#3 – Baking Soda

Baking Soda does wonders for a dirty bathtub – and it works great for burnt pans too. Dump 1/2 – 1 C. of baking soda in the burnt pan or pot and add 1 C. water – put on the stove for 10-15 minutes and let it simmer.  The baking soda will loosen up the gunk. You can also add some lemon juice too.

#4 – Scrub Pads like Magic Eraser & Brillo

The Magic Eraser literally can work magic on a variety of surfaces – and you don’t need to spend a fortune. You can order a box of 30 magic erasers for just a few dollars on Amazon. They are great for scrubbing burnt pans and pots.  Likewise, Brillo Pads work amazingly well too.

#5 – Vinegar

Just like Baking Soda, vinegar can do amazing things as well. Try to get as much of the food out of the pan or pot, and cover the entire bottom of the pot with vinegar. Place on the stove and simmer for 5-10 minutes to loosen up the gunk.

#6 – Lemon Juice

Lemon Juice is very acidic and works great when you combine with salt and simmer on the stove. Remove as much food as you can, then sprinkle a generous amount of salt in the pan (it works as an abrasive). Then add enough lemon juice to cover the burnt area… and simmer on your stovetop for 10-15 minutes to loosen up the burnt pieces in the pan.

#7 – Bar Keepers Friend

Soak your burnt pots or pans overnight in dish soap. Then in the morning, dump out, and sprinkle with a generous amount of Bar Keepers Friend – take your scrub pad and give it a scrub and it should come right out.

#8 – Ketchup

Ketchup is like vinegar, very acidic. Take out as much of the burnt food as you can, then cover the bottom of the pot or pan with a layer of ketchup and let sit overnight.  That ketchup will lift the burnt pieces right off so you can rinse out with soapy water in the morning.

Do you have any that work better for you? I have heard that Coca Cola works super on burnt pots and pans (and also to clean toilets) – though I can’t say I have tried it, we don’t drink soda.

We’d love to hear you weigh in and let us know what works best for you.