It's not uncommon to accidentally burn the bottom of your pots and pans.
I've personally seen countless pans with burnt bottoms in my life. It's easy to dirty and burn the bottom of your pan, and not quite as easy to clean it.
Luckily, there are a few simple tricks I've learned over the years that make cleaning burnt pan bottoms much easier!
Read along to see the best ways to clean the bottom of your burnt pots and pans.
How to Clean the Outside Bottom of Pots and Pans
Cast Iron Pan
Cast iron pans are a great addition to any kitchen, but they can be difficult to clean if the bottom gets burnt. Here are three methods for cleaning the outside bottom of cast iron pots and pans:
Method One: Cleaning with Salt
If your cast iron pan has a light burnt residue, you can easily clean it with salt. Make sure your pan is cool to the touch before starting. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the burnt area and use a stiff brush or scrubbing pad to scrub until the residue is gone. Rinse well with hot water and dry thoroughly.
Method Two: Cleaning with Bar Keeper's Friend
Bar Keeper's Friend is a powdered cleaner that can be used to remove burnt residue from pots and pans. Make a paste of the cleaner and water and apply it to the burnt area. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with a brush or sponge. Rinse well with hot water and dry thoroughly.
Method Three: Cleaning with Vinegar
White vinegar is a natural cleaner that can be used to remove burnt residue from pots and pans. Pour white vinegar over the burnt area and let it soak for a few minutes. Use a stiff brush or sponge to scrub until the residue is gone.
Rinse well with hot water and dry thoroughly. Whichever method you choose, make sure your cast iron pan is completely dry before storing it away!
Non-stick Pans
Non-stick pans can be a real lifesaver when it comes to cooking, but they can also be a pain to clean. The outside bottom of the pan is usually the most difficult part to clean, especially if it's burnt. Here are some tips on how to clean non-stick pan bottoms.
Method One: Baking Soda
Try using baking soda mixed with dishwasher soap. The baking soda help loosen any burnt bits or residue that may be stuck on the bottom of your pan.
Method Two: Scrubbing
If that doesn't work, you can try using a nonabrasive scrubber sponge or pad (like a green Scotch Brite pad) to gently scrub at the bottom of the pan until all the dirt and grime is gone.
Finally, if there is still some burnt residue left on the bottom of your pan, you can try using a little bit of vegetable oil to help loosen it up. Just make sure to wipe the pan clean with a paper towel afterward so that no oily residue is left behind.
Aluminum Pans
If you burn the bottom of your aluminum pan, there's a simple way to clean it using lemon & salt.
First, cut a lemon in half and sprinkle some salt on the exposed flesh. Then, rub the lemon all over the burnt bottom of the pan. The acidity of the lemon will help to break down any burnt residue, while the salt will help to scrub it away.
Rinse off your pan with hot water when you're finished and it'll be as good as new!
Stainless Steel Pan Bottom
Stainless steel pans are popular for a reason, but they're also notoriously hard to clean at times.
There are a few different ways that you can clean the bottom of stainless steel pans. The best way to do it depends on what is burnt onto the bottom of the pan and how much elbow grease you want to use.
Method One: Baking Soda
The first method is to clean stainless steel pan bottoms with baking soda. Simply sprinkle some baking soda over the burnt area and add enough water to make a paste.
Let the baking soda paste sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub it off with a brush or sponge.
Method Two: Bar Keeper's Friend
Another way to clean stainless steel pan bottoms is with Bar Keeper's Friend. This cleaner comes in powder or liquid form, and you just need to add water to create a paste.
Apply the paste to the burnt areas and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub the paste off with a sponge or brush, and then rinse clean to finish up.
Method Three: Cola
The third way is to clean stainless steel pan bottoms with Cola. Pour Coca-Cola over the burnt areas and let it sit for 30 minutes. You can sprinkle some baking soda on top of this as well if you want more scrubbing power.
Once everything has soaked in, remove the burnt bits from your pan by wiping them away with a damp cloth or sponge. Rinse out your pan thoroughly before using it again!
