I had a cold a few weeks ago and my nose was completely stuffed up one of the days. I was cooking up a big pot of something that day and got busy working on something else in the kitchen while it was simmering.
About 30 minutes later, Jesse arrived home from work and about choked when he walked in the door. He gave me a funny look and then looked at the stove and gasped, “How can you not smell that awful burning smell?!”
Then we both started laughing because we realized that I couldn’t smell a thing. Which was good — since the kitchen now reeked of burnt smell. But it would have never smelled like that had I been able to smell since my nose would have alerted me quite awhile before to turn the burner off. 🙂
At any rate, we aired the house out and have been working on trying to redeem the burned pot ever since. We’ve soaked it, scrubbed it, scraped it, run it through the dishwasher, and soaked it some more.
And it’s still a mess.
Anyone have some amazing tricks and tips for getting stubborn burned-on gunk off a pot? Let me in on your secrets in the comments and you’ll be my hero. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Tyla says
Put half a cup of baking soda in the pot and fill it half full with water. Bring it to boil and let it boil for awhile, adding extra water as needed. It’s worked for me several times.
Melissa says
Bar Keepers friend is great! It was recommended to us to clean our pots, and I’ve had worse burnt of gunk than that come off. Sometimes it does take 2 overnight soaks, but it works!
gina says
Vinegar! It works best if you let it sit on the burned stuff for a while, then with minimal elbow grease it will come off. I just love vinegar–I am currently using it to battle the dandelions in my lawn instead of using some super toxic weed killer!!!
KC says
I actually use those hotel soaps that you get. I cut them up into little tiny pieces and melt them down in the pot, along with a bunch of water. After the soap is melted, let it simmer in the pot for a few minutes and then use a scrubby to wipe it completely clean. Gets it clean and shiny every time. And it’s FREE!
April says
I had this happen recently and nothing worked! I tried baking soda, vinegar, boiling water, etc. I finally just pulled out a razor blade and gently scraped and it came off. The pan isn’t scratched up either.
Cheryl S. of Oregon says
Add a couple of inches of hot water then drop in a fabric softener sheet and let soak over night. I’ve never had a burned-on mess that I haven’t been able to clean up using this method. My sister-in-law shared this with me years ago when she saw me struggling to clean a pan. I think of her every time I do this!
Kirsten says
If you haven’t ever tried, making your own scubbers out of tulle works pretty well too:
http://www.scjohnson.com/en/family/family-economics/11-05-16/How-To-Make-Dish-Tulle-Scrubbies.aspx
NICOLE says
1/2 VINEGAR, 1/2 WATER AND SOME BAKING SODA AND BOIL FOR 15 MINS
maxine brooks says
try sprinklin salt in the bottom and cut a potatoe in half and start scrubbing, add more salt as needed…..hope it works
Rebecca says
I use baking soda. I DO NOT scrub it. I boil HOT water and pour over the baking soda and let it sit. Then, I rinse it out and wash with a wash cloth.
Annette says
Hot water and bar keepers friend. Works great on porcelain too.
Vicky C. says
Crystal – This happened to me. I found on the Internet…you warm Dawn (I like the blue for cleaning) in water on the stove and let it sit for an hour. I didn’t actually wait this long. Then I took an SOS pad and gently scrubbed. Came right off. Good luck!
jessica says
i had this happen… soaked a few times in vinegar (heated it to loosen but don’nt know if that helps) and then scraped. I had to do a few rounds of it but i think it worked better than water. 🙂
J says
You might be able to scrape it off with a razor blade (the one sided kind.) The blade gets under the crud and takes it off easily. I do this all the time and it works like a charm. Any residual gunk will come off with a scrubbie or steel wool.
Rain says
White vinegar, works every time. I have had thick scalded cream soup on a stainless steel pan, put vinegar in and let soak overnight and the scald came off in one piece.
Marlene says
I found this a long time ago….no harsh chemicals. Sprinkle some cream of tartar add white vinegar to make a paste. Cover completely with the paste and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Wash with soap and water. Works great for the grill on the BBQ. If its really burnt on you may still need to use an SOS pad .
Melissa says
i use the bar keepers friend powder it takes almost anything off stainless steel just sprinkle after rinsing the pan with hot water and scrub scrub scrub and keep using hot water it takes off anything
Jessica says
This has happened to us. Pour a little vinegar in the pan and put it on the burner to heat up. Take off and use a kitchen brush or scrubbie and it comes right off. We have save 2 pots by doing this.
LISA says
On stainless steel pots, I take them OUTSIDE and spray with OVEN-OFF. Leave outside out of the sun for a few hours. Wash with soap and hot water- works every time. I am sorry to say I have used this method a few times !
willie says
Add some clorox and small amount of water to pot. Let it soak over night.
Stephanie Ruess says
This may have already been mentioned, but Bar Keepers Friend does amazing things! I use it on all my pots and pans when normal products don’t get them clean.
Kim says
Steel wool and a bit of elbow grease, but I’d try to deglaze it first, as others have suggested.
