Getting rid of burned sugar is the most difficult of all the meals and liquids that are burnt and stuck on a skillet.
Under high heat, the sugar melts and caramelizes, changing from solid to liquid.
As it becomes stuck and the pan cools, the burned sugar hardens and virtually adheres to the pan.
This scorched sugar might be difficult to remove. Worse, soaking it in water does not solve the problem.
Also, getting some steel wool and cleaning the pan is not a smart idea.
There is a good chance you may damage the pan. Not to mention how harsh steel wool can be on your hands.
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How to Remove Burned Sugar from Cooking Pans
Fortunately, there are a variety of agents that may be used to remove burned sugar.
We’re including more than one since, depending on the circumstances, the burned sugar might be a major or small concern.
In any case, the following items may be used to remove burned sugar from a pan:
Baking Powder
Baking soda is a fantastic cleaning tool since it is abrasive and multi-purpose.
It is quite simple to find in any pantry, and if you don’t have any, you can get some at a local store. Moreover, one of the nicest things about baking soda is that a little goes a long way.
Thus, even if you just have one or two tablespoons, you can clean a pan.
This low-cost and versatile item is also excellent for removing stubborn stains and burned food from cookware.
How to Apply It
To clear the pan of burned sugar, use baking soda in the following manner:
- Baking soda – 2 cups
- Water – enough to cover the bottom of the pan
Scatter the baking soda on the bottom of the scorched pan.
Now, add the water, making sure it’s just enough to cover the baking soda mixture. Put the pan on top of the burner and let it to simmer for 15 minutes on low heat.
Let 30 to 40 minutes on the burner for major burns.
Once it has cooled, wash the pan as usual. The burned parts will come off, leaving you with a gleaming clean pan. If you can’t locate baking soda, you may use regular table salt instead.
Bartender’s Companion
BKF, or Bar Keepers Friend, is a surface cleaner and polisher designed for use on counters made of ceramic, stainless steel, chrome, fiberglass, porcelain, tile, and other materials.
But, it is also highly good for removing burned food from your pan.
The high-strength powder is an excellent technique to remove burned sugar.
There should be no problem causing harm to the pan as long as the material matches the ones that BKF is compatible with.
How to Apply It
If you wish to clean your pan using BKF, try the following:
- BKF – As needed (Powder form)
- Cleaning sponge
Set aside for 2 to 3 minutes after sprinkling the BKF powder over the pan. To dislodge the charred particles, use a moist cleaning sponge in circular movements.
You won’t need to scrape since the cleaner will help loosen things up fast. If you have a really difficult burn, mix some water with the BKF powder to make a paste.
Let the paste to sit for 2 to 3 minutes before wiping it away with the cleaning sponge.
After all of the charred particles have been removed, thoroughly wash and rinse the pan with warm soapy water. Be certain that no cleaner residue remains.
Vinegar
Whether you use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or another vinegar, you can quickly remove practically any stain.
Vinegar is also a popular cleanser since it is multi-purpose, simple to obtain, effective, and cheap.
It works incredibly well on scorched pans and can have them looking glossy and as good as new in no time.
How to Apply It
It is quite simple to clean burned pans using vinegar.
You might try the following technique for this:
- Vinegar – 1 cup (as needed)
- Cleaning sponge
Pour in 1 cup of vinegar, or as much as needed to cover the bottom of the pan. For a quick procedure, set the pan on the burner and slowly simmer the vinegar for 15 minutes.
After that, lay the pan aside to cool. Once it has cooled, clean the pan with a sponge to remove the stain.
You may leave the vinegar in the pan overnight if you don’t want to heat it up.
Just pour in enough vinegar to cover the pan and put it aside. Scrub the pan the following day, and not only will the stain be removed, but the pan will also be glossy.
But, for stubborn stains, you may need to apply heat to remove the burned particles.
Peroxide of Hydrogen
Hydrogen peroxide is also an excellent cleanser and is often used in the household.
This is a very concentrated chemical, and a little goes a long way. It is ideal for eliminating difficult stains, such as those caused by burned sugar.
It is also another cleaning chemical that is widely accessible at any supermarket.
How to Apply It
This product is quite simple to use, and you may apply it to your pan in the following manner:
- Hydrogen peroxide – as needed
- Cleaning sponge
Pour in enough hydrogen peroxide to fill the bottom of the pan by half an inch.
Place the pan on top of the burner and bring the solution to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for 10 minutes in the pan. Let the pan to cool before scrubbing it thoroughly with a cleaning sponge.
