How to clean a BADLY scorched SS pot? (pics)
I was cooking apples today for apple butter and stepped away for 10 minutes.
Yep, you guessed it, I burned the batch. I could tell by the smell that it was bad before I even looked. After dumping out the mess, there was about 1/4 inch of black, burnt crust on the bottom of the pot (see pic). :-(
I did a little looking around and one website recommended a half-vinegar-half-water mixture poured into the pot and simmered for about 15 minutes. I did that, and along with chiseling with a metal spatula, I was able to get about 70% off.
In the sink, I pulled out my Barkeeper's Friend, SOS pads, Scotchbrite pads and went to work, but there is still a good amount of black on the bottom. Without invoking Arnold Schwartzenegger, is there an easier way to get my SS Cuisinart pot clean?
I was thinking of sticking my pot in a big plastic bag with a glass of ammonia (like I do with my oven racks) and letting it sit over night.
Did the same thing last week.
had a small amt of a product of a product made just for this problem.
put it in the pan overnight and scraped the burnt stuff off.
some one help, I can't remember the name on the bottle.
it was a blue spray bottle.
im no help. Lol
Yes the ammonia in a bag works or you could put some dish washing detergent (the kind for the dishwasher) in it with some water and let it soak probably over night, that should get rid of it too. Or you could just put some ammonia in the pan, put the lid on and allow that to soak over night. I use the ammonia in a bag for those electric stove burner pans and it always gets them clean. I may still use an SOS pad for the really black stuff after the night in ammonia.
You don't need to work so hard or use anything noxious! Trailrunner recommends this--her husband says it's science. It works like a charm for me. All you need is a box of baking soda, paper towels or rags, and a tea kettle. And a little patience.
After you've removed the loose bits, sprinkle heavily with baking soda so that all the char is covered. Lay paper towels (or rags without holes) over it and pour on just enough boiling water to dampen well so that all the towels are wet, but not pooling water. Leave overnight, or all day. Use the towels to wipe up the loosened char and rinse. If there's any char, or even lots of black spots remaining, repeat. If the burnt on part is really bad and thick it could take three or four applications, each time removing a layer. When there are only a few dots, you can do it again, or just give it a good scrub.
Because it's just baking soda, you should be able to do this on any kind of pot, oven, etc., that can get wet.
A good soak and the baking soda will work, as will the gentle heating approach. However, as a last resort, people do recommend oven cleaner. I've never had to resort to this, however. The BarKeeper's Friend is for the last stage, after the char is off. (Dawn Power Dissolver also works if you have baked on oil).
Add enough hydrogen peroxide to the pot to cover the scorched stuff plus some extra...a depth of 1/4" or less. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and watch the hydrogen peroxide start to lift the scorched mess off the pot. Works for sugar based messes. It works like magic.
I wonder if you could put the pot in the oven and run the clean cycle. I have never done it but technically it should work, right?
Wouldn't it just burn the dirt on even more? I put dishwasher liquid on and leave to soak. Works a treat.
Straight citric acid (crystals) always works well for me on my stainless steel - granted, I haven't dealt w/ a burn/scorch that severe in a long time. I buy it in bulk @ our local natural foods store - sometimes it's known as 'sour salt' & used for pickling, I think.
I usually just sprinkle it on & use as like a scouring powder, using a sponge w/ a scrubby on 1 side, but if it's worse, I sprinkle it on & add hot or boiling water & either simmer it or let it soak for awhile first. It's also great @ dissolving lime deposits - I make a strong solution & apply it w/ a sponge.
I think citric acid is what's in Barkeeper's Friend...
We (my husband and I) managed to get about 95% of it off last night with sheer muscle, SOS pads, and Barkeeper's Friend. I am going to pour a little ammonia in the bottom of the pan and let it sit for the rest of the afternoon and try to get the rest off this evening.
What a pain!
Just leave it damp and cover with Bar Keeper's Friend and let sit over night. Always works for me.