Christy says
I know a ton of people have already said this, but Bar Keeper’s Friend is your friend in this situation!
me says
baking soda and vinegar. soak, repeat. scrub with salt.
Debbie says
I didn’t read all 168 posts but did not see this one in the few I did read: Oven cleaner (I get it at the dollar store). Just spray it on, cover with a plastic grocery bag, come back an hour or so later. It should just about rinse off. Leave on a little longer if it doesn’t. This always works for me & I have teenage kids who are great at burning stuff!
Jenny says
Sunshine!!! Really, just leave it outside on a hot sunny porch for a full 2 days. Something about the carbon in the food and the sunshine. It will start to dry out and just flake off when you scrape it with a spatula. I found this to work when baking soda wouldn’t. Kinda like the idea of “burning off the gunk on a grill”.
Worth a try and it’s free!
Deana C says
Take the pot outside, spray with Easy Off Oven Cleaner, place it in a garbage bag (preferably a black one as they heat up better), twist the top of the bag to close it and hold in fumes and heat, set it out in the sun to “cook” overnight and in the morning it will all come right out with a brillo pad or scrubby sponge 🙂 Always works for me (unfortunately I lose track of what I’m doing often }:( so this is a common occurrence in our house…)
Dianna says
Crystal, my way will take the stuff right off without much elbow grease on your part:
http://be-it-ever-so-humble.blogspot.com/2009/10/getting-scorched-food-off-pans.html
My only problem with this method is that I always accidentally let it boil over (again! . . .). But it works like magic!
Jolene R Drust says
Put it in the oven. I accidentally left a cookie sheet in the oven when I was cleaning the oven, we have a self-cleaning oven, and pretty much thought the cookie sheet was beyond cleaning before accidentally leaving it in the oven. It came out looking brand new!! I still washed it with dish and soap and water but you can’t even tell that I ever burned anything on the sheet. Hope that helps!
Sophie says
I read this in Hints from Heloise today: “Put about 3 tablespoons of cream of tartar and about 1 quart of water in the gunky pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, and let it continue to boil for about 10 minutes. Wash and rinse the pot well.”
I heard this works!
Kayla says
I didn’t see anyone mention a Norwex Spirinette, but it works soooo much better than just a regular brillo pad or sos pad. Seriously, it will take the most burnt on gunk off of your oven, so I’m sure it would work on that. They’re not that expensive, and if you call a Norwex rep, they might have one on hand. I love those things and use them on my stainless steel pots all the time.
Heather says
Yes, these work great!!
Judith says
baking soda. Also vinegar sprayed on it & left to sit awhile will lift it.
amy says
steel wool
Emily says
I haven’t had time to read through the comments to see if anyone has suggested this yet, but try Dawn Power Dissolver. You may have a hard time finding it, as I think they may not make it anymore, but if you can get your hands on some, try it. It is a miracle worker on pots and pans.
Julie says
Lava soap & steel wool!
Good luck!
Cathy says
Unfortnately, I have experience in this one. All you need is a little water and baking soda and some elbow grease. Pour baking soda right into the pot. Dampen a rag and use it to rub the baking soda in circles on the burnt spots. It will literally come right off.
Tami says
Scrub it with steal wool…. it will come right off!
Christine says
Make a paste of baking soda and water. Spread a thick layer and place a damp paper towel over it. Let it sit overnight and all funk should wash off. I tried this in my oven with burned on mounds of cheese and was completely shocked that it worked!
Headless Horseman says
Fill with warm water about an inch…and add 1 or 2 unused dryer sheets….let soak over night…next morning use the sheets to wipe out the bottom….I’ve used that for all sorts of baked on messes…..
Jill says
Didn’t read the comments so I am not sure if someone suggested this but try scrubbing with foil, water and soap.
Kimberly says
I have used 400 grade automobile wet/dry sand paper to sand off the gunk. You can then progressively use higher grades (600, 800, 1200) to smooth out any scratches. This takes a lot of elbow grease, but it works.
Lea Stormhammer says
Make a paste out of baking soda and a small amount of water and then elbow grease! My husband burned popcorn oil onto our big pot like that and we got it clean. It does take a LOT of scrubbing (I’ve never had good results with boiling, though it does help loosen larger ‘stuff’).
I’m really curious how people keep their pans so clean – we have glass baking dishes that have a lot of baked on oil – we use a light mist of olive oil (not those spray cans from the store) but a regular spray pump and real olive oil when we cook and our pans look horrible. I’m not one to just chuck it and buy a new pan – they still work fine – I’m just curious what others suggest. The metal pans we have no problem with – the glass ones, well, they’re a whole different story! 🙂
Hope the suggestions you’re getting are helpful!
Lea
Ellen says
vinegar–baking soda–bar keepers friend–dryer sheet… whatever you chose, just make sure it soaks and then BOIL it– boiling water in the pot is the key to lift the gunk off once it has been softened by whatever cleaning solvent you use.
Let us know which method you use and how it works!
And if you just can’t get it clean– it can been one of your items for the clutter-busting challenge 😉
angie says
My mom would use easy off oven cleaner
Jen says
Cut a lemon in half. Sprinkle salt in the pan and scrub with the lemon. The acid from the lemon and abrasive salt should break up the burned bits.
