# Holy mother of God, I've burnt water! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 22, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568 "2006-02-22T02:35:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/21 "2006-02-22T22:11:27Z")
The Coke idea sounds like a good one to me. Coke contains phosphoric acid, which in greater concentrations is what we used at the paint store as metal prep back in my younger days. It’s amazing what an extended soak in it will do – despite which, I still drink the stuff. Oh, and just so you don’t feel deprived… _points and laughs_ ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/22 "2006-02-22T22:12:54Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > I’ve saved such pots before with a mixture of baking soda, coca cola and a little bit of water. I just sprinkle the baking soda on the inside, enough Coke to cover the burned surfaces and, well, I don’t know why I added the water, but it was only like a tablespoon or so. Leave to simmer very, very gently, scraping with a metal spoon or spatula every so often to work free the bits as they get loosened. One particularly bad mess was a pot of potatoes I had forgotten that I was boiling. I probably had to do the baking soda/coke treatment four or five times before it was finally to the point that I could just whip out the brillo pad and scour the rest off. I’m not sure about your chemistry here. Don’t just take my word for it, but it seems to me that you’re compromising the effectiveness of the baking soda (a base) and the Coke (quite acidic) by combining them. Am I off base? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/23 "2006-02-22T22:15:38Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > it seems to me that you’re compromising the effectiveness of the baking soda (a base) and the Coke (quite acidic) by combining them. Am I off base? You’re on acid. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/24 "2006-02-22T23:50:23Z")
I would add, if the above advice doesn’t work, as a last resort, try boiling a 50/50 mixture of Simple Green and water for several hours in the pot. > [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > See, this is why I’d be a good catch for a woman who doesn’t cook. I’ve never burnt water. [Predator Mode=ON] Umm, so you’re single? I’ve read your posts and you appear to have a good , fulfilling job. You’re not up to your ears in debt, are you? Are you around 30-37 years old? CAN I INTRODUCE TO MY DAUGHTER? She is also a very good cook, BTW. Professional, makes a good living. Damn attractive, too. [Predator Mode=OFF] OK, I’m a damn pimp. So sue me! LA ain’t that far from Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/25 "2006-02-23T02:40:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > There’s just a big heaping helping of gourmet coming out of your kitchen, huh? > > 😃 I love the Ms., but I have to watch her when she’s in the kitchen. She tends to turn burners on high (thinking that they will heat faster), then forget that she’s left butter or oil in there to smoke and actually catch fire. This has happened enough times that it’s a real worry. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/26 "2006-02-23T03:02:10Z")
Great thread title. Try Barkeeper’s Friend. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/27 "2006-02-23T03:20:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I love the Ms., but I have to watch her when she’s in the kitchen. Remind me again, who put the meat grinder together backwards and bunged up $15 worth of meat? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/28 "2006-02-23T03:22:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I love the Ms., but I have to watch her when she’s in the kitchen. She tends to turn burners on high (thinking that they will heat faster), then forget that she’s left butter or oil in there to smoke and actually catch fire. This has happened enough times that it’s a real worry. **Chefwife** , meet **Levroommate**. Good thing they don’t live together. The house wouldn’t last long. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve run into the kitchen to turn the burner down. “I was just warming it up.” “Gah! A gas stove isn’t a microwave!” ---
**Author:** ![EnderWay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@EnderWay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnderWay)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/29 "2006-02-23T05:32:32Z")
I would think vinegar (white) would be the way to go since it’s acidic. I use it to clean my metal stove top coffee pot and get the coffee stains out! Put just enough in the pot to cover the bottem about a quarter inch in depth. Let soak over night, then Brillo or SOS it! ---
**Author:** ![infamousmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d6d6ee/32.png) [@infamousmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infamousmom)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/30 "2006-02-23T08:43:36Z")
> [@Lynne\_kilii](#): > > is there any way I can save it? Fill the pan up with water and put 1/4 cup of baking soda in it. Bring that to a boil and turn the heat down and let it simmer for ten minutes or so (set a timer so you don’t boil that away too). 🙂 Then dump the water out, run some cooler water in it so you don’t burn your hand, and scrub with a Scotch-Brite and dish soap. Don’t feel bad, though. My mom used to make coffee in those aluminum stove-top percolators. Unfortunately she often zoned out somewhere else in the house and forgot the coffeepot and it would perk itself dry. She actually melted a couple of those into the burners on the electric stove. My dad was really irked at the cost of replacing the burners (a handyman he was not, so he had to call someone in to fix it) and finally decreed that they’d start drinking instant coffee. You guessed it–my mom would then put water on to boil in a saucepan and go zone out somewhere else in the house. She eventually destroyed all the Revere Ware copper-bottom pans she’d gotten as a wedding present and a couple of their replacements. When I went to school in London in '71 I went shopping and asked for the loudest whistling teakettle available. Brought it home, and boy, was it an earsplitter. No chance of anyone not noticing it, anywhere in the house. Alas, all this did was irritate the bejeezus out of my oldest brother, who would come running and turn the burner off within about two seconds of the beginning of the whistle. Mom would be zoned out somewhere in the house and would come back to the kitchen hours later to cold water, and the whole process would start all over again. Sure am glad I moved out for good in '72. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/31 "2006-02-23T16:08:20Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Remind me again, who put the meat grinder together backwards and bunged up $15 worth of meat? 😃 Guilty as charged; but to my credit I haven’t torched the place yet. At least I’ve convinced her (more or less) that turning the heat up to 90 won’t heat up the house faster, but we sure go through a lot of butter. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/32 "2006-02-23T16:33:45Z")