I don't burn things that often and don't have much memory other than the upper side edges of some pyrex occasionally...just that unavoidable baked on cheese/oil (?)...takes a bit of soaking and then some scrubbing. Usually a yard sale jem that others have burnt and i take on the challenge. : )
And usually find barkeeps, a damp rag, and covered, then left alone for a few days for supper yuck does the trick...out of the kitchen and left alone on the deck on the bench...
Semi on topic. I just made an apple/pear butter in my crock-pot. on high for a couple hours, then down to low overnight. I did wake up in a panic thinking it might be 'overdone' and dry but it was perfect. (should have started it early am and watched it off and on during the day).
I've made three batches now and confident having never made it before....
Just keep the ammonia trick outside while soaking. Nasty fumes.
Just keep the ammonia trick outside while soaking. Nasty fumes.
And keep it away from any product that might have bleach in it.
I like to soak burned pots with a tablespoon or two of electric dishwasher detergent and about 1/2 inch of water. The gunk usually lifts right off the pan after a good soak.
In a stainless pan, you can use a scoop of Oxyclean and hot water to soak. Dawn Platinum is also good. I have used the baking soda and boiling water -- it helps, but still needed BKF and a lot of muscle.
There is nothing in oxy clean nor in Dawn that would even touch a burned on sugar mess. That is pure carbon. I would simmer it with some dishwasher detergent and then let it sit all night....and then take after it with a chore girl or another very abrasive cleaner. Nothing I know of will dissolve carbon....you just have to either find something that will lift it....or scratch it away.
I do it by soaking with detergent and then use barkeepers friend on it. TWICE I've done it to my favorite saucepan. And each time, I wonder if I should just pitch and buy new but it's an All Clad and that's a lot of money to pitch! But then it comes clean. You would never know the MESS that has been burned onto that pan if you look at it now!
Could not find the most recent thread but this one popped up in a search...
Yesterday i fried my stainless favorite chick pea pot. Got busy out in the yard, yada yada...just went out to see how the early sun was affecting the front beds.
(looking for a spot for some semi-shade plantings)
Burnt my pot hard and crusty. Very hard. BarKeepers not handy or misplaced...added a tbsp of 7thGeneration dishwasher detergent. Water to cover and let soak just a few minutes. Put on a low burner till very hot...just a few minutes while watching....placed in sink. Once cooled a few minutes i poured off the 'soaking hot liquid' and the gunk was soft. (first pic)
The rest slid off without barely a scrub in minutes...phew
Just a bit of heat...no different than using the crusty bits from roasting to make a gravy...once some heat is added with wine or liquid, the crusty bits soften off the bottom of the pan to make a gravy.
Here is a recent one, and I posted that Dawn Power Dissolver worked wonders for me with no scrubbing, but I will also try your method of 7th Generation dishwasher detergent, whatever that is. The only dishwasher detergent I have is in pods, however.
I posted above about using hydrogen peroxide to lift burnt on sugar based messes. Since that posting, I've used it to clean up yet another burnt mess.
Absolutely no scrubbing. The hydrogen peroxide (plus heat) lifts the carbon off the stainless steel. Nothing short of miraculous.
I've had that same problem. With my FAVORITE pan, no less! I used baking soda and barkeepers friend. It came off! And then would you believe I turned around and did it again!
The big BIG hint is soak and do not attempt to muscle scrub. Be patient and add a bit of heat. Many solvents will help 'release' the hard gunk. Just try the least offensive first.
The most effective thing i have found to date is a good dose of powdered dish washer detergent, water to just cover, bring to a boil...simmer about 1 minute, cover and forget about it until the next day
I am going to remember the dishwasher detergent trick next time (it's bound to happen at some point)! We use dishwasher detergent pucks to soak and clean out our SS coffee carafes and it works wonderfully.
If you don't have hydrogen peroxide on hand, you can use a scoop of Oxyclean and hot water to soak.