What workarounds did people try for "How to clean burnt food off a stainless steel pan"?

Question

Accepted Answer

Community members documented 187 workarounds:
1. Using Bar Keeper's Friend
2. Scrubbing with Bar Keepers Friend and a magic eraser
3. Using vinegar and baking soda
4. Applying Bar Keepers Friend
5. Applying Dawn Powerwash and letting it sit
6. scrubbing with baking soda and water paste
7. Boiling water with baking soda in the pan
8. Using oven cleaner
9. Bar Keepers Friend with a stainless steel scrubbie and elbow grease
10. Stainless steel sponge with Dawn or other dish soap
11. Boiling baking powder and water, letting it cool, and scrubbing with a chainmail scrubber
12. Sealing them in a garbage bag with ammonia in the sun
13. Using a wet pumice stick gently
14. Scraping with a razor blade and sanding with 400 grit sandpaper
15. Using specialized glass cooktop cleaners like Weiman or Bar Keepers Friend
16. Scraping residue off with a razor blade
17. Soaking the mess with a damp rag and cleaning spray
18. Using a stainless steel wool ball or Scotch-Brite pad
19. Applying a baking soda and dish soap slurry with a scrubbing brush
20. Applying mild heat to help break up the residue
21. Wiping down the oven interior with a warm, wet cloth and a bit of dishwashing liquid.
22. Using a very wet paper towel to soak and soften the residue
23. Applying glass cooktop cleaner
24. Spraying soapy water and using a flat razor or pumice stone to scrape it off
25. Using a razor blade or metal stovetop scraper to scrape off the plastic
26. Keeping the surface wet while scraping
27. Applying cooktop cleaner kits or polishing paste like the Pink Stuff
28. Gently heating the plastic to wipe it away with a paper towel
29. Using warm water and dish soap
30. Scrubbing with extra soap in circular motions
31. Using a damp melamine sponge with gentle pressure
32. Soaking in soapy water
33. Scrubbing with standard dish soap
34. Buying another cheap iron
35. Ironing an old towel repeatedly on hot with steam mode until the residue comes off
36. Applying a paste of Bicarbonate of Soda and water, leaving it for 10 minutes, and rubbing it off
37. using Resolve
38. using Dawn dish soap
39. using the Bissel solution in a little green machine
40. Using baking soda
41. Using white vinegar
42. Using soap and water
43. Using dawn dish soap and a scotch brite steel scrubber
44. Scrubbing in tomato paste and letting it sit for 20 minutes
45. Using a scouring pad, steel wool, soap, and physical labor
46. Scrubbing with Ajax and a Brillo pad
47. Using a steel scrubber or steel wool
48. Trying salt or small grain loose sand with a damp dish washing cloth
49. Filling the pot with water and boiling it
50. Heating up the grill and using a wet paper towel with a plastic spatula to create steam
51. Laying a damp rag on the pan to soften burnt-on particles
52. Laying down a layer of aluminum foil over the hot plate for cooking
53. Spraying oven cleaner with the yellow cap, letting it sit for about 10 minutes, and scrubbing
54. Scraping it out with a plastic tool once fully dried
55. Using toothpicks, plastic scrapers, and hot damp paper towels while unplugged
56. Using Barkeeper friend
57. Using general oven cleaner while wearing gloves and washing hands afterwards.
58. Using heavy-duty oven cleaners (like easy-off pro) with a few hours of soaking followed by scrubbing.
59. Normal washing with soap
60. Using vinegar
61. Using specialized cleaners like Barkeeper's Friend
62. Spraying Dawn Power Wash, letting it sit for 15 minutes, and scraping with a plastic scraper or old credit card
63. Using lots of soap, time, and scrubbing with a metal sponge
64. Tossing the tray and buying a new one
65. Boiling baking soda and water
66. Running the pan through the dishwasher
67. Using Barkeeper's Friend or The Pink Stuff with steel wool
68. Simmering water in the pan and scraping with a spatula or wooden spoon
69. scraping with a razor blade
70. using Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner & Polish Cream
71. using The Pink Stuff cleaning paste
72. turning the stove on high to let it burn off and wiping it away
73. Using Weiman's cook top cleaner kit
74. Using spit and a microfiber cloth
75. boiling washing soda and water in the pan
76. using a toothbrush to scrub
77. using cola
78. Using Barkeeper's Friend
79. Making a home sandblaster
80. Applying a mixture of washing soda, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide
81. Boiling the pan submerged in water with washing soda, letting it soak, and scrubbing
82. Using kosher salt and a damp sponge to remove polymerized oil or sugar residue
83. Using scouring powder like Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami
84. Using an SOS pad with built-in soap
85. Using Vim with a Scrub Daddy
86. Using Bar Keepers Friend powder or soft cleanser mixed into a paste with water, letting it sit, and scrubbing
87. Using the Pink Stuff paste
88. Applying Bar Keepers Friend under plastic wrap and letting it sit for about half an hour
89. Scrubbing with a Scotch Brite sponge using a cleanser containing bleach like Ajax or Comet
90. Running the grill to get it hot and using a degreaser
91. Boiling water with baking soda and dish soap
92. Boiling shallow water in the pot and scraping with a wooden spatula or spoon
93. Using stainless steel pads or SOS pads
94. Soaking the pan with household ammonia
