Cleaning pans with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Whether you run your pots and pans through a dishwasher or hand wash them, sometimes your cookware needs an extra boost to get clean. Cleaning pots and pans with baking soda can provide this boost. The baking soda adds a gentle scrubbing effect to get rid of stuck-on food and tough stains.

Here's what you need to know about using baking soda to clean cookware and bakeware.

How Often to Clean Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Because baking soda isn't abrasive, you can use it anytime your pots and pans need a thorough cleaning. This can be as often as every time you use them, or you can reserve this method for the most stubborn, stuck-on food and stain situations.

Watch Now: How to Clean Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Materials

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Lemon

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

How to Clean Enameled Pots

Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cookware, such as Le Creuset, has a seemingly bulletproof, relatively nonstick surface, but it can get crusty like any other type of pan. The secret to removing stubborn buildup is boiling water with baking soda.

1. Boil Water

   Fill the pot or pan with about 1 quart of water—or more if necessary to cover the burned area. Bring the water to a boil on medium heat.

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2. Add Baking Soda

   Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and then stir with a wooden spoon. Let the mixture simmer for several minutes.

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3. Scrape the Pan

   Dump out the pot and rinse the pan with warm water, and then dry.

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How to Clean Copper Bottoms on Pots and Pans

Return the copper bottoms of your pots and pans to their shiny selves using baking soda, vinegar, and a half lemon.

1. Cover the Bottom

   Turn the pan upside down, and sprinkle baking soda all over the copper bottom. Pour vinegar over the bottom of the pan.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Scrub With a Lemon

   Use a half lemon as a "scrub brush" to scrub all over the bottom of the pan. Scrub up along the sides, too, as needed.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Rinse and Dry

   Rinse the pan thoroughly, and then dry it with a cloth.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Nonstick Frying Pans

Nonstick frying pans can benefit from a mixture of baking soda and water to remove lingering food smells and flavors. Baking soda also works as a mild abrasive to help clean stubborn stains and scorched oil.

1. Create a Paste

   Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of water. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the water to create a thin paste.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

2. Rest, Rinse, and Wash

   Let the pan sit for several hours, and then rinse and wash the pan.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Remove Stubborn Stains

   Remove stubborn stains on nonstick pans by boiling a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1/2 cup water in the pan. Let the pan cool. Then rinse, and scrub the stain with straight baking soda and a nonstick-safe nylon scrubbing brush.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Roasting Pans

Clean any roasting pan with stuck-on food using baking soda, water, and vinegar.

1. Sprinkle the Surface

   Sprinkle the surface generously with baking soda.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

2. Create Fizz

   Combine 1 cup of hot water and 1/3 cup of vinegar, and pour the solution into the pan. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz for a moment.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

3. Soak and Scrape

   Let the pan soak for a few hours. Then, scrape the surface with a spatula or other suitable scraper, and continue to soak.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

4. Wash and Rinse

   Wash the pan with straight baking soda and a scrubbing brush, and then rinse.

   The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Burned Pans

Anyone who has ever burned a pan knows how hard it is to clean off scorch marks. Next time this happens, cook off the burn with baking soda and water.

1. Make a Paste

   Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, and add water to make a thin pasty solution.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

2. Heat the Pan

   Heat the pan on the stove until it comes to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. (You don't want to burn it again!)

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

3. Wait and Wipe

   Wait for the solution to cool, and wipe or scrub the pot to remove the burned-on food.

   The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

It doesn't take long for new cookie sheets to start looking old with brown stains that don't come off no matter how hard you scrub. Return your cookie sheets to gleaming perfection with a thick paste with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

1. Mix Baking Soda With Hydrogen Peroxide

   Mix baking soda with a small amount of ordinary household hydrogen peroxide to create a thick paste.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

2. Apply Paste

   Apply the paste all over the stained area of the cookie sheet.

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3. Wait

   Wait two hours.

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4. Rub Off the Paste With a Cloth or Sponge

   No heavy scrubbing is necessary. If any stain remains, rub it with your fingers; it should come right off.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

5. Flip and Repeat

   Flip the cookie sheet over, and repeat the process on the bottom side. 

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6. Wash and Dry

   Wash and dry the cookie sheet as usual.

   The Spruce / Almar Creative

Tips to Keep Your Pots and Pans Clean Longer

• You should always allow pots and pans to cool before washing them; particularly hot stainless steel cookware can warp if submerged or splashed with cold water.
• Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads, oven cleaners, bleach, or strong abrasive cleaners—all of these can scratch your cookware.
• Thoroughly dry your pans immediately after cleaning them to prevent water spots and white dried calcium spots from developing.

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