Whether or not a recipe went up in smoke or you forgot about a pot on the stove, you’ve found yourself with a burned frying pan. If neither scrubbing nor a sexy dishwasher can remove the stain, it’s time to cook away the food that is overgrown. More cooking might seem like the final thing that the frying pan wants, but boiling water might help to loosen the burnt material, cut down on the next round of scrubbing and finally salvage your cookware.

Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with enough baking soda to cover the burnt food.

Add 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid to the baking soda. There is no need to stir.

Fill the pan into the top with water.

Put the pan on the stove, turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil.

Turn the heat down and permit the water to simmer for around 20 minutes.

Turn off the heat, then remove the pan from the stove and pour the water out. Run warm water over the pan till it is warm but not too hot.

Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with baking soda again and bathe it with a mesh or abrasive sponge. Rinse and repeat until all or most of the stain will be gone.

Pour 1 inch of white distilled vinegar to the bottom of the pan if the stain does not come off completely. Fill it the rest of the way with water and then repeat the boiling and boiling process.

Repeat Steps 7 and 6 if required to take out the rest of the burned material from the bottom of the pan.

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