Amanda says
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or generic equivalent thereof)!
Judy says
Jenny at 8:22 has the answer. It will work. Put a little amonia in the pan. Put it in a plastic bag. Tie it shut. Put it OUTSIDE. The next day it will wipe clean. Ihave done this with a baking pan and with oven racks! Works like a charm!
Joanne says
Coca Cola. The 2 ladies on TV that go around cleaning peoples Putrid houses showed it once – if you boil it in the saucepan and gently use a pot scrubbing brush once off the heat. Rinse and repeat with fresh Coca Cola until gone.
Elisha says
Dawn PoWer Clean Overnight soak in 5 minutes
Kristen says
Try adding some baking soda and a little water. Then use a rag to scrub it off. I’ve done it before and it works great!!
Paul says
You may try COLD Easy-Off oven cleaner….. spray it in and cover for a day then wipe clean….then run through dishwasher before you use to cook food of course. I really do think this would be the easiest.
Lori says
I was going to suggest boiling it off, but a million other people beat me to it. My second suggestion would be baking soda scrub.
If all else fails try a little oven cleaner.
Kim says
Been there done that!!:) This really works. 🙂
1. Put 1-2 scoops powdered Oxi-Clean in the pan.
2. Cover it with about one inch of water.
3. Heat it to boiling (it will bubble up, so don’t put too much water in it!! DON’T WALK AWAY FROM THIS!!!).
4. Cover it with a lid & turn the heat off.
5. Let it sit (over night is good) until the water is completely cool.
6. Then wash it. (I’ve always done this in the sink, so have never tried it in a dishwasher.)
**This may change the finish on the inside of the pan, but it will still be usable.
Kim says
To clarify what I wrote above: #6. Wash it as normal once the water has cooled. It will probably come off with just dish soap & a dish cloth. Repeat if necessary, but the only time I had to repeat it was when I didn’t let the water completely cool.
lisa says
boil baking soda and water for a while in the pot….dump it out into sink drain (which also will help clean and unclog the sink drain) then dump a lot of salt on it and scrub it with a sponge…then rinse. if all else fails, here’s a really good trick: buy a new pot! haha.
laurie says
oven cleaner will easily take this off with no elbow grease needed. If it’s really bad 2 applications of oven cleaner maybe needed.
Marissa says
I did this and it worked:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-burnt-frying-pans-140547
Lachelle says
P.S. Enough hydrogen peroxide to cover the bottom of the pan and burnt material.
Lachelle says
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom and then put hydrogen peroxide on top. Let it sit overnight and clean in the morning. Repeat if it didn’t get it all off the first time. Has worked for me in the past. Good luck!
Elizabeth says
Definitely get some steel wool, if you don’t have any on hand. It’s safe to use on a stainless steel pan and saves SO much elbow grease. I kicked myself for not buying steel wool earlier, once I switched to using it and realized how much easier it was to scrub out my pans! I had been using Scotch Brite pads (those dark green scrubbies that are sold with the sponges), but steel wool works wonders.
I also second all the suggestions to boil water in the pot. I’ve had luck with messy pans when I add baking soda and/or dish soap to the water (and yes, watch it so it doesn’t bubble over!). Bring to a boil, let it simmer for a bit, cool it as much as necessary so you can touch it without getting burned, and then get to scrubbing. Add more baking soda as you scrub if it seems like you need more.
Mel says
Pour a generous amount of baking soda in the pot and then fill it with a few inches of water. But it back on the stove, bring it to a boil, and it will take it right off. Miracle!
Diana says
Was it carrots in the pot? 🙂 I have a pot sitting in my pantry right now with black spots from burned carrots, so I enjoyed reading all the suggestions!
I did this once before with popcorn, and the thing that worked the best was elbow grease and a stainless steel scrubbie. I could tell that the scrubbie was taking off the black, little by little, but I wasn’t dedicated enough to do it all at once. So every time I washed dishes, I scrubbed another few minutes, and eventually it was clean.
I’m sure we’d all love it if you posted a quick update on whatever method ends up working for you!
The Mayor (Sharon) says
I don’t have a suggestion except splurge and go shopping for a new one. A gal has got to have good stuff in the kitchen. Kind of like the guys and their tools. Too bad Craftsman does not make pots! Just a bit of humor. Love your blog.
maria z smith says
a brillo pad and ajax does wonders.and make sure there is a little water in pot to make a lather
Shannon says
Bar Keeper’s Friend. And when that’s clean, invest in some All Clad.
Hannah says
Have you tried steel wool or a stainless steel scrubber? Either those always work for me.
Michelle says
Scrub Daddy sponge! I saw them at Bed Bath and Beyond the other day for like 3.99 or 4.99. Look it up online….it’s amazing 🙂 Hope this helps.
Trista Hertel says
I would try boiling some water with a couple drops of dishsoap in it. That should loosen the gunk and make washing it a lot easier!
Amy says
Seriously, a can of coke leaving it sit for a couple of days. It eats most of it off, then you are able to scrub the rest off with a steel wool pad and detergent of choice.
