Burning food in the pan or skillet seems to be my speciality these days. Thankfully I now have these tips to help me make good the burnt in food and charcoaled residue that I once called lunch
General advice on burnt on food
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet/frying pan, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil. Your stove-top-skillet will be much easier to clean now.
Or clean burned food from pots or pans, wet the burn, sprinkle with salt and leave for 10 minutes. Scrub well
Or cover the burned area with a paste of bicarbonate of soda (Baking soda) and water. Leave it on overnight, then scour. (Be aware, however, that bicarb and other alkaline substances will etch the surface of an aluminum pan if they are left on for more than an hour.)
Enamel Pans
Enamel pots, pans and baking trays can get a build up of grease. An easy way to remove this is to, cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of powdered detergent. Put a wet towel over the top and leave for a few hours. This should loosen the baked on baked on grease enough to wash with ease
To remove burnt food from enamel cookware cover the bottom of the pot with water and add 4 or 5 table- spoons of salt. Leave it to soak overnight and then bring the mixture to a boil. The pan should then be easy to clean.
Non-Stick Pots And Pans
To remove stains on non-stick finishes, mix two tablespoons baking powder, One and a half cups chlorine bleach and a cup of water. Put the Mixture in the stained pot and let it boil for about 10 minutes. Wash with soap and water, dry, then rub a little vegetable oil on the surface. Don't allow the mixture to boil over or it might leave spots on the exterior finish of the pot.
Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron pans can be a pain at the best of times. If you have to resort t commercial cleaners only use them on the outside of the pan and really rinse the whole thing well afterwards
Try to avoid continually washing the pan with soap and water, try sprinkling with salt and wiping clean. This will keep the food from sticking when frying. The item then needs only to be washed every other use. A light coating of cooking oil will prevent rust
Pancakes won't stick if you rub the griddle with salt first.
Cleaning copper pots and pans
A little salt and vinegar will clean copper bottoms on pots and pans. Just sprinkle on, rub lightly and wash as usual. Or, rub with a wedge of lemon dipped in salt. Wipe off with a wet cloth, dry and apply lemon oil or wax
Tomato ketchup will also clean copper pots..
Rusty Baking Dishes
Rust can be easily removed from your metal cookware by scouring them with a slice of raw potato and detergent.
The following was sent in by Sandeds
To clean food burnt on to pots and pans I use dryer sheets. I run HOT water in the pot or pan and throw in a dryer sheet while water is running. Then I just wipe off the burnt food. I've only had to use 'elbow grease' with it once when I didn't do it right away. I swear by it.
