I consider myself an expert on today's topic. I have the unique talent of creating horrible, burned-on messes in casserole dishes, skillets, pots — even a Le Creuset Dutch oven. I can do this on the stovetop, in the oven, on the outdoor grill and in the microwave, too!
I did it again just last night. After plating most of the contents in a stainless steel frying pan, I returned it to a burner set to medium heat and walked away. Yikes! (Check out a picture of the pan at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/home-and-family/easiest-way-remove-burned-on-mess/.)
There are multiple ways to deal with this kind of kitchen challenge. But as far as I am concerned, there is only one method that is totally amazing because it's pretty much automatic and it works in an hour — more or less — depending on the severity of the situation.
But first, let me summarize the methods that don't work for me. And honestly, I don't want to have to expend the effort required to make them work:
BAKING SODA. The directive is to fill the vessel with water, dump in 1/2 cup or so of baking soda, heat until boiling and then allow it to simmer for a while. This will definitely loosen the mess. But this must be followed with a lot of elbow grease to scrub (and scrub) away the final remains.
BAKING SODA AND DISH SOAP. It works — eventually — but will more than likely require using a wooden spoon to pry and scrape, and more than likely scrub and tear up your fingernails.
VINEGAR. This has never worked for me, but I may be too impatient. And vinegar, being an acid, can damage the clear coat finish on enameled cast iron pots from Lodge, Le Creuset and others, which tells me there's at least some level of risk involved.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE/BAKING SODA. I'm pleading ignorance here because I have not tried this. A quick search, however, leads me to believe that a few people have found that this combination fashioned into a thick paste and spread over the mess will help — eventually.
DRYER SHEET. It does work to fill the pot or pan with warm water and drop in a dryer sheet. However, it takes time to work. Like overnight, which means you'll be leaving that ugly mess in the sink to greet you in the morning. After enough time, the contents of that pan will slide out quite easily. But still, it takes overnight at least.
So, enough about what doesn't work well. Let's talk about what does work!
AUTOMATIC DISHWASHING DETERGENT. This is it, an amazingly magical method that is fast, effective and totally worth writing about.
Take another look at the "before" picture — and trust me, this was one ugly, smoky, black, burned-on mess that appeared it may have melted the pan in its wake!
I filled that stainless steel skillet with hot water and dropped in an automatic dishwasher detergent pod — Kirkland brand from Costco. The bottom of the pan began to emerge from the burned-on mess, as the contents softened and began to almost liquify.
By the time I'd loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen, the pan was ready to be cleaned up, too.
I poured the contents of the pan down the drain (kinda love watching all that crud slide right out) and used the scrubby side of a blue Scotch Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge to wipe away the remains of the mess. It took less than a minute. I rinsed the pan, dried it with a bar mop and snapped the "after" photo.
This method is not only quick and easy, but you can confidently use it on any dishwasher-safe dish, pot or pan — that means stainless steel, nonstick (ha!), glass, porcelain and enameled cast iron like Lodge enameled cast iron and Le Creuset Dutch ovens.
Caution: Do not subject either cast iron or aluminum to automatic dishwasher detergent. Neither of these types of cooking vessels is considered dishwasher-safe.
Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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