I have burn a 22 quart pot while cooking a big batch of bean of bacon soup…It saved the pot.
Jennifer Kaiser says
Haven’t read any comments but Barkeepers Friend (sold at WalMart like around the dishsoap, the can looks like Comet except it’s gold) works awesome! It’s saved my stainless steel many times. Put a little water in the bottom of the pot, sprinkle Barkeepers friend liberally and leave it to sit overnight. Keep coming back and scrubbing. It’s lifted the gunk into a bubble and dried with the gunk off the pan before. Crazy awesome.
Nicolle says
My sister in law shared a great trick. Sprinkle dish washer detergent in the pot, add hot water and let it soak overnight. Will come clean in the morning!
Leanne says
Try a Brillo pad. It has worked for me every time., however it does require scrubbing,
Robyn says
Bar keepers friend! I never knew about it and my pot looked just like that. It’s two dollars and amazing!
Letty says
Bar Keeper’s Friend. They sell it at Wal-Mart! I never heard about it until I got my new stainless steel pots and pans, and it WORKS with hardly much effort. Just sprinkle a little bit in the pan, add water, rub a little, and rinse! It’s a miracle worker!
Suzanne says
I totally agree! I had a burnt pot and was so thankful for Bar Keepers Friend. It worked wonders!
Kim P says
Use Bon Ami. It’s a powder cleaner in a can. Works so well and yet is gentle on surfaces – it won’t scratch but it WILL get it clean. I use it for a cleaning a ton of things, especially in my kitchen and bathroom. It’s kind of like a super-baking-soda! 🙂
Jessica says
Hot water and a tablespoon of power dish washer detergent and let it soak. I use it almost daily when washing my pots and pans. It also makes them shine like brand new!
Jessica says
Heat some tomato products up in it. The acid will help take it off.
lizajane says
I’ve had success with this also.
Katrena says
In our stainless steel pan it seems that most things stick. I will boil water and add baking soda to lift the junk off. If that doesn’t work, I use a cooper scrubber for stainless steel. I think the brand is Chore Boy. Good luck!
laine says
I use comet & a scotch brite pad to scrub pots like this then put in the dishwasher to clean & rinse the comet out of the pot.
Katie says
I would try the Barkeepers Friend in the powdered version. That stuff works great! Hope that helps you!
Ryan says
Baking soda mixed with dish soap works well. If is really bad you can use salt or steel wool, but don’t rub too long in one spot.
barb sheffer says
I often will put a couple of inches of water in the bottom and squirt in some detergent or baking soda and cook it for a while. Once it’s cooled enough to put my hand into the water I will scrub it some more. Sometimes a discarded plastic gift card or some flat edge can also be handy in loosing the gunk.
Becky says
I’ve done that to a pan or two in the past and I’ve always used Brillo pads to get it clean. I’d recommend the larger sized ones. They’re just easier to hold. Good Luck
Ann says
Make a paste with baking soda and a little bit of water and/or vinegar and scrub 🙂
diane says
Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom. Add some water and then heat the pan with the water in it on the stove, bring to a boil, turn down and simmer it for 15 minutes or so. The gunk should come off with a regular scrubby.
Rachel says
Some things i’ve tried and had success with.
Put a little bit of water in the pot and bring it to a boil, simmer for 5-10 min.
Usually that takes off the baked on gunk.
Otherwise you can sprinkle baking soda liberally in the pot, add a little bit of water to make a paste covering the bottom of the pot. Allow it o soak over night. Then wash (scrub),and hopefully it will be clean
Michelle says
Just read another post that said to use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Make a paste and let it set, then scrub and rinse well 🙂 Good luck!
Dina says
Have you tried boiling vinegar in it?
Carly says
Try heating up salt water to a rolling boil, then pour out in the drain…
Should wipe away easily! 🙂
Rachel says
Boil a can of Coke in it. It will ‘eat’ away the burned part!
Beth says
That’s what I finally did to get rid of burned pudding in a Revere pot. Took two or three times, but it just lifted it off.
Kelly says
I just heard this tip on a radio commercial. Must be something to it 🙂
Audrey Williams says
Maybe try some oven cleaner. Spray it on and let it sit for as long as the cleaner recommends. I had some luck with it getting my stove eye pans clean.
Val says
Make a paste from vinegar and baking soda and let it soak overnight. It may take a few soaks and days but it works wonders. I usually add in a little Dawn detergent to the mix after the first soak.
Gladice says
Barkeepers friend! Stuff cleans just about anything.
Aubree Larson says
I’ve put some dawn dish soap and water in a pan like that and then let it simmer on the stove for a bit. Then scrub it off. Or salt and water with the same idea.
Becky Watkins says
That spray that you leave on for a few minutes (same as the oven cleaner, so either name works) and those green scrubbing pads and muscles.
Karrie says
Hi Crystal. No lie, I do this almost every time I freezer cook, and I put 2 pts bleach to 1 pt boiling hot water and let it sit overnight and then, dump it and scrub with an SOS pad.
Hope this works for you!
