This has been a frequent query from the Clean My Space community members, and it’s clear that this required some investigation and testing in our state-of-the-art cleaning lab (…our home).
We have put your question and put it to the test. If you haven’t yet, we highly recommend you look at our blog and video on how to clean up the interior of an unburnt pot or pan…it’s straightforward and requires little effort from you (praise God for his mercy!).
In the comments to the post and video, We’ve been asked an alarmingly large number of times about how to clean in the pots’ bottom pans… the truth is, we’ve never considered it and couldn’t find a quick solution. It was a bit of research, but we were able to find the answer. We’ve looked into the most popular methods of cleaning the bottoms of pans and pots and trying them out.
The two options we decided not to employ were cleaning your oven with oven cleaner (it can invalidate your oven’s warranty and is typically hard, and the same result is achievable with other products). The other is to soak in coca. We tested this and found that the results were not exciting, and we decided to leave it out. Try it if you’ve got some bottles left around.
We tested ketchup using the cream of tartar baking soda ketchup, along with the Barkeeper’s friend. We utilized two kinds of pans to give an overview of how everything performed. I employed the Simply Calphalon stainless steel and Le Creuset cast iron enameled pans. It can be used on any pan, but non-stick ones may be susceptible to the Barkeeper’s Friend. Make sure to use the less sassy methods.
Additionally, despite your deepest and darkest dreams, do not put your pans and pots in the dishwasher. It could ruin them, particularly the non-stick and cast iron pans. Always use a Non-scratch sponge to achieve this, especially on non-stick and cast iron pans!
Ketchup
I put ketchup at the top of each pan and let it sit for around 10 minutes. It works highly well for copper-bottomed pots, and tomato paste could be used similarly (great idea for leftovers). After about 10 mins, I washed it using a non-scratch sponge. The results on both pans weren’t great. Scratch marks and build-up are still present. However, the stainless steel appeared lighter. Cast iron was not resistant to ketchup’s treatment. I’m not going to do this again. It is a waste of a beautiful condiment commonly used for potatoes.
Cream of Tartar
I made a paste with three portions of the tartar’s cream for one-third water. The paste was sprayed onto parts of the pan and allowed to sit for about 10 minutes. After that, it was scrubbed using an un-scratchable, damp sponge. Nada to the iron, and, like the ketchup, it was a little brighter on the lower part of the stainless-steel pan, but the stains and scorches were evident. Thank you, but no thanks, C of T.
Baking Soda
You are aware of how much I love baking soda. So, trying it out shouldn’t be a surprise. I made a paste of 3 baking soda and one part water and set it on the bottom of my pan for approximately 10 minutes. Then, I scrubbed it using a non-scratch, non-scrubbing sponge. Most marks were removed, and some elbow grease was needed for this, but the result was pleasant on both the cast iron bottoms of my pans. I didn’t notice the brightening effect on stainless steel like I experienced using baking soda, cream of tartar, or ketchup. However, I’m more worried about getting rid of the marks, and everything is in good order in my hood using baking soda. Complete the clean with a final rinse and wipe clean with a cotton cloth. Then, your pots should be back to form!
Barkeeper’s Friend
This stuff…wow. As with everything else, I sprayed an emulsion of BKF onto the pot’s base (1 part water, three components BKF) and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then, I took the non-scratch sponge and scrubbed without even bothering to clean it. The stains were lifted effortlessly. I could hear angels singing… maybe cats upstairs, but it could have been angels, It was a breeze in the stainless steel skillet and cast iron one and required only minimal effort. This took the cake and was the top choice, in my opinion. I was amazed.
This is the caveat that comes with this blog post is that it contains a caveat.
If you’ve got a burned or toasted bottom of a pan, be aware that you can try any method you want, but there’s a chance you’ll not be able to clean it. I bought one at an auction house to test the results of these techniques, and despite my best efforts, it didn’t work. Some cookwares are goners. These streaks and stains do not impact the cooking abilities your cookware is equipped with. It’s a much more attractive matter. That being said, I don’t mind my cookware being used. I mean, that’s the reason they’re used for! However, if you love the look of beautiful pan bottoms, make sure to clean them regularly to keep the staining and marks away.
If you’re looking to dig into the deeper end of your cleaning and take your cleaning a little more seriously, you must look at the bundle of our Ebooks! It includes three amazing ebooks (Complete Guide to Essential Oils, My 3-Wave Cleaning System, and 50 homemade cleaning recipes) to get you on the right track!