How to clean a burnt pan – 5 steps to follow so it shines like new

A spoiled recipe isn’t the only problem when things go wrong in the kitchen. You can also be left with a burnt pan that looks as if it will never be usable again.

The situation often isn’t as bad as it looks, fortunately, and it is possible to clean a burnt pan so it shines like new. Act quickly and reach for the right kitchen cleaning aids and pristine cookware can be yours again.

These are the ways kitchen professionals save their stainless steel cookware when something’s burnt on, and the pantry staples and clever products they suggest you have ready for your pan rescue.

5 ways to make a burnt pan shine again

A burnt pan needn’t be ruined, but action is needed when a substance is burnt onto the base or sides of a pan.

Be careful not to cause damage when cleaning up as stainless steel pans can be compromised by some products. Instead, try these expert ways to get rid of the remains of what you were cooking and bring back the shine.

1. Start with dish soap

The easiest way to tackle burnt-on food and get your pan to shine again is to soak the deposits right away. Fill the pan with hot water and a little mild dish soap and leave it for around 15 minutes. After that cleaning with a sponge or nylon pad can be enough to lift the burnt material and restore the pan.

If the deposits are more stubborn, you can use a stainless steel wool scouring pad such as these Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbers from Amazon to lift them. If you do so, bear in mind that you might cause superficial scratches but so long as you use a stainless steel pad it won’t compromise a stainless steel pan’s corrosion resistance

2. Use baking soda

There are a whole lot of things you can clean with baking soda and a burnt pan is one of them.

‘To use baking soda on a burnt pan, start by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda over the burnt areas,’ advises Taylor Riley, co-owner of Impact Cleaning Professionals.

‘Add a small amount of water to form a paste. Spread the paste evenly over the burnt residue and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, allowing the baking soda to penetrate and soften the burnt material.

‘After the paste has had time to work, use a non-abrasive sponge or brush to gently scrub the pan, focusing on the areas with burnt stains. Rinse the pan thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining baking soda and residue, then dry with a clean cloth. This method will clean the pan without the risk of damaging its surface.’

3. Combine vinegar with baking soda

If you’re already a fan of cleaning with vinegar, then you might want to add this favorite to baking soda to return a burnt pan to its shiny best.

‘You’ll want to sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the burnt areas, then pour vinegar over it,’ says Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids. ‘Let it fizz for a bit, then clean with a sponge or scrub brush. The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar helps to break down the burnt residue, making it easier to scrub away.’

4. Try washing soda

Washing soda such as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda from Amazon is another budget way to deal with burnt deposits on stainless steel pans and get the shine back, and you might already have some handy if you’ve put it into your homemade dishwasher detergent.

Use it sprinkled onto a damp sponge, applying it to the burnt deposits. For more difficult burnt-on deposits, make a paste of two parts washing soda to one part water and leave for half an hour before rinsing.

5. Try a pro cleaner favorite

While pantry solutions work well, you might like to keep some Bar Keepers Friend, available from Amazon, handy to rescue burnt pans.

‘It’s a favorite product among professional cleaners,’ says Taylor Riley. ‘To use it, sprinkle a small amount of the powder onto the burnt areas of the pan, then add a bit of water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stained surfaces and gently scrub with a non-abrasive sponge or cloth, focusing on areas with stubborn residue. Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining cleaner and residue.

‘The effectiveness comes from its combination of oxalic acid and other cleaning agents, which work together to dissolve and lift away burnt-on stains and grime without scratching the pan’s surface. This formula is specifically designed to cut through tough stains and restore the pan to its original luster without causing damage.’

Cleaning cast iron rather than stainless steel needs a different approach so it does its job for many years to come. As for other metal surfaces in the kitchen, you can clean a stainless steel sink and clean stainless steel appliances so they shine again. And it’s possible to remove rust from stainless steel if you see it there, too.