Katherine says
Have you tried a magic eraser? I have burned many things on cookie sheets over the years, and a magic eraser (with plenty of elbow grease) works everytime.
Tina says
Hello Crystal,
Use Bar Keepers Friend or Comet Stainless Steel Cleaner. They are both like Comet but made specifically for stainless steel. If your pot is mainly stainless steel before cleaning, put water to cover the bottom and boil. Then take a stainless steel pancake flipper and scrape the bottom, this will clean big areas. While applying the Bar Keepers Friend or Comet Stainless Steel cleaner make a paste out of it and use a green scrubber to finish it cleaning it off.
Beverly Lytle says
Try boiling water with cream of tarter added. Allow to soak until cool then scrape with a plastic scraper. If it does not all come out the first time empty out existing mixture and start with a fresh batch of cream of tarter/water. Repeat several times as necessary.
Kati says
Try suddsing up a little dish soap with some hot water – just enough to cover the bottom of the pot – and then put a fabric softener sheet in and let it soak for a couple of hours. You should then be able to scrub out most of the gunk. Might need a second soaking to get it all. I’ve been able to save to pots with this method.
Georgia says
Me too!
Pam says
Fill the pot with HOT water and put a dryer sheet in there (or a couple of tablespoons of liquid softener if you don’t have the sheets). Let it soak overnight and then scrub in the morning. It will look like new! :0)
Christie says
1. Try boiling water in it–sometimes that’s enough to get rid of the gunk.
2. Mr clean magic eraser
3. It’s something to get rid of in the clutter challenge 🙁
Sondra says
Try filling the pot part way with water, dump in some baking soda (I don’t measure, just dump some in), stir, and heat it to boiling. Leave it overnight to soak and hopefully will come right off in the morning. I’ve had very good luck with burnt on food doing this. Occasionally, still have to do some scrubbing or another round of baking soda/water.
Jackie K says
Have you tried Bar Keepers Friend cleaner?
Laura Orme says
if all else fails try adding goo gone and let it sit a while.
anna says
Soak it with dishwasher soap, like cascade, and some water for an hour or so.
Nicole Meacham says
I’ve never tried this, but I remember reading about it and thinking “yeah, that’d probably work”…. boil vinegar in the pan, then add baking soda and let fizz… dumb and scrub as usual. Hope it works!!
margaret says
Fill the pot with water and let it come to boil. Continue to boil for awhile, you should start to see some of the burnt pieces flaking off. Then scrub with a new Scotch Brite pad (the green ones work best) and your favorite cleanser. It should improve to the point that you can use it again. I make popcorn in a big pot and have burnt it more than once. This process has always worked for me 🙂 Good luck!
elaine says
us chinese people always have this in our kitchen because of the high flame cooking we do. Takes a lot of elbow grease and some detergent. You won’t get it looking like new but u can definitely get most of it off.
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/stainless-steel-standard-weight-scouring-pads-12-pk/stainless-steel-standard-weight-scouring-pads-12-pk.jpg
i wonder if easy off is save to use on it???
Amy says
Over the years I’ve come across several websites/shows seeking help to remove burnt on stuff…they seem to all use baking soda as a scouring agent. If I remember correctly, you’ll need a few drops dish soap, a few tablespoons of baking soda, water, cleaning brush/double-sided sponge. Add a few drops of your fave dish soap, a generous TBS baking soda, and water to cover the burnt on spots. Heat on high until simmering. Dump down sink, and add more baking soda to pan. (Pan will still be hot!) Use your dish brush to scrub the pan. After loosening some of the gunk, a sponge should get the last of it off.
Ton Teezy says
I would add water with a little soap. Boil the soapy water on medium high heat thereafter use a Brillo pad and scrub. Make sure you use oven gloves you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.
Perin says
Did this myself a couple of weeks ago with green beans. Would love to know the answer myself!
Sarah Brewer says
You can put dishwasher detergent ( the powder kind or powder tabs) and hot water in the pot and let soak over night. Use as much dish detergent as you would put in your machine and enough water to cover the burnt area. Use a scrubbie on the pan in the morning before you dump out the water. It’s a good idea to wear gloves. If that still doesn’t remove the burnt on food then use steel wool or SOS pad if the pot is not nonstick. I have saved many pans this way.
angela rogers says
try barkeepers friend… let it soak for a bit, then scrub with a scratchy like pad.. works like a charm!
lori says
1 tablespoon of powder dishwasher detergent and some warm water, let it soak for and hour and then a little scrub should take it clean off.
Andrea @ The Greenbacks Gal says
Well… since you asked, this is my method: http://thegreenbacksgal.com/how-to-clean-burnt-pots-and-pans-using-non-toxic-cleaners/ You just need baking soda and vinegar.
karen b says
dump 1/2 cup to 1 cup of baking soda in it, add water till maybe half full then boil on stove for awhile. then try to scrap off. its pretty bad it may never all come off:(
Ashlee says
Take a dishwasher tab (not gel pack) and scrub it with just a little water in the bottom. Works miracles. It’s expensive since each tab costs a bit, but worth it. Least amount of work I’ve found.
