Burnt cooking pots will sparkle like new if you clean them with two simple ingredients as part of a “tried and true method”, it has been claimed. A common kitchen staple, the hard-wearing cast-iron pot is a “versatile” choice that allows home cooks to produce a range of hearty dishes, including beloved winter fare like stews and casseroles.
Utilising this particular piece of cookware comes with a troublesome drawback; you might find that your culinary creations tend to burn to the bottom of the pot. Yet, cleaning this type of material will, of course, have to be done carefully, as you don’t want to damage the enamel, particularly if you’ve spent a lot on our pot. This can prove to be a tricky task. A “tried and true method” for tackling this household chore lies before us, though, according to Good Housekeeping’s Helen McCue.
First, ensure that you let your pot cool “completely” before you reach for the rubber gloves.It’s worth noting that, while some varieties are safe to place in your dishwasher, hand-washing with soapy water is suggested.
In this manner, you can safeguard the enamel. Similarly, Helen stressed that you should refrain from attacking your pot with “scrubbing pads or scrapers” for the same reason.
Instead, she recommended nylon scourers or brushes, as these will be easier on the material and will “get the job done with a bit of elbow grease”. But first, you should fill up your pan with warm soapy water and let it sit.
You can do this for as little as a few minutes or as long as overnight; the point is that it will loosen the material you’re trying to remove and make cleaning easier when you tackle it.
She wrote: “You may be watching your pot carefully as you cook, but it only takes one little distraction for food to burn onto the bottom. Refrain from attacking the black burnt-on stain with every kitchen implement as you could damage the enamel this way.”
Once you reach the point where you can start cleaning, add one teaspoon of washing-up liquid and two or three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda to your pot. Then, add warm water up to the halfway point.
Next, place the pot on your hob and bring the mixture to a simmer, leaving it for between eight and 10 minutes, before using a plastic spatula to remove the leftover food from the pot.
Leave the water to cool down slightly, then pour the majority of it away, leaving enough for you to take a “gentle nylon scourer” and finish off the job; just ensure the water is cool enough to perform the task safely.
Finally, Helen noted that if you have particularly stubborn burnt food stuck to your pot and you’re unable to shift it with the first sweep, you may have to repeat the method.
You can also use the same two ingredients to make a paste that will serve as a cleaner for other parts of the pot, including the outside. Simply add a bit of water to the paste, then carefully clean with a nylon scourer or your trusty sponge.
