Everyday use of your pots and pans can leave them dirty and dingy. Even the tidiest cook knows that pots and pans will get dirty after a few uses. It doesn't matter which type of pots and pants you use. You need to learn everything you can clean each one correctly. How do you clean your pots and pans to look like new?
You can clean any type of pot or pan using tin foil to scrub them. Vinegar and baking soda mixes, sugar cubes, Rhubarb, tea tree oil, borax warm water solutions, and bleach powder solutions will also make them shine like new. Pots and pans of any type can also be cleaned by using dryer sheets.
Whether you cook with nonstick pans and pots or stainless steel, enameled, or traditional cast iron, these tips below will show how you can make them look new, expanding their time in your kitchen. After all, pots and pans play a significant role in any food lover's kitchen!
Cleaning Tips With Different Kinds Of Pots And Pans
Before you can know the foolproof ways to clean your pots and pans effectively, a few things should be kept in mind, especially if you have different kinds of pots and pans in your kitchen.
Let's take a closer look at the different materials of pots and pans, their general cleaning, and what should be avoided:
How To Clean Cast-Iron Pots And Pans
Despite the common misconception, it's more than suitable to clean a cast-iron pot or pan with soap and water. You can gently wash them after each use.
For stubborn residue on cast iron, you can use rough salt. Simply sprinkle coarse salt on the dirty pot or pan, and scrub it using a sponge or fine bristled brush. The salt will be a gentle abrasive to remove any grime residue.
Afterward, you can dump the salt in your sink and complete the cleaning process as you usually would. However, you should avoid a few things if you have cast iron pots or pans. It doesn't matter how nasty the mess is.
Never let a cast iron pan or pot soak in water for an extended time, as it could become rusty.
How To Clean Stainless Steel Pots And Pans
Stainless steel pots and pans are the most popular, and they are loved by millions of at-home cooks and professional chefs. If you see some dirt has accumulated on them after a few uses, you can wipe any oil away using a paper towel.
Place it in your sink, and handwash them with water and soap. Never place stainless steel pots and pans in your dishwasher, as it could cause damage over time.
You can also use a dishwashing sponge or towel or a nylon dish brush to avoid any water spots. When it comes to tougher stains, you can fill the pot or pan with a water and vinegar mixture and bring it to a boil on your stove.
You can use a wooden spoon or a nylon sich brush to scrape any stains gently.
However, avoid using abrasive cleaners and steel wool pads, as these materials could scratch the surface of your stainless steel pot or pan.
How To Clean Copper Pots And Pans
Copper pots and pans are an excellent investment. You can clean them immediately after use after they have cooled down completely.
The cleaning process isn't complicated, as you can wash them with hot water, gentle dish soap, and a soft dishwashing sponge. Although many cooks prefer their copper pots to have a natural patina, you might not.
If you like your copper pots and pans looking new and shiny, there are ways you can achieve this. You can combine vinegar and lemon juice with baking soda. Make a thick paste, and cover your pots or pan.
You can buff the surface using a soft cloth. It would be best never to use bleach cleaning agents for your copper cookware. Bleach is corrosive and can cause your copper pot or pans to pit.
How To Clean Nonstick Pots And Pans
The best thing about using nonstick pots and pans is that they are so effortless to keep clean! Most food will rinse off its surface, especially if you tend to clean your cookware immediately after use.
You can clean them with handwash soap and a nylon brush pr sponge to avoid scratching and harming the surface.
Of course, we have all burnt our food. If you burnt your food in a nonstick pan or pot, you could fill the pan with water and baking soda. Place it back on your stove and let the mixture simmer on low heat for about ten minutes.
Complete the washing process with water and soap, and your cookware will look clean again. However, it would be best never to place your nonstick cookware in a dishwasher.
The hash detergent and boiling water could cause damage to the nonstick coating.
How To Clean Aluminum Pots And Pans
Always wash your aluminum pans using water and soap. If you're looking for something that might be better, you can use an aluminum baking sheet and line it with foil before baking to remove the sheet.
This means no food will come into contact with the surface of your pot or pan. However, this is not easy, and if you cook for fun, this would not be the solution for you.
Take extreme caution if you decide to clean your aluminum cookware with baking soda. If you leave baking soda on their surface for too long, it could oxidize the pot or pan, which causes discoloration.
How To Clean Ceramic Pots And Pans
Pots and pans with a ceramic coating will be naturally nonstick. This makes them easy to clean with soapy water and a soft sponge.
Remember to allow the pot or pan to cool down completely before washing them. When it comes to tough stains, you can simmer the pot or pan over low heat with a soap and water mix.
When the pan or pot is on its desired heat, you can scrape any nasty chunks away with a non-abrasive brush or sponge.
Although ceramic cookware is very durable, you should never clean them with steel wool, as it will significantly harm them and shorten their lifespan.