Sharon says
I’ve come across this a time or two in my own kitchen! LOL!!
First, boil baking soda and water (don’t burn!), let sit. Once cooled, take a brillo pad and elbow grease, and patience!
If someone has somehting quicker and easier – I’d love to know myself for next time! 🙂
Colleen says
Steel wool soap pads, like Brillo or SOS
heidi says
Put water in it, ad ketchup and olive oil and boil it again. then scrub off
Joy V says
Baking soda will get that out. Sprinkle some in the bottom and use a damp rag or sponge. It may take some elbow grease, but it will work wonders. Occasionally, I have had to put some soapy water in the bottom of a pot and warm it up, then scrub it again.
janice says
Have you tried scrubbing with baking soda and or Bar Keeper’s friend?
Amy says
1. Boil Coca Cola works by it’s self.
2. Cover bottom of pan with white vinegar. Add equal parts water. 1 TBLS baking soda. Bring to a boil. Will loosen burnt material on the bottom.
3. Boil water with salt and baking soda. Light scrub should work.
4. Boil water with 1/4 cup baking soda.
I’ve used the 2nd one with success.
christina mathers says
Dawn Power dissolver…its expensive, but it works great!!Spray it on , let it sit 10 minutes up to 30 minutes and wipe clean. I guarantee it will come off. I use it all the time on my stainless steel pots and pans.
Kristen says
I’ve done that!!! I remembered we googled it and I’m pretty sure it was baking soda that we soaked the pot in for something like 24 hours and then scraped with a wooden spoon.
Kimberly says
Soak it overnight with warm water and a dryer sheet. Use a brillo pad in the morning to help with the extra that is left stuck. Ask me how I know. 😉 I have done this on more than one occassion..
M Pennington says
Have you tried Bar Keepers Friend? It is along the lines of comet, but it is a cleanser and a polish.
rose says
Ugh! I know your struggle! I thought I ruined a pot burning frozen peas once years ago. There were little pea-shaped circles burned in my good Revere pot. I tried **everything** just like you. What finally worked was cheap, non-toxic and already in the kitchen — table salt and ice cubes. I covered the bottom of the (room temperature) pan with table salt (a few tablespoons) and then added a layer of ice cubes. Then just swirled it around. The black marks all came up. I can’t remember if I added more salt and ice as it melted. It was amazing! I bet this works for you too.
Diana says
Never heard of this!
Sarah says
Yes! I had a terribly burnt pot that nothing else worked on, but the ice and salt did the trick. So funny how something so simple works. My pot is good as new and still going strong.
Elizabeth says
When I worked at McDonald’s this is what we used too- -also works great when you boil the coffee pot dry.
Rhoda says
Haven’t used the ice cubes with the salt before but have used a layer of salt with just enough water to moisten, let sit a while and then scrub. The ice cubes sound interesting though. Will need to remember this one. (And get some ice cubes as I don’t keep an ice cube tray in my freezer–prefer the space for other things.)
Anne says
I was reading through a lot of the posts to see if anyone mentioned this. Glad you did!
Have found this to work on lots of things, like the bottom of the oven when things have overflowed the pan and burnt on the bottom. If it needs scrubbing I just put a wash cloth over the ice cubes so I can get a handle without getting frost nip :).
Sometimes I follow up with a paste of Dawn dish soap and baking soda if needed.
valora says
Did you try steel wool?
Jamie says
Spray oven cleaner on it.
Nicole says
Electric sander. Seriously! I have burnt plenty of things but the only time I burnt something this badly the man of the house had to get out the big tools for the job. No amount of abrasion would help from me. 🙂
Guest says
I dunno much about scrubbing pots, but I know magic erasers can take paint off of walls and vinegar is, I’m convinced, the stuff of magic. Maybe give a combination of the two a shot? Maybe baking soda would help too? Something to dissolve carbon might do the trick. Maybe some harsh bathroom cleaner, somethign foamy… Oxyclean might react with it and get it off.
Callie says
My husband did this recently. I read online that you can boil a combination of dish soap and water. I had to do it more than once but it worked great!
Lori says
I’ve used a bleach and water mixture, let it soak and then use a Brillo pad.
Marion says
Fill the pot with plain water and bring it to a boil. The empty it out (carefully) and scrub with either steel wool or comet while it is warm to the touch.
june says
I saw a thing on pinterest where you put the burners from your stove in ziploc bags with some ammonia and let it sit to get the burned junk off…it worked. So all this to say maybe try some in the pot and cover it with saran wrap over night. At this point looks like it can’t hurt to try.
Cynthia Marshall says
oven cleaner
Abby says
Have you tried Bar Keeper’s Friend? I occasionally use it to clean really stuck residue on my stainless cookware.
WilliamB says
The best answers boil down to “more elbow grease.” One suggestion is to simmer water + baking soda, let it cool, then scrub. Another is to make a paste of salt + water, then scrub. Another is to use Barkeep’s Friend, then scrub. Are you noticing the pattern here? Abrasive + a little water + lots scrubbing. It’ll work eventually. Might be less overwhelming if you don’t try to get it all at once but spread the work over several (many?) days.
