Cooking is a reasonably enjoyable activity. Eating is even more fun. Dishes, however, are a completely different story. Does anyone enjoy washing dishes? Of course not — especially when your cooking goes a little awry and you're left with gunk burned onto the bottom of your best pot.
Before you get too frustrated, remember that you can clean anything with the proper tools. In the case of burned pots, those tools take the form of common household ingredients. So instead of putting yourself at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome from trying to scrub your pots with regular soap and water, check out these alternatives.
1. Hydrogen peroxide and baking sodaBaking soda cleans just about anything, and burned pots are no exception. Pour in enough peroxide to cover the affected areas, and then sprinkle in the baking soda. Swirl the ingredients a little to make sure they mix together and then walk away for a few hours. When you return, you should be able to wipe everything out and have a clean pot again.
2. VinegarVinegar is a solution to so many cleaning issues, so it's no surprise that boiling a cup of water and a cup of vinegar together can help you get rid of burned remains in your pots. After you've boiled the liquid mixture, sprinkle in a little baking soda, pour everything out, and then use a scouring pad to remove anything that's left.
3. Dish soap and dryer sheetYou might think that dryer sheets are only for the laundry room, but you're wrong. Pour some water and dish soap into the burned pot and add a dryer sheet. Leave everything to soak for at least an hour. When you come back, dump out the water and use the dryer sheet to wipe away any residue.
4. Cream of tartarGiven that
cream of tartar is used in baking, it could have had a role in burning your pot in the first place. The acidic content of this kitchen aid can redeem itself, however, by helping you remove that gunk. Just make a paste by combining cream of tartar and vinegar, and use a cloth to scrub the mixture over the burned areas of the pot.
5. KetchupYou probably thought ketchup was just for eating, right? You also can use it to help clean your burned pots. Just pour a thick layer of ketchup over the mess and leave it alone overnight. When you get up the next morning, rinse away the ketchup and the gunk.
6. CokeCoke is surprisingly effective for cleaning (though you shouldn't try cleaning your teeth with it). If you've tried everything else and your pots still aren't clean, pour in a can of Coke, turn on your stove, and let it sizzle for a while. You might have to do a little bit of scrubbing, but for the most part, the Coke will do all the work to get rid of the burned patches.
7. SaltAdding a few tablespoons of salt to a pot of water is another quick way to clean any residue left from your last meal. Just boil the saltwater for a few minutes, then pour out all but about half an inch of the water. Add a few more tablespoons of salt, and use a sponge to scrub the areas of the pot that still look burned. After you're finished scrubbing, rinse out the pot. It should look as good as new.
8. LemonsIf you need to clean up a pot that not only looks burned but is also carrying a lingering odor, lemons are your best bet. Cut a lemon into enough chunks or slices to cover the entire bottom of your pot, pour in enough water to cover the bottom, and bring the whole thing to a rolling boil. Once you see burned specks floating around with the lemons, turn off the heat and let the water cool. Dump everything out, and wipe out the bottom of the pan. If there are still a few burned places, you should be able to remove those easily with a quick scrub.
Burned pots look terrible and can affect the taste of everything you cook in them. Instead of wasting energy trying to scrub away the burned patches with water and a sponge, try these alternatives. And don't forget to share this list with your friends on Facebook so they can try out some of the ideas, too!
