How to Get Burnt Food Off of Non-Stick Cookware

Non-stick cookware has a protective coating that prevents sticking.

Although non-stick cookware is designed to prevent food from adhering to the cooking surface, it is not foolproof. Food items can still get stuck to non-stick pots and pans if they are overcooked or if the heat used during cooking is too high. Burnt food is difficult to remove from any surface, but the delicate nature of non-stick cookware makes the task unique. To clean your non-stick cookware, you will need to carefully remove the burnt-on substances without damaging the non-stick surface beneath.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Plastic scrub brush
• Dish detergent with grease fighting additives
• White vinegar
• Bowl
• Clean towel
• Oil
• Butter
• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Remove as much loose and stuck-on food as possible using dry paper towels. Wipe the cookware surface, and lift away any food items that you can pry loose.

2. Soak your non-stick cookware in a mixture of warm water and dish detergent with grease-fighting additives. Allow your cookware to sit in this warm bath for about 10 minutes. Use warm water to wash away the food particles that have been loosened during the soaking process.

3. Use a plastic scrubbing sponge and dish detergent to remove any remaining burnt food. Apply some non-abrasive cleaner to your plastic scrub brush or sponge to help grind away the worst of the burnt-on residue. These cleaners will not damage the non-stick surface of your cookware but supply enough additional friction to make a difference.

4. Fill your cookware with water, and set it on the stove to boil. Pour a mixture of 75 percent white vinegar and 25 percent water into the pot or pan. Boil the mixture for five to 10 minutes, and then empty and cool the pot or pan. Use your plastic scrub brush and dish detergent to remove any residue that was loosened during the boiling process.

5. Mix baking powder and water together in a bowl. Stir the mixture until a thick paste forms. Spread the paste over the burnt-on food, and wait for about 30 minutes. Wash the surface with your plastic scrub brush and dish detergent, and then towel dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use non-stick cookware on low heat only. High heat will cause food to burn and the non-stick surface of your cookware to crack.

• Use a teaspoon of oil or butter when cooking in a non-stick pan. This will lubricate the surface as well as prevent burning and sticking. Spray-on shortenings cause an obstructive buildup to form, which will negate the effects of a non-stick surface.

• Do not use steel wool pads on your non-stick pots and pans. Doing so will remove the protective non-stick coating and result in a loss of its non-stick properties.

References

• Good Housekeeping: How to Clean Residue on Nonstick Pans
• How to Clean It: How to Clean a Non-Stick Pan
• New York Times; How Not to Wreck a Nonstick Pan; Alina Tugend; 2010
• Dupont: Teflon: Cooking & Care Q&A's