Clean Burnt Pans and Pots with Baking Soda and Vinegar | CookOS

How to Clean Burnt Pans and Pots

Name: Clean Burnt Pans and Pots with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 37 min
Yield: 1 servings
Ingredients: 1/4 cup baking soda; 2 tbsp white vinegar; 1 tbsp The Pink Stuff cleaning paste

This kitchen hack uses baking soda, white vinegar, and The Pink Stuff cleaning paste to quickly remove burnt-on stains from the bottom and sides of pans and pots without scrubbing.

🏷️Cleaning 🏷️Kitchen-hack 🏷️Pan-cleaning 🏷️Pot-cleaning 🏷️Baking-soda Vinegar

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Total

37 min

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$10–$16

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by moribyan

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Ingredients

1/4 cup baking soda
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp The Pink Stuff cleaning pasteoptional

3 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Generously cover the burnt bottom of your pan or pot with baking soda.
2
Pour vinegar over the baking soda. It will start to fizz and form a paste.
3
Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes. For tougher stains, you can let it sit for longer, even overnight.
4
Using a stainless steel scrubber, scrub the pan vigorously in circular motions to lift the stains.
5
If the baking soda and vinegar mixture isn't enough for tough stains, you can apply a cleaning paste like The Pink Stuff and continue scrubbing.
6
Rinse the pan thoroughly with water to wash away the paste and reveal the clean surface.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Mix baking soda and vinegar directly in the burnt pan to create a fizzing reaction that lifts debris from the surface
Add The Pink Stuff paste after the baking soda-vinegar reaction to boost cleaning power on stubborn, darkened stains
Use a non-abrasive scrub brush or soft sponge to avoid scratching cookware while removing loosened burnt residue

Substitutions

White vinegar → lemon juice (same acidic action, adds fresh scent)
The Pink Stuff cleaning paste → dish soap (gentler alternative, may require longer sitting time)

Common Questions

What causes burnt-on stains in pans?

Burnt-on stains form when food residue carbonizes on cookware surfaces during cooking, creating a hard, stuck-on layer that regular washing doesn't remove.

Can this method work on non-stick cookware?

Use caution with non-stick pans—the baking soda paste is gentle, but avoid abrasive scrubbing that could damage the non-stick coating. Test on a small area first.

How long should I let the paste sit?

Let the baking soda and vinegar mixture sit for several minutes to allow the chemical reaction to loosen burnt debris before scrubbing.

Will this damage stainless steel or cast iron?

This method is safe for stainless steel and cast iron. For cast iron, dry thoroughly afterward and apply a light oil coating to maintain seasoning.

What if the burnt stains don't come off completely?

Let the paste sit longer, or repeat the application. For extremely stubborn stains, soaking the pan in hot water with the paste mixture for 30 minutes before scrubbing helps.