Burnt pan baking soda: How to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan with Baking Soda

How to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan with Baking Soda

Remove Badly Burnt Food from Your Pot or Saucepan

It only takes a second for your eggs, sauce or other food to get scorched. Any distraction or discrepancy in timing and you can be fanning the smoke detector and staring at a burnt pot that seems beyond saving.

 

While the food you were cooking is ruined (time for takeout, maybe?), your stainless steel saucepan isn’t, even if it’s oxidized, blackened, discolored, or covered in stubborn charred debris. Reach for your ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda and follow these steps to clean the burnt pan and get it back in commission in your kitchen.

 

How to Clean a Burnt Stainless Steel or Aluminum Pan

With some basic kitchen staples, there are several techniques you can use to clean a badly burnt stainless steel pan. You’ll need baking soda, water, and white vinegar, and a scouring pad and scraper, such as a wooden spatula. One method uses a fresh lemon, cut in half.

 

Baking soda is your go-to for cleaning a burnt pot or pan because it has mild abrasive properties and its alkaline pH can help neutralize acidic burnt foods. It can also combine with an acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice to create a fizzing reaction that helps loosen burnt food to get it off your pan.

The Deglazing Technique

You may have used the deglazing technique to loosen flavorful bits from the pan to make a sauce or gravy. In this method, you have to loosen the burnt on food first, deglaze the pan, then use baking soda to scrub.

1. Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pan as possible.
2. Put the pan back on the stove and heat until a droplet of water sizzles.
3. Add 1 cup water or a mixture of ½ water and ½ white vinegar to the hot pan and allow to boil. Use more if you have a large pot or pan.
4. As the liquid simmers, use the spatula or scraper to deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening bits of burnt food.
5. Pour the liquid into the sink and do not dry or wipe the pan.
6. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool.
7. Using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pot bottom vigorously.
8. Wash and dry as normal once all stains and scorched bits have been removed.

 

The Baking Soda & Water Method

If you have a scorched pan with burnt food, you can use baking soda and water to get the job done.

1. Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
2. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Make enough to cover the scorched portion of the pan. For a full pot bottom, try 1 cup baking soda and 1/3 cup water.
3. Liberally apply the paste to the burnt pan. It should be thick enough to coat fully.
4. Alternatively, cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water. Then add enough baking soda to create a paste.
5. Let the mixture sit for a few hours or overnight, then add more baking soda and scrub with a nylon brush or scour sponge.
6. If you don’t want to wait, add another ¼ – ½ cup water to thin the paste then put the pan on the stove and let it come to a boil. Remove it from the heat quickly – you don’t want it to burn again! Let the pan cool and wipe or scrub to remove the scorched bits.

You can also use baking soda in this way to wash pots and pans regularly and help prevent scorched stains or burnt-on residue.

 

The Baking Soda & Vinegar Method

For a more heavy duty cleaning, add white vinegar to the baking soda and let kitchen chemistry help break down burnt food on your scorched pan.

1. Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
2. Add a enough white vinegar to cover the bottom of the pan with at least ½ inch of liquid.
3. Boil the vinegar in the pan and let simmer for a few minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add 1 cup baking soda. You will get a fizzing reaction. It might be best to do this in the sink.
5. Set the pot aside and wait until all the fizzing and bubbling dies down.
6. Discard the liquid and scrub the pan with a nylon scrub brush or scour sponge, adding more baking soda as necessary.
7. Rinse clean and dry.

 

The Baking Soda & Lemon Method

Lemons are a great way to clean and shine stainless steel or copper cookware. Combined with the power of baking soda, you can remove black, yellow, or rainbow oxidization stains and help restore a burnt pan. It’s easy if you follow these steps:

1. Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
2. Keep a thin layer of water in the pan, then sprinkle the bottom liberally with baking soda.
3. Cut a lemon in half and use the flesh side to scour the pan with the baking soda slurry. The combination of the acidic lemon juice and the alkaline baking soda may fizz slightly. This is a good thing!
4. If your pan has a copper bottom that has gotten blackened or tarnished, turn the pot upside down and use this method to help remove the stains and restore the shine.

