How to Clean a Burnt Pan: Our Proven Methods
By Marilee Nelson |
Burnt pans are no fun, especially if you’ve invested in high-quality, low-tox cookware.
But don’t give up on that pan just yet!
Here are five proven ways to clean and restore burnt pans completely naturally and with minimal effort.
Deglaze Then Scour With Natural Cleaner
Deglazing is the first line of defense against burnt pots and pans.
To deglaze, simply heat the pan, pour in some water, bring to a simmer, and use a wooden spoon or stiff spatula to scrape off the burnt bits.
If this isn’t enough, drain the water with burnt bits after scraping. Then sprinkle about half a scoop of Branch Basics Oxygen Boost or baking soda. Add a little water to form a paste and scour clean.
If this isn’t enough, move on to these other methods.
Related reading: How To Clean Stainless Steel Pots And Pans Naturally
Branch Basics Oxygen Boost + All-Purpose
Branch Basics Oxygen Boost, a human-safe, mineral-based, and biodegradable powder, is one of our favorite natural scouring agents and bleach alternatives.
It’s also fantastic for cleaning and restoring burnt pots and pans.
Here’s how to use it.
What you’ll need:
- Branch Basics Oxygen Boost
- Branch Basics All-Purpose solution
- Water
How to:
- Spray pan with Branch Basics All-Purpose.
- Sprinkle half a scoop of Oxygen Boost on the bottom of the pot or pan.
- Cover with warm water and let soak for at least 15 minutes or overnight.
- Scrub clean—it’s that easy!
Learn more about Oxygen Boost in: The Power of Sodium Percarbonate for Cleaning.
Boiled Lemons
Lemons are one of our favorite all-natural cleaning, stain removing, grease-busting, bleaching, and deodorizing agents.
They also work magic on burnt pots and pans.
Materials needed:
- Whole lemons
- Water
How to:
- Slice 2-3 lemons into quarters and place in the burnt pot or pan. You can also use leftover lemon slices, halves, etc.
- Fill with a few inches of water and bring to a boil.
- Boil for 5-10 minutes or until you see parts of burnt food floating around.
- Turn off heat, and carefully discard water and lemons.
- Rinse the pot in cool water and scrub off the remaining bits with a scouring pad or sponge.
It may sound too simple, but this really works!
Aluminum Foil + Baking Soda
Although we do not recommend using aluminum foil directly on food, it’s an excellent tool for saving burnt pots and pans when combined with baking soda.
Materials needed:
- Enough aluminum foil to crumple into a scouring ball
- 2-3 tablespoons baking soda
- Water
How to:
- Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda directly into your burnt pot or pan.
- Add a little water to form a paste.
- Scour the pan using the aluminum foil to move the paste around until the pot comes clean.
- Wash, rinse, and you’re done.
Get more tips on using baking soda for natural cleaning in: Cleaning with Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda): 12 Surprising Uses.
Baking Soda + Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar are legendary in the natural DIY cleaning space because of their cleaning, mild sanitizing, degreasing, deodorizing, stain-removing, and natural bleaching properties (among other attributes).
When combined, they are also a powerful force to clean burnt pots and pans with minimal effort.
Materials needed:
- Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Baking soda
- Water
How to:
- Combine about 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar in your burnt pot or pan and bring to a boil.
- Turn off the heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the hot liquid and swish around for a minute.
- After a minute, discard the liquid and scour the pot or pan with dish soap and a scouring pad.
- If there are still burnt pieces stuck on, make a paste of baking soda and water and let sit for a few minutes, then scour again using the paste plus dish soap until it comes clean.
Learn more about how to use natural vinegar for cleaning in: Apple Cider Vinegar Versus White Vinegar: Which Is Best For Cleaning?
Toss the Toxins With Branch Basics
Natural cleaners often get a reputation for being less effective than harsh synthetic versions.
However, as you can see from these proven methods for saving burnt pots and pans (often seen as unsalvageable), the opposite is more often true.
Looking for more ways to clean your home naturally?
Branch Basics was designed to simplify natural, low-tox cleaning for busy people and families.
Our human-safe, earth-friendly, Made-Safe Certified, Leaping Bunny Certified, plant- and mineral-based cleaning system uses Branch Basics Concentrate plus water and Oxygen Boost to replace every cleaner & laundry product (All-Purpose, Bathroom, Streak-Free, Laundry, and Foaming Wash) in your home.
To learn more, see: How To Get Started With Your Branch Basics Kit.
Want to test out our top-rated human-safe cleaning system?
Check out Branch Basics Premium Starter Kits in refillable plastic or glass, or give us a trial run with Branch Trial Kit for just $5.00.
For more kitchen-specific natural cleaning tips, see:
Marilee Nelson
Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.
