How To Clean A Burnt Non Stick Pan and Make It As Good As New

Cleaning a burnt non stick pan with so much hassle will be history by the time you are done with this article. Non-stick pan commercials look absolutely great. In reality, they are but what cannot be ruled out is that food still get burnt on it and for the sake of a good health and hygiene removing the foods burnt on the surface is necessary.

One of the reason why we opt for the non stick pans is that it guarantees lesser cleaning hassles. They are good for making dishes like omelettes, and thin pancakes. Teflon cookwares encourage the use of less oil which is recommended for a healthier meal.

The surface of non-stick cookware is coated with base materials such as aluminum. This keeps the food from sticking to the cookware and allows it to slide out of the pan with little or no help from the cooking spoon.

Attached to the above mentioned advantage is the fact that because it absorbs lesser oil from the food, the non stick pan is pretty much easy to clean.

To get rid of burnt food particles from the surface of a non stick pan, cooking sprays may not be the best option since they can cause more food residues on the pan as additives in the spray such as soy lecithin build up on the pan.

A residue build up causes food to be unevenly cooked and besides that, it is not good for the health as noted earlier.

So what do you do when there are food residues on your non stick pans?

Methods for Cleaning your burnt non stick pan?

1. Baking Soda and Water Mixture

Make a paste mixture of baking soda and water and soak the burnt non stick pan overnight.
Wash the pan normally. Food particles are expected to come off easily. However, where they don’t, apply more pressure while washing it.
Ensure that the sponge in non-metallic but made of soft nylon. Abrasives will damage or remove the non-stick coating of the pan.
Rinse the pan thoroughly, dry and then store for next use.
Non-stick pans are generally not dishwasher-friendly. Though some are advertised to be able to withstand the dish-washing conditions, we advise that you don’t clean with dishwasher as dishwashers operate at a high temperature and use strong detergents.
Sink baths are ultimately advised for burnt non stick pans.

Tip From Industry Expert

My top tip would be to boil off whatever is burnt, sometimes a bit of bicarbonate of soda in the water also helps to lift up the carbonMark McCabe, head chef of Lake District restaurant Henrock.

2. Vinegar and Water Mixture

Pour water halfway into the pan and add about ½ cup of vinegar to the pan. Boil for 5-10 minutes depending on the heat intensity.
Both oil residues and food particles will rise on the surface on the water in the pan. When this happens, turn off the burner.
Dab at the pools of oil using a bunched up paper towel. You may not be able to collect all of the oil but when you’ve collected most of it, dispose the paper towel. Any other floating food particles can be collected and removed using a perforated plastic spoon. (Care should be taken not to be burned by the hot water).
Carefully pour the water away.
Wash the pan normally with a soft sponge, then rinse and dry.

Expert Recommendation

Bosch recommends using a mixture of water, baking soda and vinegar to tackle stubborn burnt-on food, highlighting this method as a reliable, chemical-free solution for non-stick pans. According to Bosch Home Appliances Expert Cleaning Guidance, “The trusty fail-safe cleaning solution of baking soda and vinegar can also be called upon if your cooking has gone awry.”

Comparison of Different Cleaning Methods

Cleaning Method	Tools Needed	Best For	Pros	Cons
Baking Soda Paste	Baking soda, water, sponge	Light to moderate burns	Gentle, non-toxic, safe for coating	May require repeated scrubbing
Vinegar & Baking Soda	Vinegar, baking soda, sponge	Stubborn burnt spots	Fizzes away stuck-on residue, natural	Not for all non-stick coatings
Dish Soap Soak	Warm water, dish soap, sponge	General cleaning, mild burns	Easy, safe for non-stick	Takes time to soak
Commercial Cleaner	Non-abrasive cleaner, sponge	Heavy burnt-on messes	Powerful, quick results	Must check if safe for non-stick pans
Magic Eraser	Magic eraser, water	Tough stains, last resort	Effective on stubborn stains	Can wear down non-stick surface if overused

For the general maintenance and cleaning of non stick pans, this guide can help you as well:

1. Allow the pan to cool from the cooking heat, at least to a point where you can touch the pan.

2. With a non metallic utensil, remove any food particles from the burnt non stick pan.

3. Then pour warm water into the pan, cookwares are easier to clean when they are warm,

4. Let it soak for 15–30 minutes

5. Wash normally with little detergent, use a soft non-abrasive nylon scrubber, sponge, or paper towel to gently scrub away the residue.

6. For repairs, an oil mister is used instead of the regular cooking sprays.

7. For stubborn stains, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the burnt area, and let it sit for 15 minutes.

8. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft towel.

9. Repeat the process as needed, but avoid the use of steel wool or harsh scrubbers to protect the coating.

Tip From Our Industry Expert

A burnt pan can be quickly remedied: first, clean the pan with warm water, mild detergent and a non-abrasive scourer, to keep it from scratching the pan. Then, for burnt food that won’t budge, fill the pan again with water, add a couple of squirts of detergent and start heating up to a boil. Use a plastic or wooden spoon or spatula to carefully scrape the food from the pan, then wash it as normal.Rob Falconer, Head of Range, ProCook

Apply a small amount of fat and evenly distribute on the surface of the pan and then heat. This improves the sticking resistance of the pan. Doing this from time to time will help increase the durability and efficiency of the non stick pan. This process is called seasoning.
Adding the oil too late (after the pan is heated), faults the result, making the oil soaked up into the food.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Common Mistake	Why It Should Be Avoided
Use of metal scrubbers	It scratches and damages non-stick coating
Cleaning while pan is hot	It can warp the pan and damage the coating
Use of harsh chemicals	Harsh chemicals may strip or weaken the non-stick surface
Skipping the soak	This can make scrubbing harder and less effective

NOTE: Nonstick pan has an average durability span of five years or thereabout. If it suddenly starts sticking and non-resistant, it may be a sign that you need a new cookware. But to keep it longer, not over-using the pan helps to prolong its life span.

How To Clean A Burnt Non Stick Pan