# Help me save my pan! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897 "2005-05-28T17:32:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/1 "2005-05-28T17:32:20Z")
I made dinner last night in my nice newish large aluminum pan, and due to circumstances beyond my control (mainly me not paying attention) it has now become encrusted with a rather thick layer of carbon made from _really_ well caramelized sugar. Soaking it overnight in soapy water hasn’t made a dent in it. I thought of trying vinegar or baking soda (not at the same time!), but I figured if I asked for advice here, I could put off tackling it for a while and go back to bed. Any ideas? Someone must have had this problem before… ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/2 "2005-05-28T17:36:06Z")
Whenever I have a oogy pan, I put it back on the stove, fill with water, throw in a handful of baking soda, and cook it up. Let it simmer for a while. I have never yet had a pan where the gunk didn’t just come off afterward with an easy scrubbing. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/3 "2005-05-28T19:55:03Z")
The tip I’ve heard for this is to mix a paste of vinegar and cream of tartar, apply that to the pan (one website says to use a cotton ball for this), let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then wash it normally in hot, soapy water. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/4 "2005-05-28T19:58:33Z")
Baking soda is not good for aluminium. It pits it. Try boiling vinegar in it. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/5 "2005-05-29T01:54:57Z")
Well, it took some doing, and I ended up alternating between baking soda AND vinegar, then finally scraping with my thumbnail, but it’s clean now. Woo! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/6 "2005-05-29T05:51:52Z")
Bead-blasting cabinet. It works great on uncoated cookware you just can’t replace. I refurbished a 90 year old iron skillet that had massive rust problems. A plain aluminum pan should be no problem. It worked so well, I grabbed all my other old yellowed aluminum and steel pans and made them look almost new. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/7 "2005-05-29T09:01:11Z")
Automatic dishwashing powder can work miracles. Sprinkle it on and then dribble just enough water to make a paste. Don’t touch it - it will burn you! But it’s alkaline (acidic? I always mix the two up.) that it does a much better job of nibbling away gunk than dishsoap for handwashing dishes. Let it sit for an hour and then clean the pan. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/8 "2005-05-29T13:49:07Z")
You don’t need to put _anything_ in the pan except water. Just toss that on the stove and boil it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/9 "2005-05-29T13:54:19Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > You don’t need to put _anything_ in the pan except water. Just toss that on the stove and boil it. I’ve found this works great for cast orn, but not so great for other metals. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/10 "2005-05-29T14:01:10Z")
Cast orn? :smack: Time for me to go back to bed. Cast iron, of course! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/11 "2005-05-29T20:48:53Z")
Not for this particular problem, but in the case of cast iron skillets that have gotten really gross, Cook’s Illustrated just tested the “put it through the self-cleaning cycle in your oven” solution (the traditional one is to put it in a campfire and let it burn out) and it worked like a charm. Reseason after. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/12 "2005-05-29T21:33:22Z")
I wonder if Coke would work. I know it strips the wax off my floor if I happen to spill some. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/13 "2005-05-29T21:54:55Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Not for this particular problem, but in the case of cast iron skillets that have gotten really gross, Cook’s Illustrated just tested the “put it through the self-cleaning cycle in your oven” solution (the traditional one is to put it in a campfire and let it burn out) and it worked like a charm. Reseason after. The “Old School” at home version of this treatment was (is?) to put the skillet (cast iron only) in the hot coals in your fireplace. Works great. Yes, re-season. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/14 "2005-05-29T23:19:51Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ve found this works great for cast orn, but not so great for other metals. Add a little dish soap and it works pretty well on aluminum too. ---
**Author:** ![Bangiadore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Bangiadore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bangiadore)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/15 "2005-05-30T03:46:43Z")
In similar situations with stainless steel and cast iron, I’ve used oven cleaner spray. It’s noxious, but it dissolves burnt residues nicely. I don’t _think_ it would damage aluminum, but it might leave the metal with a greyish cast. I’m glad you were able to figure out an alternate route, though. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/16 "2005-05-30T03:59:30Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > The “Old School” at home version of this treatment was (is?) to put the skillet (cast iron only) in the hot coals in your fireplace. Works great. Yes, re-season. > Peace, > mangeorge Be aware that Teflon gives off a seriously poisonous gas above a certain temp, do not do this with teflon! We used the vinegar method to good effect, tho. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-save-my-pan/305897/17 "2005-05-30T04:20:40Z")
Save your thumbnail and get one of these cheap little [plastic pan scrapers](http://www.thecampingsource.com/catalog/camp_chef_plastic_pan_scraper_3119279.htm). They do an amazing job getting stuff de-stuck from pans and don’t scrape. It wouldn’t have gotten the sugar off, but once you softened it with any of the useful methods described above, it would have scraped it all right off. Note that this is different than a big plastic icing spatula. This is smaller than a playing card and very rigid.