Burnt grease can be a pain to clean off of frying pans. It can leave a sticky, difficult-to-remove residue that takes some elbow grease to remove. Fortunately, there are a few methods that can help make the job easier. In this post, we will share four methods for how to clean burnt grease from bottom of frying pans. Read on to learn more!
(Be sure to check out our tips on cleaning burnt food from cast iron pans and also on cleaning burnt Calphalon pans.)
Table of Contents
Four Simple Methods
If you’ve ever cooked anything in a frying pan, chances are you’ve had to deal with burnt grease at some point. And if you’re like most people, you probably just scrubbed and scrubbed until your arm felt like it was going to fall off, only to end up with a pan that still had burned-on grease.
Luckily, there are easier ways to clean burnt grease from a frying pan.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is the first thing we’ll talk about. The baking soda works amazingly for removing all types of stains. You can also use the product to remove burnt grease from the surface of a pan.
It’s a great item to have in your kitchen and it’s not expensive either! If you want to apply this method, you should take a burnt pan and sprinkle soda on the burnt area.
Dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda in one cup of hot water, and pour the mixture into the frying pan. Let it sit for an hour, then scrub with a brush and rinse with warm water.
You need to let it sit for a while before you scrub it. Soak it in water before scrubbing. In the end, you will be amazed at how the stain will come out quite easily after you scrub it off for some time.
Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have your pan looking good as new in no time:
- Make a paste by mixing baking soda with water. You’ll want to use about 1/4 cup of baking soda for every 2 cups of water.
- Apply the paste to the burnt area of the pan and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Scrub the area with a sponge or brush, then rinse the pan clean with water.
- Repeat steps 2-3 if necessary.
And that’s it! You should now have a clean frying pan without any burned-on grease.
Baking soda works like magic and this is one of the best ways to get that burnt grease off the bottom of your pan.
If you have stubborn burnt-on grease, you can try making a stronger paste by using more baking soda or adding some vinegar to the mixture.
Whichever method you choose, make sure to rinse the pan well afterward so there is no residue left behind. If your frying pan is non-stick, you may also want to avoid using harsh scrubbers or cleaners as they can damage the coating.
Vinegar
Most kitchens will have a bottle of white vinegar somewhere in the cabinets. If yours doesn’t, you should get some at the first opportunity. White vinegar can be used for a wide range of helpful tasks other than cleaning grease.
It is the acid in vinegar that breaks down the burnt-on food and softens it up so that you can scrub it off without too much effort without causing any additional damage.
The vinegar will start to bubble when it hits the hot bottom of the pan. Be sure to let this reaction soak for around ten minutes. Once the time has passed, you can scrub all the dirt and grease away from the bottom of the pan easily.
Here is a step-by-step method:
- Pour white vinegar into the frying pan and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the vinegar and water mixture to a boil.
- Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape off as much of the burnt grease as possible.
- Rinse the frying pan with warm water and dry it thoroughly.
Ketchup
As surprising as it may seem, you can actually use your favorite sauce ketchup to remove those nasty grease stains that stick to the bottom of your pan.
There is an acid in ketchup that helps to remove the stains from the pan. It will only be necessary for you to apply ketchup to the burnt areas.
Here are some tips on how to clean burnt grease from a frying pan using ketchup:
- first, make sure that the ketchup is at room temperature before applying it to the pan. If it is too cold, it will not be as effective.
- next, apply a generous amount of ketchup to the burnt area and let it sit for a few minutes.
- after a few minutes have passed, use a sponge or scrub brush to scrub the area and loosen the burnt grease.
- finally, rinse the pan with hot water and soap to remove any residual ketchup.
Bar Keepers Friend (or Other Scouring Powder)
Last but not least, there are items you can buy in a supermarket that will become your best friend when it comes to cleaning grease. One well-known brand is Bark Keepers friend. But there are other alternatives that can do the same job.
Start by scrubbing the greasy pan after it has been wetted.
Bar Keepers Friend does not create a lather-like dish soap – you’ll have to scrub with the faucet off in order to turn the powder into a paste, using only the moisture in the pan. To hydrate the powder, add a few drops of water. Start by scrubbing the pan with steel wool if it is very tarnished or greasy.
Switch to a soft sponge or rag as soon as you’ve cleared most of the pan’s surface. Clean the surface thoroughly, then rinse it well. It is recommended not to let the cleaner sit on the surface for more than a minute, but you can scrub longer if you wish.
Other Options to Try
Another method is to use lemon juice. Squeeze lemon juice over the burnt grease and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Use a scrub brush or sponge to scrub the lemon juice into the pan.
You can also use ammonia to clean burnt grease from a frying pan. Pour two tablespoons of ammonia into the pan, let it sit for an hour, scrub
Final Thoughts
Cleaning burnt grease from frying pans doesn’t have to be difficult. With these four simple methods, you’ll be able to get your pan looking and smelling fresh in no time!
Follow us on Pinterest to keep up with the best tips and tools for your family kitchen!
Follow us on Pinterest to keep up with the best tips and tools for your family kitchen!
