Pointers from Pigott - Kitchen CPR

My expensive non-stick griddle met a high flame that burnt my pan. I was very sad and thought the pan was a goner. I could tell there were many years left in my pan and was going to find out how to save it. It's to start CPR (crusty pains restored)!

After extensive research, I tried a few things that didn't work. Many rubber scrubbers waived the white flag as I keep trying to clean my pan over and over again. Sad to say, a number of them had to be dismissed since they went to pieces on this difficult job.

The all natural, non-stick cleaner made my pot smell like lemons but the burnt on junk was still on my pan. I was about to give up, then I remembered a combination that I used on my uniforms to get the blood stains out. I wonder.....

I sprinkled baking soda on the pan and allowed that to sit, dry, for an hour.

Never under estimate the power of baking soda, it's a bicarbonate that has been used for years for a number of things, from antacid to a stain remover. It might be old fashion but it works!

After letting it sit, pour white vinegar on top starting an acid-base reaction. One of the products this reaction creates is carbon dioxide and bubbles can be seen. The bubbles work on the burnt on junk on the pan and makes them easier to remove.

Allow this to sit for another hour. You'll see the bubbles disappear and a cloudy liquid will remain. They have done their job and the burnt on junk is easier to remove with Dawn Dish Soap and a non-stick scrubber (one more was willing to give it's life for this pan).

This also works wonderful on stains that are on all types of clothing, drapes or throws. You can make a paste of this and use it on furniture or rugs. It's similar to that commercial product that promotes oxygen (bubbles) and a clean result in the end.

Investing a few hours to me, was worth getting my pan back to a condition that can be used again. It's not perfect, but knowing I saved an expensive pan makes me happy. This will make it a few more years before I have to invest in another.

You thought you'd never use chemistry ever again after school, ha! - Most reactions in baking are chemical reactions. #saveourpans