The short answer
Cover the burnt base with water, add a good spoonful of bicarbonate of soda, and simmer for ten minutes. Most of it will lift off with a wooden spoon.
- Cover the burnt area with water and add two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.
- Bring to a simmer for ten minutes.
- Let it cool a little, then push at the burnt layer with a wooden spoon or a plastic scraper. It usually comes away in sheets.
- For anything stubborn, leave the solution in overnight and repeat.
What will ruin it
Do not use bicarbonate of soda on aluminium pans, which it darkens and pits. And never use a metal scourer on non-stick: once the coating is scratched the pan is finished and should be replaced.
Why it works
Bicarbonate of soda is a mild alkali, and burnt-on food is largely carbonised carbohydrate and protein. Simmering alkali breaks the bond between the carbon layer and the metal, which is the bond you were trying to break with the scourer.
Tipking is general household information, not professional advice. Test anything on a hidden patch first. Full disclaimer.
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