How to Remove Burn Spots From Aluminum Pans

Restore your aluminum pan so it looks new again.

Aluminum pans are not always the easiest cookware pieces to clean. Food can burn on, and removing every last little burn spot can be a bear. Fortunately, you can make the job easier with a simple home remedy. Then, if any dark spots remain, vinegar might just do the trick to remove them and, at the same time, make your aluminum pans look shiny and new again.

Things You'll Need

• Cream of tartar
• Sponge, rag, scrub brush or scrubbing pad
• White vinegar

Instructions

1. Mix 1/2 tablespoon of cream of tartar for every cup of water. Put as much as you need in your pan to cover all the burn spots. If the burn spots are on the outside of the pan, fill a larger pan with the cream of tartar mixture and place the aluminum pan inside of it.

2. Simmer the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and then rub the burn spots off with a sponge or rag. You can use a nylon bristle brush or scrubbing pad as well.

3. Mix 1 teaspoon of white vinegar for every cup of water and use this solution to remove the remaining dark spots. They might not be burn spots but rather stains from cooking acidic foods or tarnish stains. If the spots don’t easily come off, boil the mixture on the spots for 10 minutes to remove them. Also, use this solution to clean the entire pan to make it shine.

References

• Reader's Digest: 20+ Ways to Easily Clean Pots and Pans
• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Aluminum