 

 

Remove Burnt Food and Stains on a Non-Stick or Ceramic Pan

Non-stick pans can retain stains, flavors, and odors, especially from scorched oil. But you can’t use metal tools or scrubbing pads without risking harm to their non-stick surface. Luckily, you can neutralize and clean coated or ceramic non-stick pans with baking soda, water, and a nylon brush or non-scratching sponge.

• Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
• Method 1: cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of warm water then sprinkle the pot with baking soda to create a paste. Let the mixture rest for several hours or overnight, then scrub with warm water and a non-stick surface safe sponge or nylon brush.
• Method 2: Bring a solution of ½ cup water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda just to a boil. Remove from heat and let the pan rest until it is cool. Add more baking soda and scrub with a non-stick surface safe sponge or nylon brush.

 

How to Get Burnt Food Off a Cast Iron Skillet

If you’ve burnt food in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven, keep water, soap and acidic items such as vinegar or lemon juice away from your pan as they can create rust and destroy the pan’s seasoning. Baking soda, however, is still your friend when it comes to cleaning up a burnt food mess from your cast iron pan.

 

Most times, you can clean your cast iron pan using hot water and a brush, but sometimes you’ll get a burnt-on mess or you want to give your pan a deep cleaning. After using this cast-iron safe method to remove the burnt food, coat the pan with oil to help re-season and restore its non-stick surface.

1. Remove as much food and debris from the pan as possible.
2. Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda. Then add 2-3 tablespoons of water until it is moist but not a liquid. You want the consistency of a sandy paste.
3. Scrub the pan with a stiff-bristle brush or scouring pad. Do not add soap. The baking soda is a mild abrasive to help remove stubborn burnt on food and the alkalinity helps neutralize odors or flavors that can be cooked into the pan.
4. Rinse and repeat if necessary to remove any remaining burnt food. The more you scrub, the more of your good seasoning you will remove, so don’t go overboard.
5. Fully dry the cast iron pan and then rub with vegetable oil applied to a paper towel. Coat the bottom of the pan and up the sides.
6. Place the pan on a stove burner and heat over medium-low heat for about an hour, or place it in your oven at 400 degrees for the same amount of time. The pan may smoke as it seasons, so turn on your vent hood to help prevent setting off your smoke detectors.

More Ways to Clean With ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda

 

Baking soda is a versatile natural cleaner that can be used around your home to help with everyday cleaning and seasonal deep cleans. For more tips on using baking soda to clean your home, explore these articles:

 

• How to Clean Your Oven Naturally with Baking Soda
• Baking Soda Hacks for your Whole Home

How to Clean Pans With Baking Soda

By

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

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Editorial Process

Updated on 07/12/22

Reviewed by

Rhea Mehta

Reviewed by
Rhea Mehta

Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching. 

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Review Board

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

Project Overview

Whether you run your pots and pans through a dishwasher or hand wash them, sometimes your cookware needs an extra boost to get clean. Cleaning pots and pans with baking soda can provide this boost. The baking soda adds a gentle scrubbing effect to get rid of stuck-on food and tough stains.

Here’s what you need to know about using baking soda to clean cookware and bakeware.

How Often to Clean Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Because baking soda isn’t abrasive, you can use it anytime your pots and pans need a thorough cleaning. This can be as often as every time you use them, or you can reserve this method for the most stubborn, stuck-on food and stain situations.

Watch Now: How to Clean Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Equipment / Tools

• Wooden spoon
• Dry towels or cloths
• Nonstick-safe nylon scrubbing brush

Materials

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Lemon

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

How to Clean Enameled Pots

Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cookware, such as Le Creuset, has a seemingly bulletproof, relatively nonstick surface, but it can get crusty like any other type of pan. The secret to removing stubborn buildup is boiling water with baking soda.

1. Boil Water

   Fill the pot or pan with about 1 quart of water—or more if necessary to cover the burned area. Bring the water to a boil on medium heat.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

2. Add Baking Soda

   Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and then stir with a wooden spoon. Let the mixture simmer for several minutes.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

3. Scrape the Pan

   Dump out the pot and rinse the pan with warm water, and then dry.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

How to Clean Copper Bottoms on Pots and Pans

Return the copper bottoms of your pots and pans to their shiny selves using baking soda, vinegar, and a half lemon.