Copper Pans
First Method: Clean Copper Pan Bottoms with Lemon and White Vinegar
Lemon and white vinegar is an easy way to remove burnt food residue from the bottom of your stainless steel saucepans without scrubbing too hard on the pot itself. Doing so could damage it over time or cause you to injure yourself by accident.
Instead, simply pour some lemon mixed in white vinegar into your burnt-bottom saucepan, let sit overnight, then wipe clean in the morning.
Make sure to rinse your pan well afterwards with hot water to get all of the lemon/white vinegar off so it doesn’t corrode or discolor your copper pan over time .
Second Method: Clean Copper Pan Bottoms with Wright’s Copper Cleaner
If you have a tougher burnt-food residue mess on your hands, Wright’s Copper Cleaner will do the trick without any elbow grease necessary – and it comes in both liquid and powder form for those who are fans of one over the other.
Simply pour some onto a clean cloth, sponge, or rag then scrub away at your copper pot or pan bottom until all of the burnt food residue is gone. Rinse off any excess cleaner with hot water and you’re done!
How to Clean Burnt Grease from Bottom of Frying Pans
The grease burnt on the bottom of frying pans is one of the most difficult stains to clean. I’ve tried many different methods and found that these are some of the best methods for cleaning pans with stuck-on grease.
The first way you can try at home (especially if it isn't too bad) is to fill your pan with hot water. Then, add a few drops of dish soap or baking soda (or both) and let it soak for about an hour.
If this doesn't do anything, then there's always my favorite method, which is to use boiling water!
Fill up your pot half-way with hot water, and bring it to a boil over high heat until steam starts coming out through the top holes in your lid (be careful not to burn yourself!). Then, carefully boiling water over the burnt area of your pan. This will loosen up any burnt residue and make it easy to clean off with a sponge or scrubber.
You can also use this method if you have a stainless steel frying pan with burnt grease on it. Just be careful not to pour too much boiling water over the top of the pan, as it could cause damage or even worse, a kitchen fire!
After cleaning your pan using one of these methods, make sure to dry it off completely before storing so that no rust forms.
How do I get the black off the bottom of my pots and pans?
It's not a pretty sight to see burnt-on food caked onto the bottom of your pots and pans. Not only does it make cooking more difficult, but it can also be tough to clean off.
But with a few simple tricks, you can get your cookware back to its shining best in no time.
The first step is to determine what's causing the burn marks in the first place. Often, this happens when you cook something too hot or at too high a temperature.
If your pots and pans are stainless steel, it might also be due to you using cooking sprays or oils with a low smoke point.
Once you've identified the cause, there are two different methods you can use for removing burnt-on food from the bottom of your pots and pans.
How to Clean the Outside Bottom of a Burnt Pan: Method One
The easiest way to clean a burnt pan is with a good ol' scrubbing pad, like an SOS or Brillo pad. Simply wet the burnt area, add some soap if necessary (you can also use a degreaser like Dawn), and start scrubbing. The burnt-on food should come right off.
If the burnt marks are really bad or if they've caused discoloration to your pan, you might need to resort to Method Two.
Method Two
For stubborn stains or burn marks, you might need to use an abrasive cleaner. Just be sure to test it on your pan in a small amount, first, to make sure it doesn't damage the cooking surface.
You can use method one afterward to restore shine and luster. Avoid these common mistakes that lead to burnt-on food:
-Trying new recipes on a brand-new pan.
-Cooking with oils or cooking sprays that have a low smoke point.
-Leaving pots and pans on the stove top after cooking.
-Not cleaning up spills immediately.
Conclusion: How to Clean the Outside Bottom of a Pan
With burnt food in the bottom of a pan, you can clean it easily with baking soda and water. For stainless steel pots and pans, use baking soda or Bar Keeper's Friends to remove stubborn stains from outside bottoms.
Finally, don't forget to always clean the outside bottom of your burnt pot with dish soap and hot water after you've used it! Just make sure you've let it cool down first.
Enjoy using your pans to cook delicious meals once again!