Tip: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 06/22/2009
How do I clean a burnt stainless steel saucepan without damaging it inside?
Patricia from Tasmania, Australia
Feedback:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Pour a regular can of coca cola and bring to a boil. Boil for at least 5 minutes and burnt stuff should come right off. (11/18/2008)
By Cathy from MA
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
To clean a pan I use just a little bit of hot HOT water and a lot of baking soda, and scrub it with an SOS pad. Works like a charm. (11/18/2008)
By superwoman
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
The easiest way to clean a burnt pan is to fill it 3/4 full with water and add biological washing detergent and boil it. The timing depends on how burnt it is.But do make sure you rinse it thoroughly afterwards. This works every time. Jan U.K. (11/19/2008)
By blackbess
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Thanks to all those who contributed tips for the burnt stainless steel pan. I used the bi-carb soda tip and it worked well, I now have a nice clean saucepan again. Thanks to you all.
(11/20/2008)
By Patricia (Tasmania) Australia
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Our pan was scorched after being used to steam tamales. My son put white vinegar in the pan and in half an hour, it came clean with a little rub from a green scrubbie pad (12/25/2008)
By Nina
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Borax still works like a charm every time my husband burns food in our stainless steel pans. Every brand from Revereware to our new Rachel Ray full stainless steel set has become beautiful once more using good old Borax with your fav handwashing detergent. You'll be able to see your reflection in the bottom of the pan just like the first day you took them out of the box. (02/21/2009)
By Mywaywks
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I burnt grilled cheese in my dad's new pan and the pan burnt also for some weird reason. My parents tried everything, and my dad was so mad he wasn't talking to me. So I decided to fix it before he got home from work. I tried everything again, nothing even mixing vinegar, lemon juice, warm water and dish soap. So I tried the baking soda paste and it was amazing what was clinging on for its on life before just let loose. THANK YOU! (03/31/2009)
By firefly557
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 11/18/2009
I burnt my stainless steel saucepan making jam, really bad. I rang my mum and she told me to cut up onions and boil it in water. I thought I might share this, as after an hour of boiling, my saucepan is clean and shining again. Hope this helps others.
Cheers, Judy from Australia
Feedback:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
One of the best ways I,ve found to clean burnt pans is to fill the pan about 3/4 full with water, add bio washing detergent, bring to the boil and let simmer for about 5-10 minutes, depending how burnt it is. This is the best method that works for me and it's pretty quick. Be sure to wash the pan thoroughly. Hope this helps.
Jan from UK (06/23/2009)
By blackbess
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 11/18/2008
I did a dumb thing. I boiled water to heat a baby's bottle. Totally forgot about it after the bottle was ready, etc. I went to bed, it boiled completely dry and sat and cooked bare stainless steel for about 2 hours! 1. Is it safe to use again? 2. How do I clean massive discoloration on the bottom of the pot?
Nancy from Rochester, NY
Answers:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I have heard to use plain old salt to clean the pan. (02/19/2007)
By Mary Ann
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I have a stainless steel pan that I forgot on the stove and later found no food but ashes in it. It looked horrible. I boiled Coke in it for about 45 Minutes. It really worked, I got all the stuck on stuff off with just a brush.
