Easy kitchen hacks: Transform your dirty pans with pantry staples
A dirty frying pan with dried-on grease can ruin the mood even after a delightful dinner. Fortunately, we know how to quickly and effectively tackle this issue using items you likely already have in your pantry.
Everyone probably wishes dishes could magically clean themselves after cooking. Dirty dishes are certainly one of the less pleasant aspects of cooking on your own. The pan always ends up the dirtiest, and often, it's tough to clean off grease, which the dishwasher can rarely handle. If you want to learn how to easily maintain your pan’s cleanliness and extend its lifespan in your kitchen, take a look at our tips.
Regular cleaning is important
We often overlook it, but the outer part of the pan gets just as dirty as its interior. This grime results from contact with the grill or burner during cooking. Additionally, grease dripping down its sides while frying adds to the dirt buildup.
Some people prefer replacing the pan with a new one rather than putting in the effort to clean it. Instead, it's worth remembering to control grease dripping during cooking and regularly clean the stovetop, as this reduces the amount of dirt on the pan.
Burnt food residues should be removed immediately after the utensil cools down. The best solution is to use warm water with a bit of dish soap, to avoid tedious scrubbing. But what should you do with tough-to-remove grime?
It turns out that expensive cleaning agents are unnecessary, and a simple solution is to use household cleaning products. With a bit of effort, the pan will look new, and cooking will become more enjoyable.
Baking soda and vinegar can clean any pan
Baking soda paste is an excellent method for removing grime. This approach is not only effective but also safe for the pan. Mix baking soda with water in a 1:1 ratio, add a few drops of dish soap, and let it sit on the pan's surface for a few hours. After that, the grime will easily come off with a sponge.
Another option is to combine baking soda with table salt; however, this combination is more potent and should not be used on aluminum surfaces.
Vinegar, as an acidic agent, effectively removes burns, limescale, soap, rust, and grease. Use caution with enamelled pans, as vinegar can affect their shine. The best solution is a mixture of 30 millilitres (about 2 tablespoons) of vinegar and 125 millilitres (half a cup) of water. These proportions are sufficient for dirt to easily disappear by applying the solution to dirty areas.
