Walnut, I picked up an enameled cast iron skillet destined for the garbage I sprayed it with oven cleaner, tied it in a garbage bag and set it out in the sun all day. I checked on it periodically and sprayed more oven cleaner if needed.

Have you tried barkeepers friend? That also works.

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All Clad recommends using cleaner Bar Keepers Friend for stainless to get marks, discoloration out of inside and outside from 'cooking too high of heat'....
"⢠To use the Bar Keeper's Friend, simply use a soft cloth or sponge and water and make into a soupy paste. This can be used on the interior, as well as the exterior of your All-Clad. "

I am a fan of oven cleaner for enamel or to start over/restore old cast iron, but I believe it would be too aggressive for stainless. I would try the baking soda simmer approach and then barkeeper's friend paste. If those didn't work, I might try the bag of ammonia cleaner in the hot sun approach. That is the mild caustic attack and is at least safer than the oven cleaner.

Oh: and if there is ever a next time, try placing a big pot lid over the fire. When I cook with oil, I always know where the right pan lid is!

This post was edited by chas045 on Fri, Sep 12, 14 at 14:44

All the above.

If you still find stain, the high heat may have caused a chemical bond deeper into the metal.

If that's the case, you may need to get a sheet of fine grit wet/dry (carbide) sand paper to remove the stain.

dcarch

That doesn't look like All-Clad to me, but in general, I start with Dawn Platinum -- their power soak formula, and let that sit for a while, even overnight. You are going to need a dishpan, bucket or a large pot or pan to submerse the pan in since you have both sides. If it needs further cleaning, I use BKF. If that isn't enough, I soak in Oxyclean and hot water -- the original laundry version. Let it sit until completely cook or overnight. You can repeat.

Those are all gentler than the oven cleaner, so I would do those first. Dawn also has a Power Dissolver but I haven't used that since I found the platinum.

I had luck with the thick baking soda soak followed by scrubbing with a couple of dishwasher tablets. I would worry about health issues from the chemical residue left behind by oven cleaner on a surface that gets heated. Doesn't sound food safe to me.

Thanks to all of you.

We did use the skillet lid to put out the fire, so have to contend with cleaning the burned lid, too.

I have used my Barkeepers Friend and it did not work.

Will have to decide which one I want to try first.

Do you have a drill? Go to a hardware store and buy a wire brush wheel that fits in a drill chuck. After soaking the pan and scraping, use the wire wheel to get the remaining burned-on oil off and restore the pan to shiny and pretty. About 1/10th the effort of manually scrubbing. This assumes it is a stainless pan - the wire brush shouldnt be used on aluminum, non-stick, enamel, etc.

If you really want to go to town, also buy a buffing wheel that fits in the drill chuck, and some metal polish. You can get the pan to a mirror-like finish and it will be beautifully slick for a little while.

I do this to my stainless pans every now and then.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I do have a drill, Johnliu. Your suggestion is very clever and thanks for sharing it.

Right now I have the pan on the stove, put about 1/2 scoop of Oxiclean in it, added water, which is heating up. I will boil for about 10 minutes then turn off the burner and let water cool.

I am trying the easiest on me methods first. I have also read to put white vinegar in the pan all the way up to the burn line and let it sit. I don't have enough white vinegar to do that. If the Oxiclean doesn't work, I will buy a large jug of white vinegar and try that.

Trailrunner told about the baking soda thing, years ago.

I can't remember word for word, but it does work, even on the overflowed lasagna on the bottom of the oven that dries in a thick lump of char that will set the oven on fire if you turn on the self-clean.

It's not so much work! Sprinkle baking soda liberally--completely covering--the char. Gently lay paper towels over without disturbing the soda. Cautiously pour boiling water on the towels, just enough to thoroughly wet them, without washing away the soda.

Leave.

Overnight, at least. 12 hours?

There's a chemical reaction that just loosens the char right up. It's the same one as boiling with soda, but easier and more concentrated. And easier to do on an oven. :)

If not all of the char comes up, which happens if it's thick, just repeat until it's all gone.

Just prop up the skillet between some bricks or something, and do one side at a time.

But hopefully the Oxyclean worked, and it's already all better. :)

I have great luck using Cascade powder. Just sprinkle it on and add a bit of hot water, let it soak, then scrub gently.

If you leave the damp Bar Keepers Friend set on the pan it will work. It just takes time and possibly several applications.