Clean Burnt Pots And Pans With Ease Using Two Unexpected Ingredients

It's easy to do — you turn up the heat too high or walk away for a few minutes, and then you come back and your pan is scorched. It might look like it will be impossible to get clean. But don't worry; your pan is not ruined. You can use Bar Keepers Friend Institutional Cookware Cleanser and other commercial cleaners to lift burned-on stains and grease. However, there are two ingredients that work just as well for less money, and you probably already have them at home: limes and salt.

This simple salt hack for cleaning your pans is an eco-friendly way to get them looking brand new again. All it takes is minimal scrubbing to clean them, as the acidity of the lime juice will loosen burned-on food, making it a breeze to wipe off. The only caveat is you shouldn't use the following method to clean non-stick cookware as it can damage the coating. If you have copper or stainless steel cookware, however, you are good to go.

First, sprinkle a generous amount of course salt in the bottom of the pan. Make sure you use sea salt rather than table salt. Once you've added the salt, squeeze some lime juice from several limes into the pan. If you don't have any limes, you can substitute lemons. They work just as well since they are also acidic. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes. After the pan has soaked for a while, discard the salt and lime juice.

Take a damp abrasive sponge and work the salt and lime mixture into the burnt spots. The pan should easily come clean. But if the food is really cooked onto your pan, you may need to repeat this method. You can add a few drops of dish soap to your pan the second time around. This will help get any remaining stubborn food particles out. This salt and lime cleaning hack can also be used to remove pesky stains from your bakeware.

If your pot doesn't come completely clean with the lime and salt mixture, you can try this. Add a few drops of dish detergent along with coarse salt to the pan, and fill it with water. Put the pan on the stove, and allow the mixture to boil for five to seven minutes. Turn down the burner and simmer for 10 more minutes. The heat should loosen the burnt food so that it comes right off. Let the pan cool and then wash it with dish soap and warm water. Use a scrub sponge to wipe away any remaining food debris.

To keep food from burning on your pots and pans next time, use a non-stick cooking spray. Heat your pan before putting food in it. Avoid cooking on high heat and try to stick to medium heat if possible. Stir the food often to keep it from sticking to the pan. Finally, after you are done cooking and have removed your food, immediately wipe out the pan with a paper towel. You should do this while the pan is still warm, but not hot.