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Remove Burned-On Food from a Pan

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By Noreen Doll.

Here’s an easy way to remove burned on food from a pan.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

I had a non stick pan with severely burned on food that needed to be cleaned. The food was so welded to the pan I couldn’t even scrape it with a spoon edge.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

First I added water to it and brought it to a boil, then covered it and let it stand. That did nothing. I couldn’t scrape anything loose.

Next I poured in some baking soda, then added vinegar. I gently heated it and left it to soak. Nope, it didn’t work.

I had read about using a dryer sheet, which was supposed to make the burned on food lift right off after soaking. Nothing at all.

Finally, I went back to my oven cleaner.

I heated the pan, turned off the burner, and laid a paper towel in the bottom.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

I poured in enough ammonia to just cover the bottom of the pan..

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

and immediately covered it with a tight fitting lid.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

You have to be quick as there are strong fumes from the ammonia.

I left the pan overnight, although I did reheat it slightly a couple of times, as heat seems to help the process. I did not remove the lid.

The next morning I removed the lid (stand back – the fumes are strong!) and disposed of the paper towel.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

I wiped out the excess ammonia and scraped the bottom of the pan a bit.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

Everything came right up!

I washed the pan thoroughly, and this is the result.

Easy Way to Remove Burned-on Food from a Pan by Crafty Journal

Caution: You do need to be careful when using ammonia.

Also, ammonia reacts with aluminum and may discolor a pan if left too long.

The pan can be tightly covered with aluminum foil if it doesn’t have a lid.

Noreen Doll

Crafty Journal

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  1. Thanks, I just burned the daylights out of one of my favorite pans. Didn’t even know it was happening until it was too late. Gonna try your advice. Thanks again.

  4. I’ve used ammonia in trash bag, tied up tied and left outside overnight for the burnt on gunk on gas stove grills. What a creative way to use the ammonia without damaging the handle or outside of the pan.

  6. I could have done with this a few weeks ago when I burnt a pan so badly I ended up throwing it away (I tried everything I could find on line first, vinegar, washing powder, heating, soaking – the works! Next time, and there is bound to be a next time, I will try this)

  7. Ha ha, I’m curious about the incident that caused that blackened pan! I have to confess that if boiling water and a bit of a scrub doesn’t get a pan clean, I just call it good and after more cooking with the pan it eventually comes clean. Is that horrible? 🙂 I have ammonia around, maybe I’ll try that next time, thanks!

  10. Noreen, I hope your holidays were wonderful!!! Pinned this post. Wow. Thanks for the info. I’ve had this happen to my pans also. Also will feature on Facebook tomorrow. This is such a wonderful thing to know. Your friend, Linda

  13. A few pans of mine are ruined. Thanks for the idea, I’ll use it 😀 , it might be a lifesaver!

  14. Would this be the best way to clean some rusty cast iron cookware we got from my husbands grandmother?

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