1. Cover the Bottom

   Turn the pan upside down, and sprinkle baking soda all over the copper bottom. Pour vinegar over the bottom of the pan.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Scrub With a Lemon

   Use a half lemon as a “scrub brush” to scrub all over the bottom of the pan. Scrub up along the sides, too, as needed.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Rinse and Dry

   Rinse the pan thoroughly, and then dry it with a cloth.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Nonstick Frying Pans

Nonstick frying pans can benefit from a mixture of baking soda and water to remove lingering food smells and flavors. Baking soda also works as a mild abrasive to help clean stubborn stains and scorched oil.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida  

1. Create a Paste

   Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of water. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the water to create a thin paste.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

2. Rest, Rinse, and Wash

   Let the pan sit for several hours, and then rinse and wash the pan.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Remove Stubborn Stains

   Remove stubborn stains on nonstick pans by boiling a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1/2 cup water in the pan. Let the pan cool. Then rinse, and scrub the stain with straight baking soda and a nonstick-safe nylon scrubbing brush.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Roasting Pans

Clean any roasting pan with stuck-on food using baking soda, water, and vinegar.

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

1. Sprinkle the Surface

   Sprinkle the surface generously with baking soda.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

2. Create Fizz

   Combine 1 cup of hot water and 1/3 cup of vinegar, and pour the solution into the pan. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz for a moment.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Soak and Scrape

   Let the pan soak for a few hours. Then, scrape the surface with a spatula or other suitable scraper, and continue to soak.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

4. Wash and Rinse

   Wash the pan with straight baking soda and a scrubbing brush, and then rinse.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Burned Pans

Anyone who has ever burned a pan knows how hard it is to clean off scorch marks. Next time this happens, cook off the burn with baking soda and water.

1. Make a Paste

   Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, and add water to make a thin pasty solution.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Heat the Pan

   Heat the pan on the stove until it comes to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. (You don’t want to burn it again!)

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

3. Wait and Wipe

   Wait for the solution to cool, and wipe or scrub the pot to remove the burned-on food.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

How to Clean Cookie Sheets

It doesn’t take long for new cookie sheets to start looking old with brown stains that don’t come off no matter how hard you scrub. Return your cookie sheets to gleaming perfection with a thick paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

1. Mix Baking Soda With Hydrogen Peroxide

   Mix baking soda with a small amount of ordinary household hydrogen peroxide to create a thick paste.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

2. Apply Paste

   Apply the paste all over the stained area of the cookie sheet.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

3. Wait

   Wait two hours.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

4. Rub Off the Paste With a Cloth or Sponge

   No heavy scrubbing is necessary. If any stain remains, rub it with your fingers; it should come right off.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

5. Flip and Repeat

   Flip the cookie sheet over, and repeat the process on the bottom side. 

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

6. Wash and Dry

   Wash and dry the cookie sheet as usual.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

Tips to Keep Your Pots and Pans Clean Longer

• You should always allow pots and pans to cool before washing them; particularly hot stainless steel cookware can warp if submerged or splashed with cold water.
• Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads, oven cleaners, bleach, or strong abrasive cleaners—all of these can scratch your cookware.
• Thoroughly dry your pans immediately after cleaning them to prevent water spots and white dried calcium spots from developing.

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How to properly clean a burnt pan Tips for non-stick, steel and cast iron cookware

How to clean a Teflon coating

Inexplicably, but true: food also burns on a non-stick surface. This happens when the coating deteriorates – as a result of improper care or a long service life.

Fortunately, this type of contamination is usually easy to clean: just pour hot water with a couple of drops of detergent, leave for 1-2 hours, and the adhering food will move away from the Teflon. Do this right after you’ve finished cooking: fresh soot is much easier to clean.

If the problem is long-standing, try boiling water with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in a pan. Let it boil a little, turn off the heat and leave to cool completely. Then wash with a soft sponge and dish soap.

How to clean a ceramic frying pan

Ceramic is a more resistant, but also more capricious material. Using such a pan correctly is a real art, so many housewives are faced with the fact that food burns during the cooking process.

Fresh dirt from a hot pan can be easily cleaned with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil. If it does not help, soak for 1-2 hours in hot water and wash with a sponge.

Important

Ceramics must not be cleaned with abrasives such as metal brushes or powders: the coating will deteriorate and the food will burn. Choose the right products – soft sponges and liquid gels, sprays, foams.

Grease is removed from cold dishes with alcohol, and strong soot will dissolve citric acid or vinegar – add a little to water, boil, cool and rinse.

