How to clean burnt food off your pan

Source: https://circulon.uk.com/blogs/the-culinary-circle/how-to-clean-burnt-food-off-your-pan

Why does food stick to the pan?
There are several reasons food sticks to pans, but the most common is that a chemical reaction occurs between the ingredients and the metal of the cookware. Meat and poultry are particularly prone to sticking because metal atoms, such as iron, form complexes with the proteins.

Another reason your food might be sticking is that all pans have microscopic cracks that expand when heated. This expansion causes foodstuff to become trapped, where it then sticks and burns.

You may also have noticed that if you cook food with little to no fat it has a greater risk of sticking because of the lack of lubrication.

How to stop pans from turning black over a flame?
If you're wondering how to clean a burnt pan, you may also be wondering how to stop your pans from turning black too. One of the biggest causes of pans becoming black is because the distribution of heat is uneven.

One of the most effective ways of stopping your pans from turning black is by investing in high-quality cookware. When you opt for cheaper pans, the low-quality material causes uneven heating, which contributes to blackening.

Another quick and easy way to stop your pans from burning and turning black is by keeping your hob clean and free from food, oil and other debris.

How to clean a burnt pan - 3 tried and tested methods
Whether you're a culinary whizz or an avid recipe follower, sometimes accidents happen. But don't worry, Circulon products benefit from decades of innovation in non-stick technology. So, even if your food does get charred, it would be pretty hard to burn food onto these pans.

If you haven’t invested in Circulon tech yet and you're wondering how to get burnt food off your pan, here are our top tried and tested methods.

Bicarbonate of soda & vinegar
A cupboard staple, this is a quick, easy and all-natural way to clean stainless steel, cast iron and even copper pans.

1. Fill your pan with equal parts water and vinegar.
2. Bring the mixture to the boil.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.
4. Remove from the heat and let soak for 15 minutes.
5. Discard the liquid down the drain.
   
6. Use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining burnt bits.

Lemons
Yes, another natural way to get burnt food off pans – and it'll make your kitchen smell great!

1. Slice a few lemons and place them on your pans.
2. Fill the pans with enough water to cover the slices.
3. Bring the water to the boil for around 8 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and allow the liquid to work its magic.
5. When food particles start floating to the surface your pan is ready to be scrubbed.
6. Discard the lemon water.
7. Rinse with hot, clean water and use a scouring pad to remove any stuck-on bits.

Dishwasher tablet
If you have a really dirty pan, sometimes using a dishwasher tablet is a great way to get it clean.

1. Rinse your dirty pan with hot water.
2. Gently scrub the pan under warm water using the dishwasher tab.
3. Scrub until all the debris is lifted.

Tips to avoid burning food when cooking
As pioneers of non-stick, we are confident our products will last. However, it is also important you look after your cookware in the best way possible. We believe that if you look after your cookware, it will look after you.

To prevent food burning onto your pan again, here are some top tips:

• Due to our high-quality materials, you shouldn’t need to use a high heat with our pans. Once your pan is at the right temperature, stick to a medium or low heat and you’ll be amazed at the way these innovative products retain their heat for consistent cooking.
• Circulon pans can cook food 20% faster due to the superior materials, so keep this in mind with any recipe you’re following.

The Hi-Low non-stick system within our pans means food shouldn’t stick, but we still recommend cleaning thoroughly after use. A quick wipe may leave your pans looking clean, but tiny food particles can remain. These deposits could eventually carbonise on the surface of the non-stick, preventing it from working effectively.

• Clean thoroughly with soapy water. Wash around the pan in a circular motion using a brush or nylon sponge. You should only need a light touch and no abrasive pads that could deteriorate and damage the interior of the pan in the long run.