Yep, the only thing that’s saved my house from being burned down by my husband (another student at the school of “Well, if medium heats it well, then HIGH must heat it EVEN BETTER!” school of cuilinary arts, as well as one of those tea-drinkers that boils the kettle and forgets about it) is a whistling kettle. The only problem is (and I swear he does this every morning) when he puts it on while I am asleep, and then disappears in the bathroom. Thus the only person to hear the ear-splitting whistle - and to be able to do anything about it - is me. I will accept these regular and incredibly irritating interruptions in order to preserve the non-burnt status of my kitchen appliances, and my house. I can still be bitter about it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/33 "2006-02-23T16:41:52Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > At least I’ve convinced her (more or less) that turning the heat up to 90 won’t heat up the house faster, but we sure go through a lot of butter. Ugh. That’s one of my all-time great Pet Peeves. Yes, with capital letters, just like that. Why do people think cranking the thermostat up as high as it will go will make the heat work faster? Makes me wanna slap someone. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/34 "2006-02-23T18:40:59Z")
ugh…reminds me of my mother…we call her “flame-o” because she’s burned at least two sets of curtains that i can remember. she’s preheated the oven and left pots and pans in it…oh…if it can be burnt, she’s done it at LEAST once. she’s got a gift of being able to wreck food. it’s almost impressive. i’m glad she doesn’t cook anymore. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/35 "2006-02-23T23:42:05Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Ugh. That’s one of my all-time great Pet Peeves. Yes, with capital letters, just like that. Why do people think cranking the thermostat up as high as it will go will make the heat work faster? Makes me wanna slap someone. Every house needs two thermostats. One a dummy, for people who like to mess with thermostats and think turning them up makes things heat faster. The other real, with its location known only to whoever knows how to set one, me in our house. But we are fighting a losing battle. I’ve been at mine for 62 years without much success. None actually. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/36 "2006-02-23T23:47:13Z")
> [@Lynne\_kilii](#): > > Or feel free to come in and mock me for burning water. I won’t mock you. I’ve done the same thing, and in my case the pot was ruined. The bottom was already thin in one spot and letting it sit for so long burned a hole through it. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/37 "2006-02-23T23:48:25Z")
Oh yes, to be pedantic, and putting on my arrogant engineer hat, you can’t burn water. Water is nothing but already burned hydrogen. However don’t stop burning things. You might get rich. It was the accidental burning, or at least the overheating, of some natural rubber that revealed the secret of vucanizing the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/38 "2006-02-23T23:55:15Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Every house needs two thermostats. One a dummy, for people who like to mess with thermostats and think turning them up makes things heat faster. The other real, with its location known only to whoever knows how to set one, me in our house. I’ve found that in about 8 out of 10 cases, replacing the standard dial-type thermostat with a fancy digital one is just as effective, since the sort of person who thinks the house will warm up faster if they turn the heat all the way to the top is also nearly always the sort of person who can’t figure out how to work anything more complex than a simple dial. Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/39 "2006-02-24T00:02:41Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > I’ve found that in about 8 out of 10 cases, replacing the standard dial-type thermostat with a fancy digital one is just as effective, since the sort of person who thinks the house will warm up faster if they turn the heat all the way to the top is also nearly always the sort of person who can’t figure out how to work anything more complex than a simple dial. Heh. And digital thermostats can be programmed for certain temperatures throughout the day, so even if someone does change its setting it’ll revert to whatever it’s set for when the next program cycle rolles around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568/40 "2006-02-24T00:12:40Z")
> [@LiveOnAPlane](#): > > [Predator Mode=ON] Umm, so you’re single? I’ve read your posts and you appear to have a good , fulfilling job. You’re not up to your ears in debt, are you? Are you around 30-37 years old? CAN I INTRODUCE TO MY DAUGHTER? She is also a very good cook, BTW. Professional, makes a good living. Damn attractive, too. [Predator Mode=OFF] > > OK, I’m a damn pimp. So sue me! LA ain’t that far from Houston. Yup. Never married. Almost, but… Only debt is my house. The studio isn’t happening, so I’ll be doing freelance. (Got a couple of gigs coming up.) Outside of the age range, I’m afraid. And I’m not in L.A. anymore. (But I’m sending applications back down that way for a ‘real job’.) But I’m always ready to meet attractive daughters! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-mother-of-god-ive-burnt-water/345568.md?page=3)