What to do with aluminum cookware

Aluminum frying pans, well-known to many, are perhaps the most likely to burn. In addition, they cannot be washed in the dishwasher, so each time you have to rub them manually. To make cleaning them easier in the future, remember these two simple recipes:

1. Fill the pan with water about half way.

2. Add one tablespoon of baking soda and glue per litre.

3. Boil for about 30 minutes.

4. Let cool and wash off dirt under running water.

• Citric acid

1. Pour in 2/3 of the volume of water.

2. Add about 10-15 grams of powder.

3. Bring to a boil, turn off the stove and leave to cool completely.

Table vinegar will clean the surface just as effectively.

How to remove carbon deposits from steel

If you use a steel pan correctly, food does not burn on it: it is not for nothing that such dishes are most often found in professional kitchens. However, you need to get used to its features: any mistake will cost you a long time standing at the sink with a sponge in your hand.

Soaking will save you from small soot, and special products will best clean the old one: you can use anti-grease or any cleaning products for stoves and ovens.

In general, a steel pan can be cleaned by all possible methods: alkalis, acids and even abrasives.

Important

Do not use melamine sponges to clean dishes from the inside – during the process of rubbing, they break up into tiny particles that can get into food and lead to poisoning.

Cast iron skillet maintenance tips

If your food sticks to the cast iron, you may not have treated the skillet immediately after purchase. To do everything right, calcine it well in the oven and then brush it with vegetable oil.

By the way, a high temperature can also help clean cast iron cookware from any dirt: if the oven has a pyrolytic self-cleaning function, put the pan inside and turn on the heat. All organic compounds will simply burn.

If there is no function, boiling with soda will help clean the soot: sprinkle the bottom, fill with water, bring to a boil and hold on low heat for 10-15 minutes.

Important

Don’t forget to oil the bottom and sides again so that the food doesn’t burn later.

What can be done?

Tidy up all household pans – they can be cleaned from the inside by any of the above methods, and any grease remover paired with a soft metal sponge will perfectly cope with dirt on the outside.

Read our articles about what you can cook in a pan:

• 10 cakes and pies in a pan: quick baking for any occasion

• How and what to cook in an Asian wok pan: tips for choosing and how to use it

How to clean a burnt pot or pan with baking soda – ZMIIV

Blackened, crusted, burnt food on the bottom of the pan. It can happen to anyone, even professional chefs. Judging by the look of the mess, you may have lost hope of trying to clean it up, but a badly burned pot can be salvaged with some baking soda and a few cubits.

Remove badly burnt food from the pan

Eggs, sauce or other foods burn in just a second. Any distraction or timing discrepancy and you could turn on the smoke detector and stare at a burnt pot that doesn’t seem to be salvageable.

While the food you’ve been cooking is spoiled (maybe it’s time to take it out?), your stainless steel pot isn’t, even if it’s oxidized, blackened, discolored, or covered in stubborn charred debris. Get out your baking soda and follow these steps to clean your burnt pan and put it back into use in your kitchen.

How to clean a burnt stainless steel or aluminum pan

There are several basic kitchen staples that can be used to clean a badly burnt stainless steel pan. You will need baking soda, water, and white vinegar, as well as a dishwashing sponge and a scraper, such as a wooden spatula. One method uses a fresh lemon cut in half.

Baking soda is ideal for cleaning burnt pots or pans because it has mild abrasive properties and its alkaline pH can help neutralize acid burnt foods. It can also be combined with an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice to create a sizzle reaction that helps loosen burnt food to remove it from the pan.

Deglaze Technique

You may have used the deglaze technique to separate flavored bits from the pan to make a sauce or gravy. In this method, you must first soften the burnt food, deglaze the pan, and then use baking soda to clean.

1. Remove as much burnt food and debris from the pot as possible.
2. Place the pot back on the stove and heat until a drop of water sizzles.
3. Add 1 cup water or a mixture of ½ water and ½ white vinegar to a hot skillet and bring to a boil. Use more if you have a large pot or pan.
4. When the liquid comes to a boil, use a spatula or scraper to remove the frosting from the bottom of the pot, removing burnt-on bits of food.
5. Pour the liquid down the sink and do not dry or wipe the drip pan.
6. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let cool.
7. Using a damp sponge or nylon brush, scrub the bottom of the pot vigorously.
8. Wash and dry as usual after removing all stains and burnt pieces.

