Recommended Free Tools
Let the pan cool, cover the burnt food with water, and simmer until the residue loosens. Lift it gently with a wooden spoon, then wash with dish soap and a soft sponge. For tougher residue, add baking soda to the water and simmer again. Avoid steel wool and follow the care guide for your specific pan.
Start by loosening the burnt food
- Let the pan cool. Do not run cold water over a hot pan: All-Clad warns that the sudden temperature change can warp cookware. All-Clad’s care guidance recommends cooling the cookware before cleaning.
- Add water and soak or simmer. Cover the stuck food with warm water and let it soak, or put the pan on the stove and simmer water to loosen the residue. Tramontina suggests simmering about half an inch of water for a few minutes, then easing food loose with a wooden or silicone spatula. Tramontina’s cleaning instructions describe this approach.
- Lift, don’t scour. Use a wooden spoon or a suitable silicone tool to gently nudge the softened food. Avoid forcing a hard, dry patch off the surface; let the water and heat do more of the work first.
Escalate gently for stubborn residue
Use baking soda in water
If food remains stuck, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area, add water, and bring it to a boil or simmer. Gently loosen the particles with a wooden spoon. Both All-Clad and Tramontina recommend baking soda for tougher burnt-on food. It is a next step after soaking or simmering, not a reason to scrub harder.
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Wash, rinse, and dry
Once the residue releases, wash the pan with dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth, rinse it, and dry it. All-Clad recommends drying promptly to help prevent water spots.
Consider a cookware-approved cleanser only if marks persist
For marks that remain after washing, All-Clad lists nonabrasive, non-chlorine options including its cookware cleaner, Bar Keepers Friend, and Bon Ami. Its instructions are to make a paste, apply it with a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse and dry. Tramontina also names Bar Keepers Friend for marks. These are optional escalations; follow both the cleaner’s label and your pan maker’s guide. The manufacturers’ recommendations are care advice, not a comparative test of which product works best.
#1 Best Overall
- Bar Keepers Friend Cookware Cleanser & Polish is a stainless steel cleaner and degreaser for pots, pans, and bakeware; This product's powerful grease remover cuts through oil, baked on food, mineral deposits, and rust stains; Safe for use on all stainless steel cookware, including All-Clad stainless steel pots and pans, and glass lids; This versatile cleaner is also safe to use for cleaning stainless steel sinks, porcelain sinks, steel grills, and other surfaces
- Remove stains, tarnish, rust & lime
- BKF products clean without bleach- better for stainless steel
- Clean cookware, kitchen & bathroom surfaces
Choose tools that are less likely to scratch
Use a soft sponge or cloth for routine cleaning. For stubborn patches, All-Clad permits a nylon scouring pad on stainless steel, and Tramontina mentions a nylon pan scraper. Use either gently and confirm that your pan’s own care instructions allow it.
- Avoid steel wool and steel scouring pads; All-Clad specifically cautions against them.
- All-Clad also advises against oven cleaners, harsh detergents, and detergents containing bleach or peroxide.
- Do not assume every stainless-steel pan has identical care requirements. Construction, finish, and product line can affect the maker’s instructions.
These recommendations come from cookware manufacturers’ care guidance; they do not establish a measured abrasion ranking or guarantee for every stainless-steel finish.
Rank #2
- Remove Stains & Tarnish: Bar Keepers Friend Cookware Cleanser & Polish is a kitchen stainless steel cleaner and degreaser for pots, pans and bakeware. This stain remover and glass cleaner cuts through heavy oil, hard baked-on food and rust stains
- Restores Shine: This cleaner & polish will leave your aluminum or stainless steel pans with a streak-free shine. With BKF cookware cleaner, you can easily remove burnt food and oily residue, all without scratching your cookware, utensils, sink or grill
- Safe On All Surfaces: Bar Keepers Friend multipurpose cleaning powder contains no harsh chemicals. It can be used as a stainless steel polish, oven cleaner, rust remover & sink cleaner. Our kitchen cleaning supplies are gentle and won't damage cookware
- Once Tried, Always Used: Bar Keepers Friend Cookware Cleanser & Polish is a gentle and highly effective metal and stainless steel cleaner. Once you've used Bar Keepers Friend for your kitchen tools, cookware & bakeware, you'll never look back
- America's Trusted Cleaning Products Since 1882: Trusted by homeowners and professionals for over 100 years, we are proud to offer a wide range of home cleaning supplies that are tough on stains and gentle on surfaces to help keep your home looking pristine
Tell burnt food apart from discoloration
Rainbow-colored heat tint and cloudy white hard-water spots are different from food carbonized onto the cooking surface. All-Clad recommends white vinegar for rainbow discoloration and a 1:1 vinegar-water solution for white hard-water spots. Those treatments address discoloration, not the burnt-food removal steps above. See All-Clad’s guide for its care instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Upgraded Design with Handle for Safe & Effortless Cleaning】 Say goodbye to messy hands and wasted pads! Our innovative steel wool scrubber features a comfortable handle, offering a secure grip and protecting your hands from grease and debris. This stainless steel scrubber is the ultimate replacement for traditional, unwieldy metal scrubber pads, making tough cleaning tasks simple and hassle-free.
- 【Heavy-Duty Cleaning Performance on Stubborn Grime】 Effortlessly tackle baked-on food, tough grease, and rust! This metal sponge is engineered to restore your cookware without excessive scrubbing. It's the perfect steel scrubber for dishes, pots, and pans, quickly cutting through stubborn messes and leaving surfaces shining like new.
- 【Durable & Rust-Resistant Construction】 Crafted from high-quality stainless steel wires, our steel scrubber is built to last. The tightly woven mesh is rust-resistant, sturdy, and won't fall apart during use. Unlike ordinary pads, this stainless steel sponge maintains its integrity, ensuring a long service life and reliable cleaning power.
- 【Versatile for Whole-House & Outdoor Use】 A true all-purpose cleaning tool! This stainless steel scrubber is indispensable in the kitchen for sinks, range hoods, and faucets. It's also tough enough for outdoor use on grills and garden tools. From delicate glass stovetops to rugged cast iron skillets, this metal scrubber is your go-to solution for a spotless home.
- 【Complete Set with Ample Replacements & Support】 This value-packed set includes 1 handled steel wool scrubber and 3 replacement pads, ensuring you're always equipped for any cleaning challenge. We stand behind our products. If you have any questions, our dedicated support team is ready to assist you promptly.
Rank #4
- Powder cleanser for stainless and aluminum cookware
- Can be applied to brushed or polished exteriors
- Made of natural minerals and environmentally safe ingredients
- Water proof plastic container with press-close sealing cap facilitates clean storage
- Not for use on hard anodized, copper or nonstick cookware
Rank #3
- 12 oz (340g) Powder Cleaner for Stainless Clad Pots and Pans
- Makes Clean-Up Easy - The Made In non-toxic Stainless Steel Cookware Cleaner instantly removes even the most stubborn burnt-on food
- Looks Brand New - Effectively cleans Made In Stainless Clad Cookware to remove stains and restore shine
- Industrial-Grade Cleaning - Tough enough for the most stubborn messes, returning your cookware to its shining glory with just a sprinkle and splash of water
- Multi-Purpose Use - Suitable for the Stainless Clad bottom of our Non-Stick Cookware, but not for cleaning the cooking surface
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