We’ve all been there before – you pull out a pan to start cooking and discover remnants from last night’s dinner burnt and stuck to the bottom. Baked-on food can be a real chore to remove. But having the right cleaning agent makes the job much easier.
The struggle is real when it comes to baked-on food. From casseroles and roasts to grilled cheese sandwiches, high heat and lengthy cooking times allow foods to adhere tightly to cookware. And once it dries and hardens, getting every last bit unstuck becomes a tedious (if not impossible) task.
You could spend hours scrubbing and scouring to no avail. But the right cleaning agent can dissolve even the most stubborn baked-on residue with minimal effort.
Finding an effective cleaner is crucial. Burnt food not only looks and smells bad, but it can also harbor bacteria if left for too long. Plus, you want your cookware looking like new again.
So Which cleaning agent best removes baked-on food? Let’s take a look at some popular options.
Common Cleaning Agents for Baked-On Food
Several household cleaners can tackle baked-on gunk. Each has its pros and cons.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is a versatile kitchen cleaner found in most homes. It’s designed to cut through oil and grease – two of the main components of cooked-on food.
Dish soap alone often struggles with stubborn deposits. But it works well for mild cases and is very affordable. It also rinses cleanly without leaving residue.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is mildly abrasive and alkaline, giving it some grease-cutting ability. Mixing it with water into a paste provides gentle scrubbing power for baked-on spills.
It’s safe for most surfaces and non-toxic. However, baking soda may not pack enough punch for severe burnt-on messes.
Vinegar
Vinegar’s high acidity makes it useful for breaking down crusty food remnants. Most people have white vinegar on hand too.
However, vinegar can leave an odor. Its acidic nature also requires rinsing thoroughly to avoid damaging certain materials like stoneware or enamel over time.
Commercial Degreasers
Degreasing cleaners like Easy-Off and Goo Gone are formulated to dissolve caked-on grease and food. They contain powerful solvents and surfactants that penetrate deep to lift residue.
While very effective, degreasers can have strong fumes and may not be suitable for all surfaces. Many require rinsing any food-contact areas thoroughly afterward.
Oven Cleaners
Caustic oven cleaners like Easy-Off are the heavy artillery for burnt-on oven messes. The lye or sodium hydroxide they contain cuts through serious carbonized buildup.
Such harsh chemicals require caution. Proper ventilation, gloves and eye protection are a must when using them. Most oven cleaners are also not intended for other kitchenware.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cleaning Agent
With so many options, how do you know which cleaner is right for the job? Here are key considerations:
Type of Surface
The cookware’s material affects which cleaners can be safely used. Abrasives like baking soda must be avoided on scratched surfaces for example. Acidic vinegar is fine for stainless steel but can damage enamel over time.
Severity of Baked-On Food
Light staining may need only dish soap and elbow grease. But thicker deposits and carbonized crust require a more powerful solvent-based cleaner. Assess the extent of burning before choosing a cleaning agent.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
Some cleaners contain harsh chemicals and fumes. Consider toxicity, kids/pets and proper ventilation based on the product label. Eco-friendly cleaners like vinegar and baking soda are more environmentally safe.
Testing the Cleaning Agents
To get to the bottom of which cleaner works best, we tested popular options on a variety of baked-on messes. Here’s how each fared:
Dish Soap
Effectiveness: Dish soap alone struggled with thicker burnt deposits but handled mild stains with scrubbing.
Pros: Non-abrasive, rinses clean, affordable, safe for most surfaces
Cons: Not powerful enough for heavy-duty buildup
Baking Soda
Effectiveness: Baking soda paste lifted moderate baked-on food but needed extended scrubbing time.
Pros: Non-toxic, natural, gentle abrasive action
Cons: Not effective for severe carbonized messes, requires rinsing
Vinegar
Effectiveness: Vinegar loosened thin and moderate burnt-on food after lengthy soaking and scrubbing.
Pros: Acidic formula breaks down residue, natural, inexpensive
Cons: Strong odor, not ideal for all surfaces, repeated use can damage enamel
Commercial Degreasers
Effectiveness: Degreasers like Easy-Off dissolved thick, baked-on food easily with minimal scrubbing.
Pros: Powerful surfactants cut through stubborn burnt-on grease and food quickly
Cons: Can have strong fumes, not safe for all surfaces, requires thorough rinsing
Oven Cleaners
Effectiveness: Oven cleaners like Easy-Off wiped out even the most stubborn, carbonized baked-on food in ovens.
Pros: Caustic formula removes extreme buildup that most cleaners can’t touch
Cons: Very corrosive, requires heavy-duty gloves and ventilation, not for non-oven use
Additional Tips for Removing Baked-On Food
While the cleaning agent does the heavy lifting, proper technique also helps:
Soaking
Allowing burnt food to soak in the cleaner for 15-30 minutes before scrubbing gives it time to penetrate and loosen the bond.
Scrubbing Techniques
Use a non-abrasive scrubber or sponge and apply elbow grease in circular motions to lift residue after soaking. Avoid abrasive pads on scratched cookware.
Preventing Baked-On Food
Don’t let food dry on. Promptly soak or wash pans after cooking before residue dries and hardens into a crust.
Various tests showed that commercial degreasers are the most effective cleaning agents for removing baked-on food in most situations. Their powerful solvent formulas allow them to penetrate and dissolve even severe burnt-on deposits with minimal effort.
For light staining, dish soap often does the trick with some scrubbing. Baking soda also works for moderate mess. Vinegar is an affordable, natural option but may require repeat applications and scrubbing for thicker buildup.
FAQ
What is the best way to clean baked-on food from glass or ceramic?
For glass or ceramic pans, a commercial degreaser works best for baked-on food. Let the degreaser soak for 15-30 minutes before scrubbing. Avoid abrasives on glass to prevent scratches.
Is baking soda or vinegar better for cleaning burnt pots and pans?
Vinegar is slightly more effective than baking soda for removing moderate baked-on food from pots and pans. However, for severe buildup, a degreaser will work better. Rinse pans thoroughly after using vinegar.
How can I clean burnt food off my stainless steel cookware?
Use a mix of dish soap, baking soda and water for baked-on food on stainless steel. Make a paste and let soak before scrubbing. For tough spots, try a degreasing cleaner formulated for stainless steel.
What is the easiest way to remove burnt food from a nonstick pan?
For nonstick pans, soak in hot water to loosen food residue, then use a non-abrasive sponge or soft brush to gently scrub the area. Avoid using metal scouring pads or abrasive cleaners which can damage the nonstick coating.
How can I get baked-on food out of my oven without harsh chemicals?
For a natural oven cleaner, mix baking soda with enough water to form a spreadable paste. Spread over burnt areas and let sit overnight before scrubbing and rinsing. You can also use a steam cleaner or hot water and vinegar to help soften baked-on oven food.
When dealing with extreme carbonized grease in ovens, caustic oven cleaners contain the hardcore chemicals needed to cut through it. No matter the cleaner, always check that it’s safe for the cookware’s material before use. Proper precautions like ventilation and gloves are also a must with harsher cleaning agents.
The key is using the right cleaning solution for the severity of the mess. Tackling baked-on food promptly before it chars will also make cleanup much easier. A little elbow grease doesn’t hurt either.
Following these tips will keep your cookware looking like new and let you get back to whipping up tasty meals again in no time. What’s your go-to cleaner for burnt-on food?