8 Ways To Clean Pots And Pans To Look Like New
Every cook knows there's nothing better than cooking in a squicky clean pot and pan! It doesn't matter what type of pots or pans you want to clean. Below are eight foolproof methods you can use to make those dirty cookware look new again:
Use Tin Foil For Scrubbing Tough Spots On Pots And Pans
Tinfoil is your new companion when it comes to removing those burnt pieces of food from your dirty pots and pans. However, be careful with the sharp edges, as they could damage the surface of your cookware. If you're careful, though, there should be no problems.
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil, and use your hands to scrunch it into a tight ball. After you have soaked your pot or pan in hot water with dishwashing soap, you can scrub them with the foil.
This will make removing burnt spots and food much easier than any other washing or scrubbing tool you have.
Use Vinegar With Baking Soda To Clean Pots And Pans
If you prefer to use natural products to clean your cookware, a vinegar and baking soda mix is loved by millions of cooks and even professional chefs.
Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar is one of the most effective combinations for cleaning dirty pans and pots. Some people have reported that it works even better than some chemicals.
These natural products will remove any burn marks and make your pots and pans, and even over trays, sparkle as they did in the cookware section at the mall!
To start with this cleaning method, you can sprinkle the baking soda all over the surface of your dirty pot or pan and then pour a solution of hot water and vinegar on top of it.
You can allow your mixture to fizz, which will completely lift any food particles from the surface, making your job so much easier and quicker!
Use Sugar Cubes For Dirty Pots And Pans
Similar to aluminum foil, the harsh edges of sugar cubes make them ideal for breaking down that stubborn and burnt food on pots and pans.
You can soak all your dirty pots and pans in your kitchen sink, as you usually would. Then, remove any extra moisture with a clean towel before starting the scrubbing.
This will prevent the sugar cubes from dissolving. Sugar cubes will work wonders for your dirty pots and pans, and although this is a weird method, it is suitable for even the toughest stains!
Use Rhubarb To Clean Your Pots And Pans Easily
Rhubard was rumored to be the best cleaning agent for pots and pans by housewives in the 1940s.
When they lacked cleaning tools and sufficient cleaning agents, they would bring Rhubard to boil in dirty or burnt pots and pans for ten minutes.
Upon removal, they would clean their pots and pans, and they would look like new! This might seem like an unusual cleaning method and not one someone would try every day.
However, if you have some rhubarb in your garden, you should definitely give it a go!
Use Dryer Sheets To Get Rid Of Grime On Pots And Pans
Nobody knows why dryer sheets are so effective in cleaning pots and pans, and we certainly don't know who was crazy enough to try it in the first place.
Nevertheless, to try this weird pot and pan cleaning hack, you can fill the item with washing liquid and hot water.
Place one dryer sheet in them, and leave it to soak for approximately one hour. When you check on the pot or pan again, the grime should be easier to remove than ever, and it requires little to no scrubbing on your behalf.
Use Bleach Powder For Burnt Pots And Pans
Another decade-old cleaning method for removing any caked-on dirt is to let your pot or pan soak with bleach cleaning powder. This includes Comet, Ajax, or Bon Ami. These black powders really work wonders, even for the dirtiest pots and pans.
Bleach powder will not only make your job easier in the cleaning process, but you won't have to scrape the surface of a pot or pan, risking damaging it.
As soon as you are done cooking with your pot or pan, you can fill it with some hot water and add a sprinkle of the bleach cleaning powder. Leave the item to soak for roughly 30 minutes, and all the gunk will come off quickly!
Using Tea Tree Oil To Clean Pots And Pans
Tea tree oil is also a well-known way you can get your pots and pans to sparkle like new! Unfortunately, tea tree oil won't get rid of tough stains on pots and pans, but it does remove sticky grime very effectively.
The best way to use it would be to put only a few drops in the dirty pot or pan, along with a drop or two of household dish soap. Gently scrub the item for five minutes, and all the sticky gunk will be a thing of the past!
Borax And Warm Water As A Pot And Pan Cleaning Agent
Borax is usually very helpful in the laundry compartment, but it's an excellent cleaning agent for those dirty pots and pans, believe it or not!
All you have to do is add about half a cup of borax to your kitchen sink. Fill your sink with warm water, and let the dirty pot or pan soak in the water for a few minutes.
Afterward, you can wipe the pan out with a soft and clean cloth. Borax works wonder for stubborn stuck-on food.
However, you have to ensure that the borax has dissolved fully before scrubbing with this method. The borax crystals will help rub the coating off of pans, which you certainly do not want!
Conclusion
Cleaning those burnt pots and pans is never something any cook looks forward to. However, you can make your job a lot easier by using our helpful tips above. Remember, always know what type of material your cookware is made of and learn the best ways to clean them without causing them any damage.
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