We’ve all been there… Accidentally over-cooked a meal and not cleaned it up straight away, to be left with a pan that looks like it might never be able to be used again. But unless you want to buy a new pot or pan for every meal you cook, there’s no getting away from cleaning them! Luckily, we have some clever cleaning tips on how you might be able to tackle this tricky task…
Cast iron pans are great for cooking at high-temperatures and generally have a natural non-stick surface, however if you accidentally leave food cooking for too long, then it can stick to the surface and be difficult to remove. Here’s what to do…
1. Try and tackle the task while it’s still warm*. Be extra careful, so you don’t burn yourself.
2. Wash the pan by hand using warm water, a non-scratch scourer and washing up liquid . If the residue is being stubborn, you can try creating your own natural abrasive with a coarse sea salt and water paste. Don’t forget to rinse well with clean water after using the homemade paste.
3. To prevent the pan from rusting, dry your pan thoroughly using a tea towel or put it on the stove over low heat, or in the oven at 90° until all the moisture has evaporated.
4. Using a cloth, apply a thin layer of oil, such as vegetable, or grapeseed oil. This is known as seasoning and can help prevent rusting and enhance the non-stick cooking surface.
5. Store the pan in a dry location, ready for its next use.
Stainless steel pots and pans are versatile, durable and are often described as a professional chef’s prized-possession. To maintain your stainless steel pots and pans, you need to ensure you clean them regularly. Here’s how:
1. White vinegar** will be your best friend when facing this task. Pour one part white vinegar** and two parts water into the pan and bring it to a boil*.
2. Leave this for 5-10 minutes while the solution does its magic cleaning, cuts through grime and removes any white smears from hard water.
3. Turn the heat off and pour the liquid away.
4. Rinse clean with warm water and dry thoroughly using a tea towel.
5. If your pan still has some brown spots, try the same process again, but with a heaped spoonful of baking soda, instead of white vinegar.
6. Once your stainless steel pots and pans are thoroughly cleaned, dry them and store them in a moisture-free space.
Assuming you’ve already tried to clean your pan with washing up liquid, warm water and a non-scratch scourer and you’re still struggling to remove burn marks, there are numerous ways you can try and salvage them. A fizzing solution tends to be a highly effective method, so follow these steps:
1. Place 6 lemon halves into the damaged pot/ pan, fill up to halfway with water and bring to a boil.*
2. Add two heaped spoons of baking soda and step back… it’s about to get fizzy!
3. Leave for 5-10 minutes while the solution helps loosen the stubborn burnt residue and break it down.
4. Pour the liquid away and dispose of the lemons, be careful, they will still be hot!*
5. Clean your pan as usual with washing up liquid, warm water and a non-abrasive sponge, such as a non-scratch scourer.
6. If you’re still not satisfied with the cleanliness of your pot/ pan, try the same process again but replace the lemons with one part white vinegar** and two parts water.
7. Once you’re happy with your pot or pan, use a tea towel to ensure it’s completely dry.
8. Depending on the type of pan, if you have a cast iron or carbon steel pans, you may decide to season it. This will help prevent rusting and allow for a non-stick surface for the next time you use it.
9. Store your pan in a dry location.
In short – yes! There are lots of different methods to try but here are our top 3 ways to clean pots and pans with baking soda:
Method 1: deglaze the pot or pan by sprinkling a few spoons of baking soda on the pot/pan surface. Pour a surface layer of boiling water*, mix it with a wooden spoon and scrape at any left-over food residue. Leave it to sit for a couple of minutes and then pour the mixture away. Clean with washing up liquid, warm water and a non-scratch scourer before drying and storing.
Method 2: you can make a paste by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with 30ml white vinegar.** Optionally add a squeeze of lemon juice. Lather this onto the pot or pan and leave it to sit overnight. Scrub the pan with a non-scratch sponge or scourer, rinse the solution off and dry thoroughly.
Method 3: boil one part vinegar**, two parts water in a pan. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and leave for up to 10 minutes. Pour away the solution, rinse clean, dry and store.
Yes you can! White Vinegar** is an excellent ingredient to use to help you clean your pots and pans, no matter their condition. Here are our top 3 ways to clean pots and pans with white vinegar**:
Method 1: pour one part white vinegar**, two parts water into the damaged pot/ pan and boil it.* While it simmers, use a wooden spoon to scrape the residue off the bottom of the pot or pan and optionally mix in a tablespoon of baking soda. Leave for 5-10 minutes and then pour the liquid away. Rinse clean, dry and store the pot/pan.
Method 2: Soak the pot or pan in one part white vinegar**, two parts warm water and a squirt of washing up liquid. Mix it with a wooden spoon and use it to scrape off any food residue. Leave it to soak for up to 10 minutes. Pour the mixture away and scrub the pan with a non-abrasive scourer. Rinse it clean, dry and store the pot/ pan in a dry space.
Method 3: create a natural paste by combining a spoonful of baking soda with 30ml white vinegar.** Pour this onto the pot/pan surface and leave it to absorb for several hours. You can then wash away the solution and clean it with washing up liquid, warm water and a non-scratch scourer. Dry your pot or pan with a tea towel and store it somewhere away from moisture to prevent rusting.
Now you have lots of different methods to clean your pots and pans based on the ingredients you have or the type of pots or pans you own. To help assist you in your pots and pans deep cleaning, Marigold have a range of high-quality cleaning products such as the Marigold Cleaning me Softly Non-scratch Scourers and the Marigold Let It Shine On and On! Microfibre cloths. Not to mention the trusty Marigold Extra-Life Kitchen Gloves to help protect your hands from dirt, grime and warm water.
And finally, we always recommend following manufacturers guidelines for cleaning your pots and pans, to ensure any cleaning solutions do not cause damage to them and test first on an inconspicuous area.
*Always proceed with caution when using boiling/hot/warm items or liquids.
** If using vinegar to clean, remember never to use on porous stone or ceramic surfaces
