Can This Unexpected Kitchen Ingredient Be Used To Clean Up A Burnt Pan?

As if burning a meal isn't bad enough, you might be left with a burnt pan afterward. And not only does that gunk look unappealing, but it makes the pan unusable until you manage to get rid of it. People resort to all sorts of interesting clean-up methods, including one unexpected kitchen ingredient: onions. It may not be the most reliable way to clean a burnt pan, but it probably won't hurt to give it a try.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that this technique is a family remedy, not an expert-vetted cleaning method. TikToker @kamanabhaskaran shared her grandmother's onion hack, which involves cutting up an onion and boiling it in a burnt pan with white vinegar, peels included. She says the acidity in the onions and vinegar helps break down the burnt bits for easy scrubbing. While this may seem like an unusual way of using an onion, wiping down grills is another similar and popular way of cleaning with this common ingredient. Some people even use onions to get rid of scorch marks on clothing.

But onions aren't "strong enough ... to penetrate thick, burnt-on grease and residue," homesteader and recipe writer Lindsey Chastain told Homes & Gardens. Grandma's onion hack is likely made more effective by the white vinegar, which is far more acidic than onion and often used for cleaning burnt pans. If you're in the mood for an experiment and have an extra onion on hand, give the hack a try if you like. If you want more tried-and-true methods of cleaning burnt pans, read on.

Cleaning burnt pots and pans is easier than you may think. Hot water and dish soap are often enough to dislodge burnt food from the bottom of the pan. Try to get to it as soon as you can — before the burnt pieces have hardened into place but after the pan has cooled off. If you're too late for that, soak the pan before you try to scrub; the water will slowly penetrate and loosen the gunk.

If that doesn't quite do the trick, an acidic ingredient like white vinegar, lemons, or limes can help. Another option is a stronger store-bought product such as Bar Keeper's Friend or dish detergent. These cleaners are able to quickly cut through burnt gunk that no scrubbing seems to touch. Just add one or two detergent pods mixed with hot water to the burnt pan and scrub (or leave it to soak first to minimize scrubbing). To use Bar Keeper's Friend, wet the pan, sprinkle a bit of BKF, rub gently, and rinse. The brand also has a special cookware cleanser with extra detergents in the formula. Just wear gloves, and don't use it on nonstick or cast iron pans.