Forgetting to turn off the gas stove can happen to anyone, and one of the most common accidents in the home is when a pot or pan gets burned and leaves a scorch mark on the bottom.

Sometimes the situation is so severe that the pan seems beyond repair, but this is not always the case. In most cases, it is possible to recover from the mishap, and it can seem as if nothing happened! Read on to find out what you can do in such cases.

Baking Soda For Ceramic and Steel Pots/Pans

You can use baking soda for ceramic and stainless steel pots and dishes. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of pots and pans. Add water to make a paste and spread it well over the entire burned area; let it sit for 10 minutes, add hot water and boil it for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool. Take a non-abrasive sponge, scrub off the softened stain, and wash the utensil.

Dishwasher for Silicone Items

Silicone items are the easiest kitchen tool to clean. Dishes that can withstand heat can get dirty, not burned. Use a good dishwashing detergent, possibly with very hot water, and a little scrubbing will clean them. If necessary, you can soak them in soapy water for an hour or so.

Oven Cleaner For Metal Pans

When using ready-made products, oven cleaner is often effective for burning metal pans and cookware. Just spray it on, let it sit for a while, and then scrub thoroughly and rinse off.

Citric Acid

You can also use citric acid to clean burnt cookware. Add 2 tablespoons of citric acid and boiling water, let it sit for at least 10 minutes (or longer), then scrub.

Powdered Detergent

This can be used on various materials as long as they are not heavily burnt. Pour the detergent over the item to be cleaned, add boiling water, and let it sit for an hour. If the water is not soft enough to remove the stain, turn on the heat and bring it to a boil. After that, you should be able to clean it without any problems. Some people also add a tablespoon or two of hydrogen peroxide to their dishwashing detergent.

Vinegar

If the stain is still there, pour some vinegar over it and heat it with a glass of water for a few minutes on low heat. Then let them cool down a bit and wipe them off with a sponge. The same goes for dirty cookware that you want to make shiny again, and you can leave it in the heat mix.

Wood Ash For Greasy and Burnt Utensils

While the pots and pans are still hot, pour in about half a cup of fine wood ashes, add a small amount of hot water and stir, it will turn into a soapy (not very liquid) substance that will absorb the grease.

Aluminum

For burnt aluminum, soaking pots and pans in a solution of hot water and vinegar or hot water and bicarbonate soda may help to remove burnt aluminum naturally. In many cases, this is all that is needed to fix the problem without damaging the surface.

In the case of non-stick pans, extreme care should be taken to remove the burnt coating, as it can be irreversible.

If in doubt, the basic remedy is to simply add hot water and dishwashing detergent to the pan and change the soapy water several times to soften the stain. Then use a very soft non-abrasive sponge to clean the residue gently. Care and attention should be given to the outer edges, especially if they are coated. For this reason, it is recommended that you soak the pan entirely in a sink filled with water and detergent before cleaning it with a soft sponge.

We hope that these few tips have helped with cleaning your utensils. However, remember that no matter how good the frying pan material is, if it is scratched or worn heavily, it needs to be replaced to continue cooking and prevent staining.