You could also try oven cleaner or (if the pot is 100% metal) put it through the oven cleaning cycle. I can’t really _recommend_ either: I don’t like using oven cleaner because those are some nasty chemicals, and it looks like the pot has a non-metal handle, but the possibilities are there.
Georgiaberry/Sunshine for Dinner says
I have had pots like that 🙁
I have reclaimed them by soaking with a paste or baking soda and water or cleanser and water – with a damp washcloth laid over it to keep it moist. Then scrub with a brillo pad. Repeat 10,000 times till all the gunk comes off. The pots never seem to look quite as good as new after the ordeal, though.
Another possibility is spray-on oven cleaner. I have used this method as well. Read your oven cleaner can to see if it wants you to heat the oven first – if so, heat up the pan on the burner, then take outside (fumes!) and spray with oven cleaner. Let it sit however long the label tells you to, then hose it off and bring inside and scrub. Whatever burnt stuff is left can be attacked with the brillo pad method.
Good luck!
Carrie says
Use some dish soap and steel wool. It will take some elbow grease but it will come clean.
Carissa says
Make a paste with Bar Keeper’s Friend and water and cover bottom. Let sit overnight and it will scrape right off the next day!
Karen McCratic says
A stainless steel scrubbie…elbow grease, possible barkeepers friend or more likely baking powder!!
R Marie says
I would love to know the answer to this question! I have the twin to this pan sitting in my sink. I have tried everything. I scrubbed, simmered it with baking soda and water (which usually works), dishwashered, green scrubbied, chipped at it with a knife. What’s left? I refuse to throw away the pan I favor the most. Looking forward to the solution. Thanks for posting.
Brenda says
Try the dryer sheet soak mentioned above. It really does work & with very little effort!
Elizabeth K says
We also have a pan like that. After a lot of scrubbing, I got most of the burnt stuff off, but I couldn’t get it totally clean. I also put it to the side. My daughter didn’t know that. She made some mashed potatoes in it. After soaking it for a long time, I started cleaning it. I then noticed that it was 99% clean! So maybe if you cook something in the pan it will help it to come off.
Amy says
Bar Keepers Friend. You can find it with the cleaning stuff at Target or somewhere similar. You get the bottom of the pan wet, sprinkle a little on, let it sit for just about a minute, and then rub with paper towels. I use it on everything—it works wonders.
Vickie K. says
I use denture tablets. I soak the pots over night and it comes pretty clean.
Elisabeth Gordon says
Put a fresh dryer sheet (or half a dryer sheet) in the bottom, and cover with water. Let it sit for several hours.
Sounds weird, but it so works!
Not that I would know, right?!
Brenda says
Yes! This totally works. It also works with a used dryer sheet 🙂 I actually keep a small container of used dryer sheets in my kitchen drawer for this purpose!
Kandy Rutherford says
Put a dryer sheet with a few inches of water into the pot overnight. Everything will come right out the next morning!
Carol says
Boil white vinegar in the pot. It will take a bit but I have saved MANY a pot that I or my children have left a little blackened. (if you still have some that is not coming off – scrub it a bit and boil more vinegar )
Good luck!
Michelle Haviland says
I’m not sure if it will help at this point, Crystal, but you can give this a try. Whenever you overcook/burn food onto a pan or pot, fill it with water and a half to a whole dryer sheet. Yes, a DRYER SHEET. Let it soak. I’ve let the dryer sheet treatment work for a day or more. It will lift off most to all of the burned on gunk. Yours is pretty cooked on, so you may still need to scrub, but it should help to soften it up.
I keep a ziploc baggie of dryer sheets under my kitchen sink just for this. I don’t use dryer sheets as a rule because they are really hard on the rubber seal on the dryer door, but for this, they work like a dream. Good luck!
Dawn says
I’ve heard that putting water and a dryer sheet in the pan and soaking it overnight will do the trick. I haven’t tried it yet though. Otherwise I would try scrubbing with baking soda and dish soap.
Angela says
I commented on fb, but bar keepers friends works magic
Deb says
Try putting a dryer sheet or two in it with the water…….can’t hurt…….
Meredith says
Have you tried a Brillo pad?
Karen McCratic says
I agree, a brillo pad, with baking powder would get it off!!
Sandi says
Try filling it with some water, then shaking in a generous amount of baking soda. (I’ve seen some that also suggested some dishsoap in addition, but I’ve never done that.) Put the pot on the stove on low to medium. Baked-on crud should leave the sides of the pot once the pot is heated up.
Kabe says
I’m not sure it’ll work on such a burnt-on pot, but it’s worth a shot – I am a lazy dish scrubber, so any time something sticks to my pans I squirt a little dish soap into it, fill it with water so it’s nice and bubbly, and let it simmer on the stove for 20 minutes or so. Everything lifts off and comes off with just a wipe! Best trick I ever learned.
Vanessa says
Pour in enough baking soda to cover the bottom of the pan, add water to the pot and place it on the stove on low to simmer for a while. The burned on food should loosen and come off.
Kristy says
A Magic Eraser will take it off. Then just wash with soap and water before using.