Although this procedure is quite successful, bear in mind that it will produce an unpleasant odor. Make sure the vent is turned on. Fortunately, it will not destroy the pans, but you should still properly clean them to prevent any remaining residue.
Sheets of Fabric Softener
Indeed, the fabric softener sheets you use in your laundry may be quite helpful in removing difficult, burned sugar from your cookware.
All you need is one sheet to get started. The chemicals in the sheet are safe for the pan and work well to release the burned particles.
These sheets are widely available. You may also use liquid softener if you can’t locate fabric softener sheets.
It is an excellent option that produces results.
How to Apply It
Try this approach for removing burned sugar from pans with fabric softener sheets:
- Fabric softener sheet – 1 sheet
- Fabric softener – 1 tablespoon (liquid, only as an alternative)
- Water – As needed
- Cleaning sponge
Pour half of the pan with water. Let it to come to a boil over low heat on the stove. Remove from the heat and add the fabric softener sheet.
Let the pan to sit for a few hours or overnight. Remove the sheet and scrub it with the cleaning sponge to remove the charred particles.
If you’re using liquid fabric softener, add it to the boiling water and thoroughly whisk it in. Let it for a few hours or overnight, then clean as usual.
Whether you use liquid fabric softener or a sheet, be sure to completely rinse the pan with warm soapy water to remove any residue.
Tartare Sauce
Cream of tartar, a common ingredient in cooking, baking, and wine making, also works well as a cleanser.
It is quite efficient against burned sugar and may be used to remove even the most tenacious stains. With baking soda, you only need a little amount to make things clean and shining.
It is another item that can be found in practically any pantry, is cheap, and can be purchased at any grocery shop.
Also read: How to Clean Aluminum Pans with Cream Of Tartar
How to Apply It
To use cream of tartar to clean a burned pan, do the following:
- Cream of tartar – 2 tablespoons
- Water – 1 cup
- Cleaning sponge
Combine the cream of tartar and the water before adding it to the pan. To ensure that it is thoroughly dissolved, give it a good stir.
Add this combination to the pan and bring it to a low boil. Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside to cool.
After the pan has cooled, scrape it with the sponge before washing it with warm soapy water. Rinse well one more to eliminate any residue.
Not only will this remove hardened burned sugar, but it will also make your cookware shine and seem like new.
Ketchup made from tomatoes
Indeed, we’re referring to the condiment. Because of the inherent acidity of tomatoes, tomato ketchup is excellent for cleaning cookware.
It also includes vinegar, which is another fantastic cleaning component. For this, you may use any store-brand tomato ketchup.
The good news is that practically every home has a bottle of tomato ketchup in their refrigerator, and it is also widely accessible in stores.
How to Apply It
Cleaning a skillet with tomato ketchup is a breeze if you do the following:
- Tomato ketchup – as needed
- Cleaning sponge
Just cover your pan with a thick coating of tomato ketchup. It should be thick enough to cover the burned sugar on the bottom of the pan entirely. Let it alone for the night.
Following that, wipe it down with a sponge. You may need to brush a little harder, but the scorched parts will come off easily.
Rinse gently with warm soapy water to remove any ketchup residue.
Coca-Cola
Finally, there is Coca-Cola, often known as Coke.
This fizzy sweet beverage is surprisingly effective as a cleaning and may be used to remove burned sugar.
It is available at every shop and is quite affordable.
How to Apply It
You may use Coca-Cola to clean up your pan by doing the following:
- Coca-Cola – 1 bottle
- Plastic scraper
- Cleaning sponge
All you have to do is pour a tiny bottle of Coca-Cola into the pan. If you have a big bottle, fill the pan with two full cups.
Set the pan aside for several hours or overnight to soak. Using the plastic scraper, release as much of the hardened sugar burned pieces as you can.
Wash and clean the pan as normal with the cleaning sponge, then thoroughly rinse. Be certain that no sweet residue from the Coca-Cola remains.
You may quickly remove any burned sugar from any skillet with these cleaning methods. Although you won’t be able to remove burned caramelized sugar the traditional manner, you may attempt one of the eight alternatives I’ve discussed in this post.
Just remember to consider the sort of pan you’re using before selecting a cleaner.
This prevents you from accidently harming the pan when cleaning it.
Additional cooking pan articles you may be interested in:
- How to Degrease a Cooking Pan?
- How to Clean Aluminum Sheet Pans?
- Easy Ways to Clean the Outside of a Cast-Iron Skillet
- How to Clean Cast-Iron Grill Pans
- How to Clean Copper Pans
- How to Get Toffee Out of a Glass Pan
- How to Get Out Burnt Foil in Baking Pan?
- How to Get Melted Plastic Off Metal Pans