Steel wool is another alternative, although it is extremely harsh on non-stick pots. Although hot water is beneficial, it is insufficient. You probably don’t want to throw out your kitchenware all of the time.
There are plenty of products out there that claim to do a great job with burned-on food, but most are fairly expensive. There are other options. Surprisingly, the best solutions to burned-on food in a pot or pan are all-natural and easy. The best solutions are built around the idea that heat plus abrasive substances can do the trick.
Baking Soda, Water, and Detergent
For baking pans, baked-on gunk, one of the best solutions is a mix of baking soda, hot water, and dishwashing liquid. Allow the pots and pans to soak for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub out the pots and pans with a plastic scrubber, double-checking the curves of the dish. If your pans are still yucky, try adding the same solution again and heating the pan on the stove until it boils. Then try scrubbing again.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Vinegar is an acid, and baking soda is an abrasive. Together, they can help you save your pots and pans. Start by boiling a mixture of vinegar and water in the pot or pan. This will loosen the burned-on food. Carefully remove the pots and pans from heat, dump out the liquid, and add baking soda. When they have cooled enough, scrub pots and pans with more baking soda and a plastic scrubber.
Alka-Seltzer
Alka-Seltzer is an amazing workhorse of a product. Not only can it relieve indigestion, but it can also help you clean a surprising range of things around the house, including burned-on food. Just put hot water in your pot or pan, add about six Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let them fizz. The citric acid in the Alka Seltzer will start to work. When you return after an hour or so, use hot water, detergent, and a strong scrubber to clean off almost any mess.
Dryer Sheets
A strange-but-true option for cleaning grungy pots or pans is to use a new or used dryer sheet. It is not quite clear why this works, but many home-making mavens including Martha Stewart swear by the method. Simply put a dryer sheet into a pot with hot water, wait an hour, and scrub. The mess will be much easier to manage.
Prevent Pot Burns
Once you have cleaned and dried your pots and pans, it may be worth your while to invest in a good wooden spoon and a timer to avoid running into the same problem next time.