Sandy says
I agree.
Anna says
I’ve done this too with a very bad pot and it worked. It was actually kind of fun cause it was coming off so easily. 🙂
Karen says
Ooh, hadn’t thought of that, but I bet it’s great idea! Those Magic Erasers clean anything!
Heather says
I swear by baking soda…make a paste out of it using water, and use it to scrub the pot. If it’s a tough stain like that appears to be, I usually let the paste sit overnight, then add extra water to boil it, then scrub.
Hope that helps!
Emily says
I burnt a pot awhile back and did something like this:
http://cookwarebuzz.com/cookware/effective-method-cleaning-burnt-stainless-steel-cookware/
My cookware is stainless steel, so I boiled the water and baking soda (I don’t think I used any salt) for awhile, kinda gently scraping the pot occasionally. After dumping it, I used a Dobie scrubber to finish scrubbing it off. You’d never know how bad it was!
I think the boiling water and baking soda is definitely worth a shot, if you haven’t already tried that!
Anitra says
Boiling water and time.
I had a brand-new stainless steel pot that a roommate burned gunk onto. I was so mad!!! I scrubbed as much of it off as I could, and then determined to keep using it. Over time, the last black bits came off and eventually you couldn’t tell it had ever had stubborn burned-on gunk.
DL says
Barkeepers Friend and elbow grease, but I have also had great success with using a dryer sheet left in the pot overnight with enough water to cover the stain.
Maureen says
Yes. My grandmother uses dryer sheets, too.
Carissa says
Yep! I burn stuff so badly! Dryer sheet left in warm water overnight. Good luck!
Carolyn says
A paste of water and Barkeeper’s Friend and a scrubbie. Works wonders! 🙂
Dee Wolters says
Put several cups of water in pot, then add couple of tablespoons of dishwasher soap. Put on stove and bring to a boil, boil for several minutes. Burned gunk should come off. Let pot and water cool before scrubbing. It has worked for me many times.
Joy says
Dawn used to make a soap for getting this stuff off called Power Dissolver. Not sure if they still make it though because I had my bottle forever. But I also suggest baking soda. I let my baking soda sit damp on pan overnight then scrub next day. Works every time.
Crystal says
That power dissolver is amazing I love it!!! My bottle is also pretty old. 🙂
The Prudent Homemaker says
Watch this method, or it bubbles all over the stove 🙂
Starla says
Hi Crystal –
Sometimes when I have a particularly burnt on something I boil water in that pot. The boiling hot water helps to loosen the burnt on particles. Hope this helps!
leah says
Bar keeper’s friend.
Libby@Everything's Coming Up Green says
I’m with Leah. Bar Keepers Friend is the best. It’s super cheap for a large container. I bought mine nearly nine years ago when we first got married and we still have a third of the container.
They do have a new gel out that I haven’t tried so I have no idea how well it works. I would recommend the powdered versions for sure though!
angie says
Bar keepers friend is what I use to get burnt on stuff off…plus elbow grease!
Erica @ Sort of Crunchy says
I use all eco-friendly cleaners but Bar Keeper’s Friend in the one thing I will not give up, ever! It is magical!
Kaitlin L says
Bar keepers friend works wonders on all of our stainless stuff!
Melody says
I agree. Bar keeper’s friend. Plus a stainless steel scrubbie.
I burn things (badly) far too frequently. However, the stainless scrubbie works wonders. The nonstick safe scrubbers just aren’t as effective – especially when it’s reached the past burned stage that will not boil off. But with bar keepers friend, it works.
Abby says
Yup. Bar Keeper’s Friend is where it’s at.
Mandy W. says
I totally agree. I would also use a nylon scrubbie pad, called a Dobie in addition to the Bar Keeper’s Friend. I find mine at Target. They are made by Scotch brand, and come in a 3-pack. I use this sponge and water when something spills and then burns on my ceramic top stove. The nylon is non-scratching so I can scrub without damage.
Hope that helps!
Colleen says
I agree – that is what I was going to suggest!
Jerusha says
Agree… Bar Keepers friend is the BEST!
Jenny says
Okay, I’ve not tried this on a pot, but I have on really burned on stuff on my stove grates and even in my oven. Put a little ammonia in the pot (just a tablespoon or two will do…it doesn’t need to cover the area at all; the fumes do the work). Then, put it in a plastic bag (the better you can seal it, the better). I would suggest then putting it outside since ammonia is so powerful and let it work overnight. The next morning, it should come off pretty easily.
Nola says
You can try adding some baking soda and a small amount of water and then boil it to lift off the burned off stuff.
If that doesn’t work – use a pampered chef scraper and some soft scrub.
Sol says
Yes! Sprinkle (generously) Baking Soda in boiling water. Scrape with wooden spoon.
Anna@The DIY Mom says
Yeah, I usually boil new water in the pot and add some baking soda and then scrape. If it was something greasy that burned on sometimes I do use vinegar instead.
I hope your pot comes clean!
Pamela says
Get the pot hot and then dump some white vinegar on it. Deglaze the pot with a spoon.
I’ve done this before and it works really well.
Good luck!