It has happened to all of us. No matter how skilled you are in the kitchen or especially if you are still a beginner, we’ve all had our share of burnt vessels that we didn’t know how to clean without scratching or damaging the surface.
One thing you probably didn’t know was that you shouldn’t rely solely on the cleaning products to do the job. With a few ingredients that you most probably already have in the kitchen, the stains from your cookware are yesterday’s nightmare, we promise.
Keep reading and find out what are the easiest ways to clean the stubborn and nasty stains that burnt foods leave behind!
1. Wine
You must have a bottle of good ol’ wine in your house, if you are a wine lover. Pour some of it on a burnt pan, let it rest for a couple of minutes and you will see how easily the stains will be removed once you wash it. Not willing to sacrifice a bottle of wine for saving your precious vessels? Read on…
2. Carbonated beverages
The black juice you frequently enjoy albeit as a guilty pleasure can do wonders when it comes to clean dirty stains, not only to quench your thirst.
Pour the juice in the pan and place the vessel on low heat. As soon as the bubbles stop popping, take the pan away from the heat, scrub it with a plastic brush and dish soap, and you will see how quickly the burnt patches are melting away. Try this trick especially if the vessel is made from aluminum.
3. Salt and baking soda
Salt works effectively as a cleaning agent. All you have to do is sprinkle it on the scrub pad and rub the pan with the usual dish soap you use.
The salt’s cousin – baking soda – is also great at removing burnt stains from your kitchen utensils. Mix baking soda with water until you make a paste. Soak the utensil in it for about 15-20 minutes. Wash it regularly afterwards.
4. Vinegar
Take the burnt vessel, fill it with water and pour 1 cup of vinegar in it. Let the mixture sit overnight. In the next day, clean the vessel as you usually do, with dish soap and water.
5. Onions
Again, fill the dirty vessel with plenty of water. Drop 6 onion skins in the water and heat the vessel on a high flame. Boil the water for 20-30 minutes. Remove it from the stove and clean it with your regular dish soap. You will cry of joy when you will see the sparkling result!
6. Cream of tartar
Pour a cup of water in the burnt vessel and add two tablespoons of cream of tartar in it. Boil the mixture on a medium flame. Remove the vessel from the heat and clean it with normal soap. The stains will disappear much easily.
7. Tomato Sauce
If you have a stainless steel vessel that is burnt, there is a simple way to make it shine again. Put a thick layer of tomato sauce on the stains and let it sit overnight. The acid in the tomatoes will eat away the burnt stains. Next day, clean the vessel as usual. The dirt should melt right away.
8. Lemon juice
Lemon juice is a savior when it comes to getting rid of the stubborn stains and grease from the dirty dishes, especially if it is a non-stick pan. Apply the lemon juice on the dirty stains and leave it to act for a few minutes. The acid will make the stains very easy to remove.
9. Fabric softener
I bet you didn’t see it coming, but yes, fabric softener can help you get rid of the stubborn burnt patches. Just pour it over the burnt area of the pan, leave it to act for a few hours or overnight, if it’s easier that way. Afterwards, wash the pan with dish soap and warm water. The burnt stains will melt away with very little effort from your part.
10. Hydrogen peroxide
This is almost Breaking Bad territory. Add 1/2 inch of hydrogen peroxide in the pot and heat it until it starts to bubble up. Let the pot simmer for about 10 minutes, then brush it with a scrub brush. Repeat as many times necessary.
You may like cooking, but washing dishes is one tedious task for every human, especially if you have to deal with stubborn grease and burnt marks. It seems like a never-ending duty, but with the simple solutions above, you will finish this chore sooner than expected. Try them all and tell us what worked best!
