How To Clean Stuck On Pans

No matter how careful you are, it is inevitable that at some point in your life you will forget that casserole in the oven or neglect to grease the muffin pan. The result is a stuck on pan that refuses to be washed clean by ordinary means. Returning that pan to its usual sparkling clean can be a chore, but it can be done. How you clean it depends on the pan and what it is that is stuck on.

Step 1

Soak burned on pans in water for a few minutes. Scrub clean with a mild abrasive and dish detergent. Most pans will come clean with minimal effort after soaking in warm sudsy water for a few minutes, but those tough to remove remains call for serious cleaning.

Step 2

Clean pans that have stuck-on eggs by sprinkling with salt and rubbing clean with a soft cloth or sponge. The salt will work as a mild abrasive. It will loosen the stuck-on egg, allowing you to rinse it free.

Step 3

Try adding 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to enough hot water to cover the bottom of the pan and let it soak for 10 minutes to remove stubborn egg residue. Not only will the vinegar remove the egg, it will eliminate the odor, too. This is especially useful for plates or bowls that have stuck-on egg yolk that refuses to budge with ordinary dish soap.

Step 4

Fill pans that have been seriously burned on with 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Place on a medium heat and heat to boiling. Simmer until the residue on the bottom of the pan lifts off the pan and floats in the water. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to loosen burned on food that does not lift off with the baking soda. Wash and rinse as usual. For stubborn residue, you may need to repeat the process until the bottom is sparkling clean.

Step 5

Fill casserole dishes with cold water and let them set overnight to remove stuck-on food. The water will loosen the food particles, making it possible to scrub the casserole dish clean in the morning. Wash and rinse as usual.

Step 6

Clean baking pans by soaking in cold water overnight. Remove any remaining food particles with a non-abrasive scrubber. Wash an rinse as usual.