Can anyone get burnt rice off of a hard anodized aluminum pan? I’ve tried boiling the stuck on bits to loosen them up, boiling with salt, and Comet cleanser as recommended on the Calphalon website.
Does anyone have any other ideas? I’m wary of using vinegar or anything like that because aluminum is so reactive.
You could try soaking overnight or longer, with hot water and bicarbonate of soda, that usually works for me.
My advice would be a long soak (48 hours?), without heat under the pan. You want the water to penetrate to the bottom layer of the rice so that it can soften. If there has been any sugar conversion and caramelization of the starches in the rice, water will dissolve the sugar and help release the burnt mass.
Rice is about 10% protein, by weight, so meat tenderizer could be a useful soak. It works by dissolving protein, so it’s useful for certain, ahem, protein based stains. A teaspoonful in your panful of water would be plenty.
Also, if you happen to have it lying around, Cascade or some other dishwasher detergent, a tablespoon or so and really hot water. Let it soak.
Try the chemist’s friend: lemon, salt, ice.
My father was a chemist – this formula was used for evil gunk inside test tubes.
Second best suggestion – fill the pan with water, add a very small amount of soap, and put it on your cook top at lowest setting . Simmer for an hour or so, let cool, and wash.
Do not soak an anodized pan in a base such as baking soda. Bases are the only thing that will eat away the anodizing. Bicarbonate isn’t strong but with enough time it will etch the aluminum oxide.
If you want it off soon rather than later wetted green Scotch Brite pads will make short work of burnt rice residue and are safe for the anodized surface. .
A suggestion through another thread on here said to fill it with water and freeze overnight. I suppose that gives you a giant ricecicle the next day shrugs
Chemists are friends with Margaritas? 
Thanks, all, for the replies. Since they all involve soaking, it’ll be a while before I know which ones work.
I read that nitric acid is the only acid safe for aluminum pans. Is there any household item that has nitric acid in it? Probably not, but the SDMB is the place to ask.
AskNott, you get the award for creativity. That’s a good one!
Unless they’ve changed the anodizing process recently, dishwasher detergent is one of the fastest ways to ruin an HA pan. So is oven cleaner. You don’t want to know how I figured this out. :smack: