National Chili Day: Cleaning Up After Chili with BKF

February 27, 2025

Cleaning up after chili can be challenging, especially if it’s burnt. Yes, BKF can help you tidy up after a big pot of chili goes on the rampage. I remember leaving a pot of chili on the stove and then forgetting about it. What a mess! Chili burned into the pot, spewed onto the stovetop, and even spotted the floor. Also, despite what you might read about saving burnt food, it was not to be saved.

One reason we wanted to talk about cleaning up after chili, besides the fact that BKF does the trick, is that it’s National Chili Day!

“On February 27, we celebrate National Chili Day — a moment to pay homage to the legendary dish that brings people together and can tear them apart. Chili is the ultimate people-pleaser, but it’s also the ultimate cook-off dish. Family recipes are guarded like crown jewels, and secret ingredients are never spoken of above a whisper. And the debates about what makes true chili — beans or no beans? —are fierce! But these are all part of what makes chili such an experience. When chili is being served — perhaps with some chopped onions and shredded cheese on top — everyone comes to the table.” — National Chili Day

Cleaning Up After Chili with BKF

Follow these steps to clean burnt-on chili using Bar Keepers Friend.

Let the pan cool.

This might sound silly, but I’ve nearly done this. Never, ever try to clean a hot pan. It can damage the pan and, more importantly, burn you. So, keep your cool and let it cool.

Wet the pan before applying Bar Keepers Friend.

Cover the pan, stovetop, or, in my case, the floor evenly with a light water coating.

Apply Bar Keepers Friend.

Sprinkle a little of the original Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser on the burnt areas and rub it into a paste. You can also make the paste separately by putting a little water in a container, adding BKF, and stirring it into a paste to apply to the burnt chili areas.

Let it sit.

Let the paste sit for one minute to break down the burnt chili residue.

Scrub gently.

Using a non-abrasive sponge or a soft cloth, gently scrub the surface. For stubborn burnt spots, you can use a soft-bristled brush.

Rinse thoroughly.

After scrubbing, rinse the pan well with warm water to remove all the cleaner and residue.

Dry and inspect.

Once the pan is clean, dry it with a soft cloth and check for any remaining stains. If necessary, repeat the process.

What Others Had to Say

“Use a square-edged spatula to scrape out the burned layer. Next, use an SS pot scrubber to knock off the rest under running water. Lastly, use Bar Keeper’s Friend (powered or liquid paste) with a paper towel or rag. Rub the wet paste vigorously in circular motions. You should have a polished clean surface better than it was before you started cooking. Next time, watch the pot. That square edged spatula is best used to stir up the bottom layer of sauce that starts to thicken just before it starts to burn.”  — Quora — How can you clean a scorched pot or pan?

Check out this fantastic how-to before & after video from BKF Fan Kimberly H. – How to Clean a Burnt Pan with Bar Keepers Friend. 

My Cincy Chili Recipe

I‘ve tried many chili recipes over the years and served several at chili cook-offs, but my favorite is my Cincinnati Chili. It’s sweet and spicy. I played with this recipe, and it took me several tries to get it to the point where it won a cook-off! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 12 ounces of lean hamburger
• 1 medium sweet onion chopped
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 Tablespoon of chili powder
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of allspice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco hot sauce
• 1 cup red kidney beans

And My secret ingredient! 1 Teaspoon of ground sumac.

Cooking

Sauté the onion in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and hamburger (or a vegetable substitute) and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients and cook over low to medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes until the hamburger is thoroughly cooked.

I serve mine over spaghetti topped with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper sprinkles.

So, if you’re cooking chili on National Chili Day and making a mess, why not give BKF a shot? Be sure to snap some before and after photos and send them to us. They may end up in our gallery!

About the Author

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek and on weekends (after COVID-19) he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook: A crash course in effective management.