Looking for a guide on How to Clean Baked on Grease From Non-Stick Pans? Read through this article!
We have come a long way from cooking delicate foods and eggs. Now we rely heavily on nonstick pans to cook everything. The kitchen’s powerhouse, non-stick pans are now a must-have.
Nonstick pans may seem to reduce elbow grease, but oil splatters can still build up around rivets and handles. Food can also burn if we’re too busy cutting vegetables or forgetting to stir the food. Burnt food can build up on the surface of the pan, adding to our misery. If we wipe our nonstick pans only, instead of washing them properly, food residues can remain on the surface of the pan and cause it to become hardened or blackened the next time we cook on it.
While we can scratch stainless steel pans with our hands, nonstick pans require proper care. How hard or sticky the food or baked-on grime is on the surface will determine which cleaning method you use.
If you continue to cook on these solidified layers of grease, gunk, and grime, they can be dangerous. Switch to healthier cookware by purchasing the best nonstick pans with no Teflon.
How to clean baked-on grease from non-stick pans
Let’s talk about how to remove baked-on grease from nonstick pans. Baked-on grease refers to grease that is baked on from oil splatters or high-heat cooking in a nonstick pan. Sidewalls handle, and rivets are the most troublesome areas of baked-on grease in non-stick pans. These areas can be cleaned with the following methods.
Baking Soda, Mild Dishwashing Liquid
- Make a paste by mixing dishwashing liquid with baking soda.
- Use the paste to cover any baked-on grease.
- Allow the paste to sit on the nonstick pan’s surface for at least 1 to 2 hours.
- If there is too much grease baked on, the paste will change color after a few hours.
- Baking soda is very abrasive so you shouldn’t scrub the pan. Use a soft sponge to wipe off the paste.
- Use mild dish soap and wash it with lukewarm warm water
- Use a paper towel to dry the pan. You can only scrub the uncoated rivets if there is any baked-on grease. You should not scrub the coated parts.
- You can also scrub stainless steel handles to remove grease.
The best 12-inch nonstick pan will satisfy your desire for a nonstick pan that cooks dinner for the whole family.
Vinegar solution to dissolve the grease
It is necessary to dissolve baked-on grease. Vinegar and water are the best cleaners that dissolve baked-on grease.
- Mix water and vinegar. Make 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar.
- Make sure that the solution is enough to fill 3/4 of the nonstick pan.
- This solution should be boiled on medium heat until it becomes simmering.
- Let the solution cool off before turning off the engine.
- Mix the ingredients and then wash with warm water. Use a mild dishwashing detergent.
Cleaning a non-stick pan with burnt-on food
Even the most experienced chef can make mistakes and burn food on a nonstick pan. Misjudgment when setting the temperature can cause food to burn. It’s a nightmare! The nonstick surface is impossible to scrub.
First, we should wash the pan immediately with running water to ensure that the food doesn’t dry out. Be careful not to wash your pan in running water immediately. The coating can be damaged by sudden temperature changes and may also cause warping.
These are some ways to clean burnt food.
Soak the Pan
- After the pan has cooled, add some dishwashing liquid to it.
- Hot water should be added to the entire pan.
- Mix water and dishwashing fluid with a wooden spoon until bubbles appear on the top
- Allow the pan to soak in the water until the food is dissolved.
- After the water has cooled, drain it and then rinse the pan using dishwashing liquid.
- If the surface is still not completely lifted by the burnt-of foods, repeat the process.
Boil water and bake soda solution
Baking soda is an effective cleaning agent. It can be used to clean nonstick pans that have food stuck on or burned. You can use baking soda to clean burnt food in one of two ways. The first, which uses dishwashing liquid and baking soda, was discussed above.
You can also boil baking soda and water in a pan.
- Fill 3/4 of the pans with water. Sprinkle a few drops of baking soda on the pan.
- Bring to boil over medium heat.
- Let the pan cool. You can now clean the pan using nylon or microfiber and dishwashing liquid.
Using Salt Mixture
Salt mixtures can also be used to clean the food that has been burned.
- Combine salt and water, and rub the paste on the burnt areas and scorch marks.
- Allow the mixture to rest on the pan for approximately 30-45 minutes.
- To clean the pan’s surface, wipe the paste off and wash it.
Baking Soda, Vinegar Mixture
Baking soda and vinegar are often used together in a way that nullifies each other’s properties. This is why many people are skeptical. It all depends on how the ingredients are mixed. These ingredients can be combined to produce powerful results.
To dissolve the food, heat water and vinegar in a saucepan. Add two tablespoons of baking soda.
Mix the contents. Allow the solution to simmer over medium heat.
Let it cool down before you wash it with a soft sponge. To remove any food residue, you can use a soft non-abrasive brush.
Reduce Discoloration by Hydrogen Peroxide
Most often, food buildup or food burnt causes discoloration in pans. Because of their light-colored interior, the nonstick ceramic pans are more susceptible to discoloration. The above-mentioned methods are used to clean ceramic pans. To address discoloration issues, however, you will need a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution.
- Spread the solution onto the ceramic pan’s top. The solution should begin bubbling.
- Allow the solution to sit in the pan for about 30 minutes.
- Next, rinse the pan and wash it with mild dishwashing detergent. The bleaching effect of hydrogen peroxide will result in a reduction in discoloration.
Note: If hydrogen peroxide solutions don’t bubble then they may have outlived their shelf life and you will need to purchase a new one.
Here are some ways to stop ruining your non-stick pans
- Your nonstick pans should not be washed in the dishwasher. Non-stick coating can be damaged by the abrasive detergent in the dishwasher.
- Do not use steel wools or scrubbing coarse brushes for cleaning.
- Do not heat any cleaning product on high heat.
- Do not expose nonstick pans to temperature changes by washing them in cold water right after cooking. This is the fastest way to warm your pans.
- Use metal spatulas to scrape food off.
- To clean nonstick pans, don’t use harmful chemicals or detergents.
- To avoid scratches, don’t stack cookware without a felt pad.
- If the nonstick pan begins to show wear, don’t use vinegar and lemon.
- Use cooking sprays sparingly as they can cause damage to the nonstick coating.
BONUS TIP: How to Prevent Baked On Grease
Washing the pan after each use is the best way to prevent grease and gunk buildup.
- To wash the nonstick pan, use mild soap and lukewarm warm water.
- Use a soft sponge to clean the pan and remove any food remnants.
- Use a nonstick pan washable with a nonstick detergent.
- The nonstick coating can also be damaged by hot water.
The Bottom Line
It is easy to clean nonstick cookware. However, you must follow the correct method in order not to ruin your investment. Properly cleaning nonstick cookware will prolong its shelf life, make sure food doesn’t stick, and it won’t cost you more to replace it.