Baking soda and water method

If you have a burnt pan with burnt food, you can use baking soda and water to help with this.

1. Remove as much food and debris as possible from the pot.
2. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Make enough to cover the burnt part of the pan. For a full bottom pot, try 1 cup baking soda and 1/3 cup water.
3. Spread the paste liberally on the burnt pan. It should be thick enough to cover it completely.
4. Alternatively, cover the bottom of the pot with a thin layer of warm water. Then add enough baking soda to make a paste.
5. Leave the mixture on for several hours or overnight, then add more baking soda and scrub with a nylon brush or sponge.
6. If you don’t want to wait, add another ¼-½ cup of water to thin the pasta, then put the pot on the stove and let it boil. Take it off the heat quickly – you don’t want it to burn again! Let the pan cool and wipe or scrape to remove burnt bits.

You can also use baking soda to wash your pots and pans regularly to prevent burnt spots or burnt food residue.

The Baking Soda and Vinegar Method

For a more thorough cleaning, add white vinegar to the baking soda and let the kitchen chemicals help break up the burnt food in the burnt pan.

1. Remove as much food and debris as possible from the pot.
2. Add enough white vinegar to cover the bottom of the pot with at least ½ inch liquid.
3. Boil the vinegar in a saucepan and let it simmer for a few minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of baking soda. You will get a strong reaction. It is best to do this in the sink.
5. Set the pan aside and wait until all hissing and bubbles have subsided.
6. Drain and scrub the pan with a nylon brush or sponge, adding more baking soda if necessary.
7. Rinse and dry.

Baking soda and lemon method

Lemons are a great way to clean and polish stainless steel or copper dishes. Combined with the power of baking soda, you can remove black, yellow, or iridescent oxidation stains and repair a burnt pan. This is easy if you follow these steps:

1. Remove as much food and debris as possible from the pot.
2. Keep a thin layer of water in the pot, then generously sprinkle the bottom with baking soda.
3. Cut a lemon in half and use the pulp to rub the baking soda gruel into the pan. The combination of acidic lemon juice and alkaline baking soda can sizzle slightly. This is a good thing!
4. If your pot has a copper bottom that is blackened or dull, turn the pot upside down and use this method to remove stains and restore shine.

Removing burnt food and stains from non-stick or ceramic pans

Non-stick pans can retain stains, taste and smell, especially burnt oil. But you can’t use metal tools or cleaning pads without risking damaging their non-stick surface. Fortunately, you can neutralize and clean a non-stick pan or ceramic cookware with baking soda, water, and a nylon brush or non-scratch sponge.

• Remove as much food and debris as possible from the pot.
• Method 1: Pour a thin layer of warm water into the bottom of a saucepan, then sprinkle baking soda into the saucepan to make a paste. Leave the mixture on for several hours or overnight, then scrub with warm water and a non-stick sponge or nylon brush.
• Method 2: Bring a solution of ½ cup water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda to a boil. Remove from heat and let the saucepan rest until it cools down. Add more baking soda and scrub with a non-stick sponge or nylon brush.

How to clean burnt food from a cast iron skillet

If you set fire to food in a cast iron skillet or broiler, keep water, soap, and acidic substances such as vinegar or lemon juice away from the skillet as they can cause rust and destroy the seasoning in the skillet. Baking soda, however, is still your friend when it comes to cleaning burnt-on food from a cast-iron skillet.

Most of the time you can clean a cast iron skillet with hot water and a brush, but sometimes you end up with a burnt mess or need to clean the skillet thoroughly. After using this cast iron-safe method of removing burnt-on food, oil the pan to re-season it and restore its non-stick surface.

1. Remove as much food and debris as possible from the pot.
2. Sprinkle the bottom of the pot with baking soda. Then add 2-3 tablespoons of water until the mixture is moist but not runny. You want the consistency of sandy paste.
3. Clean the pan with a stiff bristled brush or sponge. Don’t add soap. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps remove stubborn burnt-on foods, and the alkalinity helps neutralize odors or flavors that might be cooked in a pan.
4. Rinse and repeat if necessary to remove burnt food residue. The more you rub, the more good seasoning you’ll remove, so don’t overdo it.