Why is it that when a pan has had something stuck to it / burn onto it once, it then becomes 'sticky' for ever more?

[NorktasticNinja]

It's not just me is it? If I cook something in one of my pans in which anything has ever been burnt/stuck I really have to be very careful for it sticking to the pan. With other pans (which, thankfully, is most of them) it's really not a problem, only stupidity/abuse will make it stick and then the pan is seemingly forever altered...

So, what actually happens to a pan when something sticks to it? Are there actually molecular changes to the metal? Surely not?

It seems to happen to all types of pan and yes, I do clean them properly Please tell me I'm not mad and imagining this.

It becomes stickidised.

There's a really dull physical-chemical reason for why the surface of metals (and other solids) change relating to molecular shifts and such, but I wouldn't want to bore you with it

Oh, please do 12. I adore 'dull' facts.

Glad to know it's not my imagination anyway

You're kidding right??

I loooove boring, even geeky stuff.

Fire away

OK, if you insist. It's been a while since my degree so probably best if I point you to somebody with full memory intact

It's all to do with surface chemistry

And For the truly geeky

Cor surface chemistry [frowns in concentration]

12 stone - have you seen this website ??

Periodic table shower curtain, welcome mat written in binary, loads of stuff.

[nerdy]

Blimey - they think of everything don't they

It's fab, innit ? I can spends hours there

Ooops, life intervened!

Thanks 12! 'tis interesting stuff. I wasn't kidding, I really do adore (and collect) 'dull' facts. I've wondered about this particular phenomenon many times over the years and now I know.