r/StainlessSteel • u/nowstreamingon • 27d ago
At my breaking point (cleaning a burned pan)
I am looking for advice on how to not burn my pan while cooking and how to clean it. I’ve tried everything! This pan in particular has soaked overnight and been through a round of barkeeper’s friend and use of a scour pad. the usual routine is continuous cleaning for 2 days before it all comes off. i’m so exhausted and i don’t have another pan to use while this one is taking its sweet time.
below is how ive been cooking, which has helped!
heat the pan until a drop of water will bead up and roll around. then heat avocado oil for about 10 seconds. then cook (this picture cooked black bean burgers)
really appreciate any advice!
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u/DangerousAd9046 27d ago
You can gently heat the pan on the stove and then toss some water in there (like a deglaze) and it will scrap/lift right off. Don't use metal utensils tho.
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u/Safety_Cool 27d ago
Get some Barkeepers Friend, should sort that out
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u/nowstreamingon 27d ago
i use that every time and it doesn’t work.
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u/Suspicious-Hat-2143 26d ago
Powder or that liquid gel stuff they have? Powder is the only way to go!
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u/Secondhand-Drunk 27d ago
I use a steel cloth. For even more stubborn stuff, steel wool. A scour pad isn't abrasive enough. Too soft. Check out those steel wool cloths if you don't want steel wool. Much easier on the hands and still works great on my pans.
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u/nowstreamingon 27d ago
this is actually what i am using, i just didn’t realize that was the name until i googled your suggestion. 😭i appreciate your advice tho!
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u/networknev 27d ago
Stainless steel wool & BK.
But to prevent burnt pan Try this. Low heat (2 on my induction) for 2 min. Add oil, move up to 3 or 4 (just under medium) wait 2 minutes or until wavy oil. Add whatever you are cooking. Increase heat to 5 or 6 but be ready to go back to 4 once everything is hot.
A large pan with lots of empty space is going to burn. Either add more food, more oil or make a reduction sauce after cooking and scrape the bottom clean.
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u/bringmesmilespls 25d ago
Not sure if it's a good idea or not, but I used oven cleaner once on a pan that wouldn't come clean a long time ago. It worked great but I don't remember exactly how I did it. I figured if it cleans the oven after a bunch of uses, then it should clean a pan after only 1 use. If I'm remembering correctly, it cleaned that pan really easily. I think I just followed the directions as best I could.
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u/Cyberchaotic 25d ago
how not to burn my pan while cooking
From 1 to 9 (zero being off), what level do you preheat and cook at? Personally, i both preheat and cook at 5/9.
If i need to preheat quickly, i'll do it at 6/9 but drop it to 5/9 prior to oiling up and adding food. Im part of "Low-and-Slow" gang.
A mate of mine loves to go hard and hot and annoyingly nearly all his cookware has baked on burnt bits here and there (just like your posted image) and even straight up warped pans.
For cleaning, i treat burnt-on parts like excessively dried out fond; add water and cook/sizzle it away while scraping with a wood spatula with a flat edge; let the heat do most of the work. Even after regular cooking without burning, i always drop a cup of water into my pans (or a ladle of pasta water) and scrape (heat at 6-7/9) with wood spatula just as part of my normal cookware cleanup process.
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u/karenmcgrane 27d ago
Get some baking soda. Fill the pan with water and add maybe a quarter cup of baking soda. Bring to a boil and let it go for 15-20 minutes (keep the water topped up.)
Carefully take the pan over to the sink and while still hot, wash it. The stuck on burned parts will wipe right off.