Pans are an indispensable tool in the kitchen with which you can easily cook pasta, vegetables and even meat. Using them correctly, they can last for years or even decades. Removing burnt and encrusted food is a very important part of maintaining a pot, so it's good to know how to soak it, deglaze it, and treat it with vinegar and baking soda to keep it in good condition.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Soak the Pot
Step 1. Fill the pot with hot water
Be sure to completely submerge any burnt food residue. If possible, cool the pot and fill it with water immediately after the scale has formed, it will come off more easily.
Step 2. Add a few drops of dish soap
If the pot is small, 2-3 drops will be enough, otherwise it is better to use 4 or 5. Once you have added the detergent, mix the water with a dish brush so as to distribute it evenly and make sure that the foam.
Step 3. Let the soapy water sit in the pot for at least an hour
The longer the food has to absorb the water and detergent, the easier it will be to remove it from the bottom of the pot.
Step 4. Scrape off the encrusted food with the rough side of a dish sponge
After leaving the soapy water in the pot, try scraping off the burnt food with the abrasive side of a regular dish sponge. If you want, you can empty the pot, but it is not necessary. If there are still some burnt food residues at the end, refill the pot with water and try to remove them again later.
Method 2 of 3: Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Step 1. Pour the water into the pot, just enough to cover the burnt food encrustations
Unlike the previous method which involves the use of simple soapy water, in this case you will have to prepare a more concentrated solution to be applied exclusively on the parts where the pot is dirty.
Step 2. Add 250ml of vinegar
Thanks to its intense acidity, vinegar is a perfect fluid for removing burnt food from pots. Add a cup to the water in the pot, then mix with a dish brush to make a smooth cleaning solution.
Step 3. Bring the water and vinegar mixture to a boil
Place the pot on the stove and heat the cleaning solution over medium-high heat. Do not cover the pot and wait for the liquid to boil; at that point the burnt food should begin to detach from the metal. Turn off the stove and move the pot to a cold surface.
Step 4. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and let it sit for 30 minutes
When combined with boiling vinegar, the baking soda turns into a powerful cleanser. Pour about 30g (two tablespoons) into the water-vinegar mixture, applying it directly to the spots where burnt food residues are. Let it sit for half an hour, allowing the pot to cool down while the baking soda erodes the encrustations. Remember to be careful because mixing the vinegar with the baking soda will cause a powerful effervescent reaction.
To keep the liquid from overflowing from the pot, remove about half to three-quarters of the water-vinegar mixture before adding the baking soda
Step 5. Clean the pot with the rough side of a dish sponge
When 30 minutes have passed, scrub the encrustations with the abrasive side of a common dish sponge. If some bits of burnt food don't come off, try sprinkling them with more baking soda and scrubbing again. If necessary, refill the pot with water and vinegar and start over.
Method 3 of 3: Deglass the Food Residues in the Pot
Step 1. Place the empty pot on the stove
If it is an enamel or steel pan and the other methods have not worked, your best bet is to try deglazing the food residues to dissolve and soften them. Put the pot on the stove without adding water, detergent or any other substance.
Step 2. Heat the pot over high heat
Use intense heat like when you want to boil water. You can tell if the pot is hot enough by pouring a drop of water into it. If it evaporates as soon as it touches the metal, it means you can move on.
Step 3. Pour 250ml warm water into the pot
Try to direct it directly onto the burnt food encrustations. The goal is to soften them to be able to remove them easily. Stay away from the pot while pouring the water and immediately retract your arm to avoid burning yourself with the steam and any splashes.
Step 4. Remove the pot from the heat if necessary
It is certainly easier to remove food encrustations while the metal is hot, but in some cases it can be dangerous, especially if it is a pot with high sides. To avoid burns, wear protective gloves and use a long-handled spatula. If the idea of cleaning the pot while it's hot scares you, turn off the heat, move it elsewhere, and let it cool down a bit before scrubbing.
Step 5. Remove the burnt food using a long handled spatula or similar utensil
Push the spatula against the sides or bottom of the pot, where the encrustations are, to scrape off the burnt food. Add more water if necessary. If you have chosen to clean the pot with the fire on, be very cautious and take all necessary precautions.
