How to Clean Greasy Pots and Pans

Sometimes the best evidence of a truly magnificent meal is the truly magnificent mess left at the end. Here's how to get those greasy pots and pans clean.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Liquid Dish Soap
• Oven Cleaner
• Oven Cleaner
• Baking Soda
• Baking Soda
• Dishtowels
• Powdered Dishwashing Detergent
• Scouring Pad

1. Let any remaining grease in the pan cool slightly.

2. Pour grease into a can.

3. Set pan to soak in hot soapy water.

4. Pour off soapy water.

5. Arrange pan in lower rack of the dishwasher and run on "pots and pans" or "heavy" cycle. Or,

6. Wash by hand using very warm, soapy water and scrub with a scouring pad.

7. Rinse and dry pan.

Tips & Warnings

• Save greasy pots and pans for last when washing by hand.
• If glass baking dishes have baked-on food, spray the pan with oven cleaner and let it sit for 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle scorched pans with baking soda or powdered dishwashing detergent; add a small amount of water and let stand for an hour or more.
• Try adding a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pot or pan, and bring to a boil on the stove top before cleaning.
• Avoid pouring grease down the sink and causing damage to pipes.

[brbsteel]

on 3/13/2007 I would like to know how to get the baked on grease out of a deep fat fryer. Thank you!

on 6/30/2006 Dishwasher detergent usually has chlorine bleach in it. Chlorine bleach will pit and scar the cooking surface of your pans, making food stick much more, and harder to clean. Soak stained pans with hot water and soap for several hours, if you have stainless cookware, use a non-chlorine stainless steel cleaning powder, it will polish, not ruin your pans. Don't buy "nonstick" Teflon pans, if they overheat, they will release fumes that kill pet birds, and are bad for the rest of us.

on 11/22/2005 If your burned pot or pan is aluminum, just add 3/4 of a cup of bleach (no water) and let it sit for a while. The bleach will break up the burned food.

on 11/22/2005 Place a Bounce sheet in the pan. Fill with water and let sit overnight. This will soften all the baked-on food from your cookware.

on 11/22/2005 Spray pan with PAM before cooking roast. When done, pour bulk of the grease into a container. Pour dishwasher detergent into pan. Fill pan with extremely hot water and let soak in sink for hours. Grease is dissolved and clean-up later is easy.