How to Clean a Burnt Pot Using Different Products
Burning your favorite pot after trying out a new recipe or getting distracted doesn’t have to mean goodbye. Here are practical and easy tips on how to get rid of that harsh stain.
It has all happened to us. You put a pot of rice on the stove on the highest heat and get distracted by the television, social media, the kids, or work. All of a sudden, your meal is gone, and your favorite pot or pan is destroyed.
Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you have to say goodbye to your pots. With the right kind of products and practical hacks, your beloved utensil can be almost as good as new!
A photo of someone trying to wash a burnt pot | Photo: Shutterstock
BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR
This is one of the easiest methods. After discarding the contents of the pot, add a cup of water and a cup of vinegar and allow to boil. After some minutes, turn off the heat and put two tablespoons of baking soda into the mixture.
Allow it to sit for a while before discarding the liquid and washing the pot with a scouring pad. If there are still chunks of burnt pieces, add more baking soda with a small amount of washing liquid and then wash again.
A mixture of baking soda and vinegar in a spoon over a pot. | Photo: Shutterstock
DISHWASHER TABLETS
Add little water into your burnt pot or pan and warm it up on low heat. After some seconds, remove from the heat and spread the dishwasher tablet all over the pot, focusing on the burnt parts. Once done, rinse with soapy water.
Some recommended washing products include the Lazy Lemon Juice, Finish Powerball Tablet, Wilko Original White Vinegar Spray. You can check for other cleaners in your local supermarket.
A photo of a dishwasher tablet. | Photo: Shutterstock
DRYER SHEETS METHOD
This method takes a long time but has been proven to be effective. Pour hot water into the affected pan alongside some drops of dish soap. Next, submerge a dryer sheet and allow the mixture to soak for more than an hour.
It can probably soak overnight. After the long soak, throw away the concoction and thoroughly wash the pot with a dishwasher detergent and a scouring pad. Wash until all the dryer sheet residues are removed.
A photo of a box of dryer sheets. | Photo: Shutterstock
BOILING LEMONS
This is another popular method. First, slice two to three lemons into quarters. Add the fruit into the pot and add some water. Allow the mixture to boil for about 10 minutes until you see food particles rise to the top.
Pour the mixture away and wash the pot with a scouring pad. It is believed that the citric acid in lemons is similar to the acetic acid in baking soda, which breaks down food stains. The only difference is that the lemons don’t produce a bad smell.
A pot of boiling lemons. | Photo: Shutterstock
ALUMINIUM FOIL
This hack only applies to non-stick pots and pans. Add a large amount of water with dish soap into the burnt pot and allow to soak for 30 minutes. Afterward, scrub the pot with the foil until all the residue is gone.