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There are a number of ways to make cleaning pans less of a chore.
THE easiest way to make cookware cleaning a snap is to throw everything away after each use, but since that isn't an option...
1. To clean the inside of a burnt stainless steel pot, soak the pot with Coca Cola and leave for 24 hours. Wipe away the burnt mess with stainless steel wool or crumpled up aluminum foil. Be cautious not to scratch the surface, if this occurs food is more likely to stick to the interior during subsequent cooking adventures. Tip: Baking soda (or salt) is another option for clean-up but keep in mind, leaving baking soda on aluminum pans for longer than one hour can cause pitting, or dark spots on the surface.
2. To clean a badly burnt pan, slice an onion and put it in the pan, add enough water to cover the burnt part. Heat until the water is boiling, then remove and leave to cool.
3. To clean the exterior of a pot or pan, rub Head & Shoulders on stained area and place it into a tightly sealed garbage bag for several hours. Scrub with an abrasive cloth being careful not to damage the finish of the pot or pan.
4. A less chemical free way of cleaning the exterior of cookware is to apply oven cleaner, let sit for an hour and wipe. Wear gloves and be sure to ventilate. This is a good project for outside.
5. Muffin tins are time consuming to wash. Add to that the extra care needed so that the surface is not damaged and you might as well take the day off work to clean them. An alternative solution to coated bake ware is silicone. This flexible material can be tossed into the dishwasher and needs little to no grease prior to using. Silicone baking/cooking material is becoming available at many retail outlets and comes in a variety of shapes and colours. Kitchen cleanup just got easier!
6. Silicone distributes heat evenly, but as with dark metal pans or regular non-stick tins, pastries baked in silicone pans may require less time in the oven. The drawback to silicone cookware is that it bends and twists and therefore care should be taken when removing pans from the oven (a metal pan may be placed underneath).
7. Silicone slip-sheets are practical, affordable and extremely easy to clean. Purchase a shiny metal baking pan and cut the silicone slip-sheets to fit the size of any baking pan. After baking is complete, pop the slip-sheet into the dishwasher and sit down with a good book.
8. The subject of non-stick cookware continues to be a topic of debate. Non-stick (Teflon) bake ware if scratched has been found safe by some and unsafe by others. Tip 1: When cooking with non-stick pans, low to medium temperatures are recommended. Safety of non-stick cookware is still being researched. Tip 2: While stainless steel pans do need to be greased, they are no more difficult to clean than a stainless steel pot.
9. To clean a burnt fondue pot: Rinse the pot and drop in a few tablespoons of dishwasher detergent and enough hot water to cover the bottom. Let sit for 10 minutes and scrub, being careful not to scratch the pot.
10. Cast iron is wonderful for frying just about anything, baking cornbread and searing meat. It is versatile and retains heat for a long time. Once in awhile, give your cast iron cookware an intense cleaning by placing the skillet inside a wood stove or on a bon fire pit (at your next cookout). Allow the fire to burn up food (move the pan around so that it does not crack). After you carefully retrieve the pan from the fire, wash the ashes off and re-season the pan. The perfect scenario is to place the pan on very hot coals without a flame. Tip: Do not use detergents or dishwasher to clean cast iron, doing so will destroy seasoning.
11. Looking for a pizza pan that will provide a crisp crust? Stoneware is an exciting innovation in cookware and a natural product that seasons itself over time. Do not use soaps or detergents to clean stoneware as it is porous and the soap will seep into the pores, eventually giving food a soapy taste. To clean stoneware, rinse with water, wipe and store. Stoneware is great for meatloaf, bread and much more. Tip: Still in the market for a metal pizza pan? Choose one that is perforated which allows air to flow, the crust will bake from the bottom up and become nice and crisp.
12. Glazed ceramic or glass cookware is still a popular choice. Although it does require greasing, it looks brand new time after time. Many of us already own a set of "French White" casserole dishes but check out the latest in
colors, textures and sizes of the glass/ceramic baking dishes lining store shelves.
13. Clean tough stains on enamel pans by covering the bottom with a layer of water softener salt. Cover with a wet towel and leave for several hours to loosen food.
14. Don't throw away lemon peels, put them in a blender with a little water and use the solution to lift out tough grease stains in the kitchen. What a way to save money!
15. Clean copper pots and pans by sprinkling them with salt on the dirty areas and then scrubbing with a vinegar-soaked rag. The job is made even easier if you run hot water over the bottom of the pan first. The heat helps the salt and vinegar work effectively. Keep in mind that copper is sensitive to air, and oxidizes (tarnishes) faster in moist air.
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