The pan is still grey and doesn't shine though but I might even find a solution for that. (03/13/2007)
By Lana
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I swear by automatic dishwasher liquid. I have had to let stainless steel pans soak for days, but it always works; minimal scrubbing with a green scratchy, or curly scrubber. If the stain is really bad it may never completely disappear for the metal has been permanently altered throughout, but I still use the pan. Do not try this on aluminum. It will eat aluminum alive! (06/30/2007)
By Susan in WA state
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I tried most of the hints above: vinegar & baking soda, dishwasher soap, cream of tarter (yes, I tried SOS pads too) etc. The one I found worked the best was, Barkeeper's Friend. I read where some of the other posters, had no luck. But worked for me! (07/31/2007)
By Abbey
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I tried vinegar, boiling water, ketchup, and soapy water but none of the stuff worked on my burnt stainless steel saute pan. I found that using a baking soda paste and letting it sit for 15 minutes and then rinsing it out and then pouring baking soda and using a nylon scrub got out all my stains. (11/27/2007)
By Jordan
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Thanks for the tips for getting out the burnt spots. To make them shine again polish them with lemon juice, or try the new stainless cleaner from the pampered chef (being released March 2008). (01/17/2008)
By upson
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Try Cameo works wonders for me. Plain old burnt food, I just deglaze the hot pan with water and a wooden spoon. But for serious stuff it's the cameo. Keeps it pretty silver. (03/08/2008)
By Darrell
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I tried the Coke method and it worked fabulously. I even used Pepsi and it worked the same. Thanks for the hint. One word of warning though: Don't let the Coke cook for too long or you'll have a sloppy mess and you have to do it all over again. (07/14/2008)
By Sam
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Tried the simmering baking soda bath. You can doubt if you want to. IT REALLY WORKS! Polyester lined oven mitt melted on HARD AS NAILS! Couldn't stand up to the Baking Soda Simmer Soak. Thanks for the posting, WhyMe in the ATL (07/29/2008)
By WhyMe
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Tried the simmering baking soda bath. You can doubt if you want to. It really works! Polyester lined oven mitt melted on hard as nails! Couldn't stand up to the Baking Soda Simmer Soak. Thanks for the posting,
WhyMe in the ATL (07/29/2008)
By WhyMe
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
(Sent in by email)
I bought an oven mitt "100% cotton NOT", polyester lining burnt/melted to my Farberware Millennium. The department store was not willing to replace it. I ran across your posting and had not much faith. Yet to my pleasant surprise, a few minutes in the baking soda bath, brand spankin' shiny new!
Thanks a Bunch!
Melani (07/30/2008)
By ThriftyFun
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 02/18/2007
Is there a way to clean or restore stainless cookware after water has boiled dry in it and turned it dark?
Cheryl from Alpharetta
Answers:
Chemistry
First the chemistry - soak the pan in water so the carbon soaks up a little water. Adding anything that changes the pH of the water will help soften the carbon.
Second, you need to boil the liquid. When the liquid absorbed by the carbon turns from liquid to gas phase, it will crack the carbon.
This won't polish your SS, but it will make it much easier to clean by hand.
Good luck! (10/29/2006)
By Hot Water
Barkeeper's Friend
Try Barkeeper's Friend (best price at Walmart) Sprinkle it on and lightly dampen it and rub rub rub. Don't leave it on over a minute, then scrub and rinse. You may need to repeat, but I usually get them out on the first try. THis is also great for stuck on food and rust! (10/31/2006)
By camo_angels
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 10/22/2006
I left my stainless steel saucepan sitting on the stove after the water had boiled out. It now has black marks on the bottom of the pan. They look similar to tarnish stains on silver. Does anyone know how to get rid of these?
susanne_917 from Houston, TX
Answers:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I put my pans in my oven when I clean it and they shine when they come out. Same thing with my baking sheets! (09/18/2006)
By
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Make a past out of baking soda and water. Let it sit on the burn for few minutes, then scrub. Lay have to use more baking soda, and let it sit again depending on severity of burn. Then if it is still not coming all the way off, scrub with SOS pad. I do this all the time and it really works! (09/20/2006)
By Jennifer
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Soak overnight in Dishwasher soap mixed with a bit of water. Works great for roasting pans, cake pans, blackened cookie sheets (10/04/2006)
By gouligann
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Left my old Revereware dripolator coffepot on burner to keep coffee warm. Forgot all about it, left house on errand and came back to burned smell and sad looking coffee pot. Did search and found this site. Dont have dishwasher detergent nor oven cleaner nor creme of tartar, nor dryer sheets. But did have some ammonia as per one suggestion above. It worked, not perfect but black gone and pot usable again. Thanks. (10/07/2006)
By HermitJohn
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 09/16/2006
How do I clean the inside of a stainless steel pan that is burnt inside due to water evaporating?