95. Applying oven cleaner and letting it sit overnight
96. Using Bon Ami or Dawn Powerwash
97. Diamond sponge and hob cleaner or Bar Keepers Friend
98. Weissman induction top cleaner
99. Specific cleaners for glass and induction stoves
100. Toothpaste and a microfiber cloth
101. Scrubbing severely with a scrub daddy power paste
102. Using Bar Keepers Friend and a stainless steel scrub pad
103. Making a paste with baking soda and water and letting it sit
104. Using Dawn power wash or dawn spray with a stainless steel scrubber
105. Using Brillo or SOS pads with lemon juice
106. Turning the burner on high to let the residue burn off while running the stove vent or opening a window
107. Removing the burner coil and drip tray to scrub them with dish soap
108. Applying a baking soda paste and scrubbing with a stiff brush after letting the burner cool
109. Filling the bowls with water to soften the food and pouring the mixture down the sink
110. Using a paper towel to swipe leftovers into the trash can
111. Using a removable sink strainer to catch food particles
112. Switching to disposable paper or compostable bowls
113. Using the dog to lick the dry bits off the dish
114. Flushing old cat food down the toilet
115. Freezing leftover food scraps in a bag until trash day to avoid smells
116. Clean the cookware using Bar Keeper's Friend or a Mr. Clean scrubber
117. Wash with a sponge and dish soap
118. Ignore it since it is harmless
119. Using regular dish soap with cleaning paste
120. Scrubbing with the green side of a sponge and generic cleaner
121. scrubbing with different cleaners
122. Soaking in water
123. Use paper or foil muffin cups
124. Use silicone muffin trays
125. Spray the pan with baking spray or grease it before cooking
126. Soak the pan in hot soapy water or boiling water overnight before scrubbing
127. Using dish soap
128. Trying a Brillo pad
129. Scrubbing with all might
130. Letting it smoke for hours
131. Using the aluminum foil method with hot water and baking soda
132. Applying silver polish
133. Using BKF powder
134. Using Formula 409 degreaser
135. Letting wet soapy rags or paper towels sit on the buildup
136. Using degreasers over multiple sessions with a scrub brush or sponge
137. Applying oven cleaner and scraping with a flat razor at an angle
138. Using steel wool and elbow grease
139. Covering oven cleaner with plastic wrap to let it soak
140. Using a steam cleaner
141. Using toilet bowl gel cleaner and scrubbing repeatedly
142. Covering burners with a stove drip pan or buying a new stove
143. Soaking ceramic plates with dish soap in very hot water before washing
144. Using Bartenders Friend or Bar Keepers Friend on metal items
145. Using a cream of tartar paste
146. Simmering cream of tartar in water
147. Using only enough water to cover the worst spots instead of filling the entire pot
148. Using cupcake liners or paper muffin cups to avoid direct contact
149. Living with the stains as normal wear and tear or seasoning
150. Scrubbing with baking soda, Bar Keeper's Friend, or oil paste
151. using soapy warm water with a scrubbing brush
152. using bleach with a scrubbing brush
153. applying citric acid and letting it sit
154. scrubbing with an aluminum foil ball and an acidic substance like citric acid
155. Scrubbing with Coke and fine steel wool
156. Using dawn powerwash and letting it sit
157. Soaking in dish soap and hot water with a bristle scrub brush
158. Putting components in the dishwasher
159. Using a scrub daddy or nylon brush
160. Running soapy water in the air fryer to steam it
161. Using parchment paper or paper liners to prevent mess
162. Hot soaking with dish soap and baking soda
163. Using Bar Keeper's Friend with a regular sponge
164. Using Polident denture cleaner tablets
165. Boiling water and scraping with a wooden spoon
166. Boiling water in the pan and repeatedly scrubbing lightly for several hours
167. Using oven cleaner overnight and scrubbing the next day
168. Preheating the pan and lowering the heat before adding oil to prevent stains
169. Boiling a mixture of baking soda and water in the pan for 15 minutes, letting it cool, and scrubbing with the remaining paste.
170. Deglazing the pan with water and a wooden spoon or rubber spatula immediately after cooking while the pan is still hot.
171. Gentle scrubbing with standard dish soap and non-abrasive sponges.
172. Scrubbing intensely with a steel wool ball
173. Using a scrubby sponge and liquid Barkeepers
174. Giving up and living with stained, ugly pans
175. soaking overnight in hot water and dish soap
176. scrubbing with an abrasive sponge
177. applying rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth
178. using repeated warm, damp compresses to soften the residue
179. Using baking soda instead of commercial brands
180. Making a cleaning paste and letting it sit
181. Scrubbing gently with a non-scratch sponge
182. Applying Goo Gone to dissolve the melted residue
183. Searching specialized cookware communities for safe cleaning advice
184. Scraping the paint off with a scraper blade
185. Pulling the melted pieces off by hand
186. Using a scraper and brush
187. Running the unit to burn off the remaining residue

How to clean burnt food off a stainless steel pan

What the numbers show

What people tried

Found another way around this?

In their words

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised