It can happen to the best of us.

Heat

1.

Fill the pot with water, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Dirty oily burnt metal frying pan held in hand by male hand.

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Then, reduce the heat and keep at a low simmer until the mess loosens and floats away.

Pour out the warm water, and hand wash the pan as usual to remove any remaining specks.

This method works remarkably well, although it can take more than one treatment.

Lodge scrubbing pad

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

This method gets high marks on social media review sites.

Power Wash Dish Soap

For light to moderate messes, try a power wash dish soap.

For thicker and even more stubborn messes, try a stronger power dissolving gel.

Be sure to follow the package directions carefully.

Theversatile productis useful for many other cleaning tasks too, such as buffing scuff marks off of dishes.

What About Burnt Food On Cast-Iron Pans?

Cast-iron pans (which you’re free to use soap on!)

are also prone to stuck-on messes, especially if not properly seasoned.

Plastic food scrapers andchainmail scrubbersspecifically sold for cast-iron pans can also help tackle really tough spots without damaging them.

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases no!

You might need to put in some work to revive it, but very rarely is a pan unsalvageable.

One instance where it may be ruined is when a nonstick pan starts peeling, flaking, or chipping.