Although non-stick frying pans are supposed to not let food stick to them, it is rarely the case. Often, relentless scrubbing drives strip the non-stick coating off the pan, making it unsafe for cooking and even more prone to holding food or oils stuck. The blog discusses a few methods of safely removing grime or burnt particles from non-stick pans. Read on.
Although non-stick pans are supposed to not allow food particles to stick, the reality is far from that. Food sticking to pans, non-stick or not, is a regular affair in domestic as well as professional kitchens. So much for the ‘non-stick’ adjective! With regular use, the situation is sometimes so bad that one considers throwing out the pan.
However, there are some simple remedies that can work for you. If you have been thinking of getting rid of your non-stick too, don’t proceed before trying out these three ideas.
- To remove oily layer: Fill the pan with water and add half a cup of vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Oil or fat particles will rise to the surface as the temperature rises. When all the oil has gathered to the top, remove the pan from heat and throw out the solution. Use warm water and soap to clean the pan of any leftover residues. Stick to a plastic/nylon scrubber or dishcloth and avoid the green pads. Steel wool is a complete no-no as it will scrub the non-stick coating making it dangerous for reuse. Rinse out well and dry with a soft cloth.
- To get rid of residue: Cooking sprays or grease can leave ugly, stubborn residue on non-stick pans that are not only awful to look at but are also not good for cooking in as it can hamper the taste and react with other ingredients to release unwanted chemicals. The easiest way to remove residue is to make a paste of water and baking soda and apply it on the affected area. After that, you can scrub it off with a nylon scrubber. Baking soda acts as a scrubbing agent and eases out the residue without damaging the surface. Give a final wash with water and soap after you are done scrubbing. Make sure to rinse well.
- To get rid of burnt food: If food is stuck to the pan, the best way is to fill with water as soon as you remove it from heat. Let it sit for a couple of hours. The more unyielding the food particles are, the more hours you leave them soaking. Use a wooden spatula to scrape off the loosened particles and wash with soap and water.
All these tips can be used to mitigate the damage; however, the best way to save your frying pans is to not let food stick to them in the first place. Keep in mind the Frugal Gourmet saying: “Hot pan, cold oil, food won’t stick.” If anything does stick, wash off as soon as you can. Cleaning it out when it is still hot will make repeat attempts unnecessary or lesser.
Are there any wonder tips that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments section.