How To Clean A Burnt Aluminium Pot

Aluminium pots are light in weight, they heat up and cool down quickly. An aluminium pot is a high-quality, restaurant-graded item in the kitchen. With that, they must be cleaned to maintain their efficiency over a period and to ensure the quality and taste of food. Aluminium pots can get burnt quickly and stain easily, making it essential to know how to clean a burnt pot. A burnt pot can be frustrating, but before you throw it away, follow the nine steps below to find out how to clean a burnt aluminium pot.

You Will Need

To clean a burnt aluminium pot, you will need:

  • A non-abrasive scrubbing pad
  • White vinegar
  • Lemon juice
  • Creamy tartar sauce
  • Fresh tomatoes (optional)
  • A spray bottle
  • Clean dry cloths

9 Steps For Cleaning A Burnt Aluminium Pot

  1. Remove as much of the burnt debris from your pot as possible. You can do this by using a wooden spatula to scrape the bottom of the pot. Make sure to always use a wooden spatula or spoon when cleaning or cooking with an aluminium pot, metal will scratch your pot, and plastic can be used to scrape the pot after use.
  2. Add three to four cups of water to the pot and bring it to a boil, this will help the burnt parts soften. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then pour out the water and use your wooden or plastic spatula to scrape at the now loosened burnt residue.
  3. If the previous step doesn’t work for you, repeat it again but with acid added to the water. For this acidic effect, you can add white vinegar, lemon juice, or even tomatoes to the boiling water.

Let the mixture boil for 10-15 minutes, empty the pot, and scrape at the burnt food. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary.

  1. If burnt residue remains, switch to gently scrubbing the pot with fine steel wool. Be careful not to scrub too hard and remember to scrub with the grain as steel wool can scratch the aluminium.
  2. Once you’ve gotten rid of the burnt food, continue to the next step. Pour three to four cups of water into your pot then add three tablespoons of tartar sauce. Boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. After 15 minutes you can pour the mixture out of the pot. Let the pot cool before handling it. With a non-abrasive scouring pad or cloth, scrub the burnt parts of the pot gently in a circular motion until no more burnt pieces remain. 
  4. Next, mix a cup of lemon juice with one and a half cups of water in a bucket or empty spray bottle. You can alternatively use white vinegar instead of lemon juice. 
  5. The solution you’ve made is to rinse the tartar sauce from the inside of your aluminium pot. If using a cloth, you can dip it into the cleaning solution and begin to wipe and rinse your pot clean. If you have an empty spray bottle, you can pour the liquid mixture into it, then proceed by spraying the mixture into the pot and wiping with a cloth.
  6. Lastly, with a clean, dry cloth, dry your clean aluminium pot. There shouldn’t be any dirt or burnt bits of food left in your pot.

Two Other Ways To Clean A Burnt Aluminium Pot

Let’s take a look at two alternative techniques you can use to clean your burnt aluminium pot:

1. Dryer Sheets

You can clean a burnt pot with a dryer sheet by dropping one into your aluminium pot, then pouring in enough cold water to cover the stuck-on burnt residue. Leave to sit for an hour, then wash your pot in soapy water to clear the chemicals from the dryer sheet. Use a kitchen towel to dry.

2. Salt And Water

Salt combined with water is an effective solution for many cleaning tasks around the house. For a burnt or stained aluminium pot, fill with water until the stains and burnt grease are covered, then add two tablespoons of salt. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes before pouring the mixture out. Leave the pot to cool down and then give it a regular wash until clean.

After reading through these steps and techniques for cleaning a burnt aluminium pot, wait no further. Gather your pots and supplies, it’s time to restore your kitchenware to its former glory. Throwing away burnt pots and having to buy new ones is now a thing of the past.  

Related posts

Explore more

From home cleaning tips, to holiday activities, we’ve got your back.