How to Clean a Burnt Stainless Steel Pot
Boil it once with baking soda and the blackened bottom lifts off with a wooden spatula.
What you need
Supplies
- 2–3 tbsp baking soda
- Water
- Vinegar (for rainbow stains)
Tools
- Wooden or silicone spatula
- Soft scrub sponge
- Cloth
How to do it
- 01
Add water and baking soda
Pour in enough water to cover the burnt area and stir in 2–3 tbsp of baking soda. For a wide pan, about 3 tbsp per liter of water is right.
- 02
Simmer for 10 minutes
Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower to a simmer for about 10 minutes. The burnt layer starts to loosen and the water turns brown. Watch that the foam does not boil over.
- 03
Cool, then push with a spatula
Turn off the heat and wait until it is cool enough to touch. Push along the bottom with a wooden spatula and the softened burn peels off in sheets.
- 04
Finish with a sponge
Pour out the water, sprinkle a little baking soda and scrub off any remaining marks with a soft sponge. If some remain, repeat steps 1–3.
- 05
Treat rainbow stains with vinegar
If a rainbow or white film remains on the bottom after cleaning, wipe it with a cloth dipped in vinegar. It is heat tint and mineral residue, and it comes off easily.
Be careful
- Boiling baking soda in an aluminum pot turns it black. Clean aluminum only with dish soap and a soft sponge.
- Do not use this method on nonstick pans. Soak them in warm water and wipe with a soft sponge instead; boiling can damage the coating.
- Steel wool scratches stainless steel and makes food stick more.
Malkkeum tips
- Pour water into the pot right after it burns so the residue does not harden.
- Preheat stainless steel pans well before adding oil and food will stick less.
- Greasy yellow marks on the outside of the bottom come off the same way; boil the pot inside a bigger one.
Why baking soda?
Burnt residue is sugar and protein from food carbonized at high heat. Baking soda is mildly alkaline, so it softens that residue and grease, and the heat of boiling speeds the reaction up. The fine powder also works as a gentle abrasive without scratching.
If it still will not come off
For thick burns that survive several rounds, try oxygen bleach. Fill the pot with hot water, dissolve 1–2 tbsp of sodium percarbonate and let it soak for an hour or more, then push with a spatula. Do not boil oxygen bleach; just dissolve it in hot water and leave it.
FAQ
I burned sugar or jam. Burnt sugar dissolves quite well in plain boiling water. Try boiling with water alone first, then use baking soda for whatever is left.
