How to Clean a Burnt Pan, Scorched Skillet, or Stained Saucepan

September 14, 2022

It’s happened to all of us. Something distracts you and the next thing you know, you have a scorched skillet or a burnt pan. Fats and sugars are cookware’s worst enemies. If you’ve been hiding your stained pots in the bottom of your cabinet, now is the time to pull them out and make your pans shine. Fortunately, our bleach-free BKF Cookware Cleanser is perfectly formulated to handle the hard work so that you can tackle this task quickly, easily, and effectively. 

How to Clean a Burnt Pan, Scorched Skillet, or Stained Saucepan

If you’ve spent any time cooking you’ve likely spent time scrubbing a scorched skillet. No matter what your talents in the kitchen, we’ve all been there — trying to figure out how to clean a burnt pan. A quick distraction, high heat, or fats and sugars can create an icky, crusty mess of your favorite pots and pans. Burned cookware looks unsightly, does not cook evenly, and can even be a health hazard. The good news is that Bar Keepers Friend makes cleaning black, burned pots easy. So, how easy, you ask? 

5 Steps to Clean a Scorched Pan  

1. Wet the pan 
2. Sprinkle BKF Cookware Cleanser & Polish
3. Rub it in with a soft wet cloth
4. Rinse it off with clean water
5. Wipe dry

Do you have pans that are copper bottom and steel top? We have some good news for you. You can use the BKF Cookware Cleanser and Polish on both surfaces!

“This product, as I said before, is designed for both stainless steel and copper cookware, so despite the fact that copper can be a softer metal it is safe for use!” — Stain Removal 101 — A Busy Mom’s Guide to Cleaning, Laundry, and Stains

“I had totally burnt my All-Clad sauce pan and it would have cost $107 to replace. So, I tried SOS and other things (boiling vinegar and water) etc. to try to get it clean. I finally went on YouTube and looked for solutions and found this product recommended. I used it as a paste and one of those metal scour round scrubbers and it came completely clean. I’m sold for life.” — On the Path Amazon review  

How to Keep Stainless Steel Cookware Shiny

Although the original powder cleanser is effective on stainless steel, I like Bar Keepers Friend Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish because it works great and it’s so easy to use, and has no harsh abrasives. It’s specifically formulated to clean stainless steel without scratching or dulling surfaces.

“Best stainless steel cleaner!!!! I tried other stainless steel cleaners. Scrubbed very hard but could still see shadows of the long streaks. But one wipe with Bar Keepers, and they were gone!!!! My stainless steel actually looks better than when I first bought it. Made it look almost like a mirror in five minutes of hardly any effort. Amazing. Thank you!!!!!” Customer Linda K.

We LOVE customer testimonials like this one from Dirt Farmer Jay.