The Best Cleaning Agents for Burned on Grease
Are you having a hard time getting that burned on grease off your cooking appliances? Well, such stains can be quite a handful to deal with, especially when you’re doing it all wrong.
You see, cleaning burned out grease after ruining a perfectly good meal is a common problem that even professional chefs face. So don’t get rid of that perfectly good pan just yet.
All you need to do is learn the inside tricks of cleaning up so you won’t have to spend hours scraping off the burnt remains.
It doesn’t matter whether the grease is stuck on your pan, oven or cooking pot. The best cleaning agents get the job done with ease.
But first,
What causes burned on grease
Grease refers to the butter you use to lubricate the surface of your pan to prevent food from sticking. It also includes the different type of cooking oils you use. When exposed to heat, they break down into; saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
The three have varying smoke and flashpoints. When the fats mix with food at slightly higher temperatures for an extended period, the result is burned on grease which sticks at the bottom of your pan.
So how do you get rid of the debris left? It simple you just have to use the best cleaning agents today.
The best cleaning agents for burned-on grease
Baking Powder
Baking soda is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of burned grease from your kitchenware. However, the process takes longer, and it’s a bit messier compared to others. Nonetheless, it still works as well.
For an effective clean; mix the baking soda with a little amount of water and stir up the mixture until it dissolves. Leave it for a few minutes on your pan before you start scrubbing with a sponge cleaner.
So what do you do when you notice the grease hasn’t come off quite well?
Try mixing the baking soda with Hydrogen peroxide.
Yes, a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide mixed with a cup of baking soda do the trick. Here, you don’t have to give it any time once the paste is on your pan, gently scrub using your hands. You’ll notice the grease comes off with ease.
Vinegar
Among the best cleaning solvents, you’ll find today; white vinegar stands out. Its high acidic level makes it a good option for breaking down even the most robust particles.
All you need to do is pour a cup of vinegar on top of the burned-on grease and leave it for an hour or two. That softens the tough stain, and you’ll be able to scrub off the dirt easily.
For a more effective result, you can leave the vinegar solution longer than two hours.
Water and liquid soap
I know, you’ve probably already tried this, and that’s why you are here looking for better cleaning agents for burned-on grease. However, there’s a trick when it comes to using water and soap.
Here it is; once you notice your pot has greasy stains and you have no other product to use. You need to act fast. Immediately boil a cup of water and add some liquid soap, let the solution foam on your pan for three to four hours.
Once you notice the lather breaking down the particles and starts forming something like a nasty paste with the grease on top, that’s the green light. You should start scrubbing off gently.
Remember, you should always use a material that is gentle on your kitchenware; that way, it won’t affect the quality.
Citric acid
Like vinegar, citric acid is also tough on grease. In the process, it kills bacteria; therefore, it is an excellent natural disinfectant in the market.
All you have to do is take the citric acid crystals (one teaspoon is enough) and mix in a cup of water. Pour the mixture on your grease stain and leave it to soak for an hour or two.
Before the end of that period, you’ll notice that the particles are breaking down and you can rinse off using water.
Flour
Before you dismiss flour as an effective cleaning for burned-out grease, hear me out. Once you’ve cleared the contents from your burned on pan and your left with fresh grease, you can sprinkle some flour on top.
Flour acts as an absorbent and takes in the fresh residues before they form solid grease. That way, you can easily take care of any remaining particles on your pan using dish soap and water.
Use cleaning sprays
Once you’ve tried the more natural and friendly ways for cleaning burned-on grease and nothing seems to work quite well. Look at the available products in the market. Some are natural and do not contain chemicals that may cause health problems.
The good thing about cleaning sprays is that they are fast and effective. So you don’t have to spend time waiting for the reaction to take place. It’s a good idea to read and understand the different products before using them on your kitchenware.
Some of these methods are ideal for complex material like appliances made from aluminium steel. Ideally, you should try them when cleaning things like your oven.
Conclusion
The first rule of kitchen cleaning involves acting fast to prevent permanent damage. The same applies when cleaning burned on grease on your pan, pot or oven. Before the stain becomes too solid to deal with, add hot water and soap as the first measure.
Of course, this is not always the case; sometimes you’ll find that you are too busy on other kitchen duties to work on the burned on grease immediately. In such a case, once you are free, get to it.
It’ll save you the cost of damaging your kitchen equipment and buying a new one.