Carol from Beverly, MA
Answers:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I simmer vinegar and baking soda with very little water in any burnt pan for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Drain pan and while it is still warm scour with dry baking soda and damp scouring pad if needed. Seldom have to do it more than once before it is clean. This works on stainless and even cast iron, (which of course should not be cleaned with soap). (08/24/2006)
By Harriet
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Request: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Archived on 10/07/2005
I totally burnt a stainless steel pan by attempting to create a simple syrup for my iced tea. I put the pan on to boil, and went to the computer. Bad mistake. After I got the smoke out of the house and dealt with the fire department (that some well-meaning person called), I now have this pan to clean. Boiling with soda helped a lot, but, there is still a fourth of the burnt on marks that I cannot get off the pan.
I even tried cooking tomatoes in it. That was a waste of tomatoes. I am going to go ahead and use it and watch for black particles, but wondered what else I could use to thoroughly clean it. I have also used Barkeepers friend, and a stainless steel "scratcher". Still have burnt on stuff on the pan. Word to the wise, boiling Barkeepers Friend in the pan doesn't help, either.
Any more ideas?
Thank you,
Jackie in Wixom, Mi
Answers:
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Have you tried a "good ole" SOS steel wool pad? I find that's the best way to get really burnt on foods out of stainless steel pans. I hope this helps. (10/07/2005)
By Luvyabye
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Put about 1/4 cup fabric softener, fill with water, bring to boil, remove from heat, let sit for at least 24 hours. Most of it should come out with a plastic scrubber. May have to do it more than once but I even saved my slowcooker this way. Good luck. (10/07/2005)
By wallflower
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I find that the "Scotch" sponges are the BEST! I have scrubbed burnt marks out with them. Good Luck! (10/07/2005)
By Heather
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Use a razor scraper. If you don't have one, go to the paint supply section of any store and they'll have one there. You can use just the razor but this is kinda hard to do. Done this many times! (10/07/2005)
By jrslady
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I just saw a hint on TV about this. Take a cap of ammonia and a cup of water put on stove and bring to boil. Remove and allow to cool. Particles are suppose to easliy come up with finger tips or cloth. (10/08/2005)
By giggligoo
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
I did the same thing a few years back and found a product by accident at Walmart (which I found only once! I now buy it on line because I LOVE IT!!). It's called Pure Clean, I found it for cleaning my tile counters in my kitchen (great for those hard to remove coffee stains). It was so amazing it even took off the burnt spot on a tile in my kitchen made by melted metal from my stainless steal copper bottom cooking pan (now that's a long story lol) Any way I went to the website on the package and they sell these cleaning stones for all types of surfaces, kitchen pans included. This stone even cleans the burnt black that just doesn't come off on your stainless steel pans! Go to http://www.goearthstone.comGOOD LUCK! (10/08/2005)
By ladybug
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Thank you for your suggestions ladies and I had to laugh at the lady who went to the computer while a syrup boiled in her pot, went dry, started to smoke and the neighbour called the fire department!
I too went to the computer, forgot the pot on the stove and my pot burned dry and their was tons of smoke and now am trying to fix it with some of your suggestions. I'm going to try the fabric softener first. (10/31/2005)
By Sandra Vanderwood.
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Just found this site discussing burnt pans after searching for solutions to problem. I had left oatmeal cooking in milk on stove for but 5 minutes and came back to blackened pot. Removed oatmeal from pan. Grabbed lemon from fridge, grated peelings into pan; then sliced lemon and squeezed juice into pot. Rubbed lemon around pot and then let sit while I came upstairs and searched Internet for other solutions to problem. After reading the above posts, I returned to pot and began gently scraping bottom with stainless steel spoon. Wow! The lemon did a remarkable job loosening the char and leaving the bottom of the pan (after final cleaning in warm soapy water) in a shiny, beautiful condition. (01/24/2006)
By Chris
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Spray with oven cleaner (Easy-off) Then scrub with steel wool, Brillo or S.O.S. pads. (01/24/2006)
By guest
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
This is an old trick of my mother's that always works for me with stainless steel pans. Fill pan one third with water, dump in 2 or 3 tablespoons Creme of Tartar. Let it boil and boil, add more water to pan as it boils down. You might have to repeat. This might work for you. I have found it doesn't scratch up my pan. (01/24/2006)
By Vicka
RE: Burnt Stainless Steel Pan
Use a dryer sheet and little hot water. (02/09/2006)
By daisy
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