Just burned a lovely big stainless steel saucepan - ideas?

[Pan]

Left it on a flame after dolloping out the mashed veg and pesto. And left the plastic masher in, as a special treat. It's totally blackened. Friend next door just gawped at it, much the way I did.

What's the best treatment, please? I really really don't want to scrape and mess up the saucepan.

tia.

[Eglu]

I would put some soap powder in it and boil it up, it loosens most stuff.

[chimchar]

I posted the same problem once here on mn....i was told to boil some water with some washing powder in the pan. Do you know what? It worked a treat!

[purplepidjinawoollytangle]

Bicarb and lemon juice, then heat gently.

Works when I get distracted fuck up at work!

[Inti]

My mum sorted ours out. She just scrubbed!!

[Pan]

oh thanks - I guess washing clothes gel won't do the same thing will it?

I'll get a lemon and borrow some soap powder tomorrow. Thanks all.

[purplepidjinawoollytangle]

Vinegar also works, but lemon smells nicer Basically, and acid and an alkali

It makes a fantastic fizz

[Pan]

I have the acid, but not the alkali.

thanks. I ahve had this pan for about 15 years and it is was spotless...

[feetheart]

Posted about this a few weeks ago.
Best recommendation was to use biological washing powder and a little water and leave it to soak. Lifted all the burnt stuff off without much scrubbing and it was very burnt stewed fruit so practically welded on.

Thing about stainless steel is they can take the scrubbing.

[Littlefish]

I seem to remember that cooking rhubarb in a pan will remove the burned on bits - something to do with the natural acid in rhubarb.

[Pan]

yes, it seems the acid-alkali mix is the trick. I do have rhubarb in the garden, but I think it's a bit wasted by now, and maybe not that effective.

thanks again.

[Mammonite]

One of those metal mesh scouring pads will help with the stubborn bits. I am a serial pan-burner and my Prestige pans have always come back, even the one I burnt so badly the copper base is now buckled .

Rhubarb/acid is for aluminium pans, it dissolves the aluminium.

[CrystalTits]

Bar Keeper's Friend really helps with the scouring! I once boiled dry a 3-tier steamer, the veg water totally burnt onto the pan in an impenetrably thick layer of black carbon. Called the pan manufacturer who recommended BKF, and it worked a treat.

[GiraffesCantDoTheTango]

I second the rhubarb suggestion, it works brilliantly. I burnt a pan of jam horrendously badly and rhubarb brought it up beautifully, it may take a couple of hours simmering at a medium heat though, but make sure you use enough water so you don't burn the rhubarb too!

[Driftwood999]

Boil a few dishwashing tablets in the pan with a lid. Leave to soak. If you don't use them ask a friend for a couple, it does work. Wear rubber gloves for the final scrub.

[PastaLaVista]

If the bottom still has melted plastic in, put it in the freezer overnight. That should make the plastic a bit more brittle and easier to chip off.

Can't do better than anyone else after that.