Soaking dirty pans...

[BarryManilowRocks]

...a sensible thing to do? Or a way to dodge the washing up by leaving them for someone else to do the next day?

I only soak for about 30 minutes, I can't sleep if I know washing up is waiting for me in the morning

It’s dodging imho.

If cleaning has already been attempted and it's not shifting, a soak (with detergent) makes sense. Otherwise, it's avoiding the issue.

Depends what's been cooked in it, mostly soak but then when I've finished eating wash.

Only if it's once in a blue moon. Soaking normal pans is clearly a dodge.

Totally dodging as SO does this with non stick pans!!!

Buy Fairy Liquid Platinum.
It's expensive but an absolute Godsend. Chuck all the dirty stuff in the bowl and in ten minutes it comes out gleaming. You don't need to wash it or scrub: the end of the brillo pad!

On the rare occasion I do it I’m totally dodging doing it. Leaving it to soak instead of applying some elbow grease in the hopes my husband will do it.

I only soak dishes if something is baked on, like lasagna. I usually end up forgetting about it and washing it the next morning.

DH used to be awful for leaving pans full of water on the hob. Stir fry does not need to be soaked! Pasta sauce does not need to be soaked. He was definitely just putting off the job. I pointed out that it makes the washing up actually harder as you have to empty the pan and then rinse the sink where all the residue splashes the sides before washing up.

It took quite a long time to get the message but he doesn't do it nearly as often now

It’s dodging. Dh is totally guilty of this.

We soak while eating and wash up before bed. Unless something has been burnt on and needs an overnight.

It's dodging. We've all been guilty of it I'm sure. Unless you've burned something then a brief rinse straight after dishing up contents, while pan is still warm, is sufficient.

Both, but pans do need a good soaking.

Normal pans: quick rinse with a bit of water after you've dished up.

Pans with stuff stuck on: soak while you're eating.

Why on earth wait until you start the washing up before putting the pans into soak? Definitely dodging.

My brain read that as soaking dirty pants! And I still clicked on, then got confused at the replies .

Burnt on crusty roasting tins, wait to cool, give to dog to lick (this does most of the job!) then soak overnight using bio washing powder. Imo not lazy as just rinses away next morning with little effort and mess. Dh cannot leave a sink clean however much he tries so this is a win win.

I chuck these in the dishwasher and these come out gleaming

Soak with bio washing powder

My brain read that as soaking dirty pants! And I still clicked on, then got confused at the replies

Oh yes, those crusty burnt-on bits. Nasty

If you have burnt on food on a pan and horrible booze that is sitting undrunk, use it to deglaze the burnt bits!

There’s a fairy spray you can buy. It’s very good.
We never soak as it’s just messing up the kitchen. Decent cast iron pans don’t create much mess anyway.

The best thing I have found to remove stuck on food in pans is Biological washing powder and hot water.
Put a table spoon of powder and just enough hot water to cover burnt area in pan etc.
Put back on the hob while still hot and leave to soak, scrub of with brush before washing when ready.
Stainless steel saucepans and never needed to use any abrasive cleaning product or pad.