How to Remove Burned Food From Non-Stick Cookware

Non-stick cookware poses an interesting challenge in cleaning. While it's designed to prevent food from sticking to it, sometimes you can still end up with burned-on food and grime. It is possible, with care, to remove that burned food from your non-stick cookware without damaging the finish.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Give water a chance. Before you whip out the harsh cleaning products and abrasives, give plain old tap water a chance to soften up that burned-on food. Fill the pot with hot water and a little soap and let it sit on the counter for about an hour. The food should soften up nicely and just slide right out with the dirty water.

2. Use the right tools. Non-stick coating is delicate, so always use plastic or wooden utensils when trying to remove food-- burned or otherwise-- from your pots and pans.

3. Do some basic chemistry. For tough spots, add a little baking soda to the water mixture and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. The water will turn brown as the baking soda starts to dissolve the food and particles that are stuck on your pots.

4. Wash your non-stick pots by hand and let them air dry to keep them looking great.

Tips & Warnings

• Nothing ruins non-stick cookware faster than a few trips through the dishwasher. Most of the time, the dishwasher just bakes on the gunk even worse, so don't even bother trying it.

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