Caked-on burntness on pan. Salvageable?

[YoniRotten]

I completely wrecked a stainless steel pan whilst heating hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is a thick layer of burnt crust now, I can't scrape it off at all. Is there any hope, shall I try the white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda concoction, or is that more for minor pan incidents? Any other solutions?

yes try that otherwise sometimes washing powder works layer it on then scrub. soak overnight maybe with water from the kettle too. it should come up

If you just did it today I would soak it in bicarbonate of soda with warm water. That has rectified a fair few pans for me.

I did it yesterday. I already soaked it with bicarb and hot water overnight last night, didn't even dent it.
Will try washing powder tonight and leave overnight, then buy white vinegar tomorrow. Just didn't want to waste hours scrubbing, if it was futile. Bit it was not a cheap pan. I am why we can't have nice things.

Thank you for the quick responses.

I leave them to soak overnight with half a (cheap) dishwasher tablet dissolved in hot water, then heat it on the hob until it almost boils. Repeat at intervals until all the burnt in food has come off. Has saved quite a few pans for me.

You could try putting the pan on to boil with warm soapy water in it - just water and washing up liquid, bring it to a boil and it should lift off. It has worked for me in the past.

If all the above fail, buy a bottle of Oven Mate from Lakeland. Brush it on (do your oven at the same time!) leave overnight and rinse off in the morning. I did my oven today and I am still admiring the results!

Thank you. I don't actually have a dishwasher so no tablets. May buy some if the other methods don't help at all.

Rascalls, I did try an ordinary oven cleaner already. Zero effect! Argh!

Brillo pad?

I second a brillo pad - marvellous and saved many a pan for me!

I couldn't save a casserole dish recently. Spent hours trying various methods which didn't work. Threw it away in the end. Although didn't know about the oven cleaner trick, so,would try that next time.

Apparently if you have no dishwasher tablets, biological washing powder also works.

I've used this and a scourer to rescue a few pans that DH has cooked with! I've never paid this much for it though, you can generally get it for about a pound in the cheap shops.

I am quite a clumsy cook so burnt offerings are all to frequent

I find a good soak in very hot soapy water, followed by as scrub with a aluminium scourer or a Brillo pad works on pretty much anything.

Fill with coke and leave overnight. Powerful stuff coca cola!

Second biological washing powder and dishwasher tablet, but my fave is soda crystals. Very cheap and very effective.

I came on to say a dishwasher tablet in hot water overnight. Tip away in the morning and it wipes off

Washing powder or liquid, boiling water and soda crystals. Left overnight. May take two goes. I've used this on my le creuset. Works like a dream.

Brilliant, thank you all so much, I will try everything! :)

You can buy a small pack of dishwasher tablets in pound shops - just so you don't have to spend a fortune!

Where do I get soda crystals from?

Just found soda crystals in the online supermarkets, answered my own question.

Am currently boiling with washing powder. It stinks.

Lakeland's Oven Mate is definitely NOT an ordinary oven cleaner. I can't do the linkie thing but on their website there are 475 reviews for this product so you don't have to take my word for it. And no I don't work for Lakeland I just love a few of their product.......and yes I am taking about you HG Mould Remover.....

Soak with either a layer of oven cleaner or cillit bang. It's worked for me in the past.

They also have them on the shelves in all supermarkets. Less than a pound a bag. Great for all sorts.