Pans are a great way to cook, but sometimes it can be tough to keep them clean. If you’re looking for ways to make your pans look new again, then this is the article for you.
7 Tricks To Make My Pans Look New
1. Using A Potato
First, We’ll go over how to use a potato to clean up those dirty pans and get them looking like the day you bought them.
You can find potatoes at any grocery store or farmer’s market, and they’re usually pretty cheap too! They come in many different varieties with different colors and textures so there’s something for everyone’s taste buds out there. There are even some that have been genetically modified so that they don’t brown when cooked (which makes them easier on your pans).
To use the potato for cleaning up dirty pans:
First, cut off both ends and then slice it into quarters lengthwise. Next, peel each quarter with a paring knife – this will give you eight pieces total from one potato! The reason why this works so well at removing grime off pots is that those little bits of starch act like miniature sponges when scrubbed against grease or oil stains; it sucks them up without leaving behind any residue on your cookware surface.
The next step is optional but recommended: put some vegetable oil on your hands before handling the potato. This will help to prevent the potato from drying out and make it softer for cleaning. Make sure to use a gentle touch when you scrub and then rinse off the potatoes to get rid of any residue.
As stated above, this method is highly effective at cleaning your pots and pans, but there are some things you should keep in mind before using it:
Potatoes don’t smell great when they’re cooked, so it may be a good idea to cook them while you’re cooking something else. It’s also good to have some paper towels on hand in case your potato doesn’t come clean.
Depending on how dirty your pots and pans are, this method may take some time. It’s recommended that you scrub your pots and pans at least three times in order to get them really clean.
This method works best with stainless steel cookware because they are more durable than other kinds of cookware, so that means it will work much better with non-stainless pot materials as well.
2. Using Coarse Salt
With coarse salt and a little scrubbing, you can make your cooking pans look new again. If you have an older pan that has seen better days, try this trick to make it look as good as when you first bought it.
Things you’ll need:
- Coarse salt
- A clean cloth
Instruction:
- Start by sprinkling some coarse salt onto the bottom of your pan. Then take a damp cloth and rub the salt into the pan. The salt acts as a gentle abrasive, allowing it to clean off grime and other stuck on messes from the bottom of your pan.
- It also helps to remove any stains from the pan, allowing it to look new again.
- After you have cleaned your pan with the salt, wash it out normally with soap and water. The next time you cook something in it, you will see how great it looks!
3. Using A Little Oil
The secret to making those old pans look new is oil. The oil acts as a polish and gives the pan a deep shine. It’s a simple process that will make your pans look new.
The first step is to heat the pan up over medium heat. Let it get warm, but not hot enough to burn you if you touch it. I used my well-seasoned cast-iron skillet as an example.
After heating your pan, take some paper towels and rub the oil into the pan until it gets shiny. Use a paper towel to rub off any excess oil from the handle, or if you’re using a cast-iron pan, just wipe the outside of the pan down.
Heating the pan first helps open up the pores of the metal which then allows the oil to help coat and seal them, which is why it works so well at removing rust spots. You can use any kind of oil for this trick, but I would suggest something like olive oil or coconut oil because of their higher smoke points and their ability to leave a nice finish on your pans.
4. Using A Bacon
It is possible to make your old pans look new with a little bit of bacon grease. The best time to do this is after you have cooked bacon and have the bacon grease leftover.
Pour the grease into a cup and let it cool somewhat. Then pour some of the grease onto the bottom of the pan. With a paper towel, spread the bacon grease evenly across the cooking surface.
You can then use a sponge or cleaning brush to clean out these pans as well as your other pots and pans, making sure that you get all of the dirt in them out.
This method works on all pots and pans, including stainless steel and cast iron.
5. Using Baking Soda
How to make your pans look new with Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most useful cleaning products. It is cheap, easy to use and safe for the environment. Sprinkle some baking soda on the pan, add a few drops of dish soap and a little water and scrub. Rinse it well and your pan will look new again.
6. Using Lemon And Water
How dirty are your pans? Mine are pretty gross. I don’t know why but I just expect that they’re supposed to look dark and grimy. But the other day I noticed a friend of mine’s pan was sparkling clean and shiny! So of course I asked her how she got it that clean. She told me all she used was lemon and water. That’s it!
So here is what you need to do. Cut a lemon in half, you only need one half for one pan so use it on another pan or save it for later. Squeeze all the juice out of the lemon half onto your dirty pan. Then get some water and pour it over the top of the lemon juice to fill up the pan about an inch or two deep.
Let it sit for about 30 minutes or more if you have time. The longer you let it soak the more dirty spots should come off. After you’re done soaking rinse off your pan, dry with a towel, then buff out any remaining stains with a paper towel if needed until your pan is shiny like new!
7. Using Bleach-Free Cleansers
Making your pans look new with Bleach-Free Cleansers
1. Pre-soak and scrub.
For tough stains, let the pan soak in a solution of oxygen bleach (such as OxiClean) and hot water for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge or nylon pad if necessary, then rinse thoroughly with hot water. If you don’t have any oxygen bleach on hand, you can also try using vinegar or baking soda in place of the oxygen bleach.
2. Wash thoroughly.
Use mild detergent and a soft nonabrasive sponge to wash the pan inside and out, rinsing thoroughly with hot water (avoid using steel wool, which may scratch and dull the finish). If you’re cleaning stainless steel cookware, use a special cleaner or polish designed for stainless steel to preserve the finish. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing equal amounts of white vinegar and olive oil; apply it with a soft cloth or sponge to clean, then polish dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
Conclusion
Pans can look new after several years of cooking, it’s possible. If you follow the above steps, you will be able to clean off even the most stubborn burnt spots without damaging the finish of your pans.