Burned cookware can become a real disaster if you don’t know how to handle it. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens when you get distracted, forget that you are cooking and burn the dish you were making. And often the pan or pot can be so burnt, it looks like it can’t possibly be cleaned.
It is a shame to throw away cookware without even trying to remove the burnt food. There are many ways to do it, some of which involve harsh chemical-based products, others are non-toxic and safe. Without question, the second method is preferable. Here are some tips on how to “green-clean” your burnt cookware and make it look better than ever.
Soak And Sit
Sometimes we neglect the power of hot water and proceed with cleaning methods that involve a lot of scrubbing and bad-scented chemical detergents. We forget how powerful hot water actually is. An effective way to clean burnt pans and pots is to soak them in soapy hot water and let them sit for a few hours. The hot water will break through the tough burnt stains and loosen them so that you can scrape them more easily.
Simmer
Simmering and soaking burnt pans is another effective method to remove burnings from your cookware. Pour water in the burnt cookware, add a fair amount of dish liquid and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove the pan or pot from the hot plate and let it cool down while the hot water loosens the burnt stains. Use a wooden spatula to scrub.
You can do the same using salt or baking soda. Pour water, add a couple of tablespoons salt or baking soda, let it simmer and scrub with a wooden spatula.
Baking Soda And Aluminium Foil
Another green and non-toxic way to clean burnt cookware is using baking soda and aluminium foil. What you need is 1 tablespoon baking soda, ½ cup white vinegar and a piece of aluminium foil. Then put the vinegar and the foil in the pot or pan. Add the baking soda and swirl so that the vinegar can cover the whole surface. The solution will start bubbling and while this is happening, run the burnt stains very gently, making sure you don’t scratch the cookware. Rinse with warm water and dry. Now your cookware looks like brand new again.
Lime Juice And Salt
Another non-toxic way to remove burnt stains from cookware is using lime juice and salt. What you have to do is pour lime juice in the pan and let it sit for a few minutes. Then sprinkle with salt and scrub gently with a sponge. Avoid using a metal sponge, unless it’s really necessary. This method will not only clean your burnt cookware in an ecologically-friendly manner, it will also leave a lovely exotic scent in the kitchen.
Vinegar
Most of us are aware of the fact that vinegar is a powerful tool when it comes to cleaning in a green way. To remove burnings from pans and pots, use white vinegar and pour it in the burnt item. Place it on a hot plate and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Remove from the hot plate and let it cool down. Then scrub using a wooden spatula and rinse with water.
Enjoy!
Guest post by July Minor. July is a cleaning specialist who knows lots of green tips and tricks.
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