6 Methods To Clean Baked on Grease from Pans

Most people agree that cooking is fun. However, the cleaning up that comes after can be a hassle. Scrubbing greasy pots and pans is tiring. The dread that comes from facing them is a nightmare, but this guide will make it easier. Here’s your guide on how to clean baked-on grease from pans.

Is grease a problem?

Many will agree when you say that the cooking and the eating are the best parts. The magic stops when you’ve all eaten your fill and are suddenly faced with a mountain of dishes to do.

This is especially true when you think about greasy pans. The steak and potatoes you demolished? That mac and cheese you loved at dinner? Their grease stays on the pan.

It’s a daunting task to try to clean these pans. No matter how hard you scrub or long you soak them for, there’s always going to be that extra bit of grease that stays on and doesn’t come off.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones facing this sort of problem, there’s no need to get frustrated. Below is a compilation of some handy tips on how to clean baked on grease from pans.

How to clean baked grease from pans?

There are different ways to clean baked on grease from pans. Each way also has different variations depending on how stained your pan is and whether the stain is fresh or not.

It’s important to keep in mind your pan and how much grease there is.

Boil, boil, boil

Boiling works wonders for removing those bits of gunk and grease in your pans. For this, you will need water, a wire brush or scrubbing pad, and your dishwashing soap.

Step 1: Put in hot water

Soak your pan in some hot water mixed with dishwashing soap. This sudsy solution will loosen up any dirt and grease in your pans. You’ll be the judge on how long you’ll let it soak.

Step 2: Scrub scrub scrub

After soaking it, grab your wire brush or scrubbing pad, whichever is more appropriate. Scrub the pan, especially the greasy and dirty parts.

The hot water and soap solution will usually take care of most grease stains that aren’t that hard to remove.

Step 3: Rinse the grease off

Rinse your pan and you get a shiny and grease-free pan!

Use baking soda

Baking soda is one of the staples in a household. It’s pretty simple. Just grab baking soda in your pantry and let it do its magic.

Step 1: Soak in baking soda and water

Create a slurry by adding a large amount of baking soda to water and mixing it. You then allow it to sit on the pan for a while.

The length of time you let the slurry sit on the pan depends on how greasy it is. You can let it sit anywhere from a few minutes to overnight. You will be the best person to gauge the time.

Step 2: Scrub the grease away

After you’ve let it sit for the desired amount of time, use a scrubbing pad to scrub out all the grease. The best one to use is a new scrubbing pad whose scrubby side is still untouched.

If the pan is still greasy, repeat the process or lengthen the amount of time the slurry is allowed to sit.

Option: Boil your mixture

For large grease stains that don’t come out, try boiling baking soda. Place a small amount of baking soda in the center of the pan and add about ¼ cup of water or more depending on the size of the pan. Bring it to a boil.

As it evaporates, a film will be left over your pan. Turn off the flame once most of the water has evaporated and begin to scrub the greasy parts. Be sure to use gloves, oven mitts, or kitchen towels.

This works best when the pan is still hot and the grease stains are relatively new.

Step 3: Rinse

Rinse it off thoroughly afterward and enjoy your clean pan.

Combine baking soda and vinegar

Baking soda plus vinegar is one of the most widely-known methods of how to clean baked on grease from pans. It’s simple and easy to do. All you need is baking soda, vinegar, a scrubbing pad, and a spray bottle.

Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda

The first thing you’re gonna have to do is cover the entire pan’s surface with baking soda. Be careful and make sure that every spot is covered, This is important so that every bit of grease is removed.

Step 2: Spray vinegar to the surface

Once you’ve covered everything with baking soda, this is where the spray bottle comes into the picture. Fill the spray bottle with vinegar and spray the vinegar all over the baking soda.

Just like before, make sure to cover the entire surface to ensure maximum cleaning.

Don’t be scared if bubbling and fizzes occur when spraying vinegar all over baking soda! This is a normal chemical reaction.

Step 3: Let it sit overnight

Leave your greasy pan overnight with the baking soda and vinegar solution. This allows it to thoroughly sink in.

By the time you wake up in the morning, the baking soda and vinegar will have worked their magic on your pan. It will have removed the grease from the pan, allowing it to be washed away when you rinse it off tomorrow.

Step 4: Scrub

The next step would be grabbing your scrubbing pad the day after letting it sit overnight. Start scrubbing all that grease away. You can use vigorous circular motions within a specific area. Be sure to scrub all the places where the baking soda and vinegar solution was.

The friction will help loosen up the remaining bits of stubborn grease that absolutely refuse to budge. Scrub every last inch to really make it squeaky clean.

Step 5: Rinse it off

Once you’ve scrubbed the pan, rinse it off. Run it under the water and rinse it properly. After you’ve rinsed it, check the pan for any bits of grease that you may have missed or failed to remove. If necessary, repeat the cleaning process.

Repeat the whole process if the pan still has grease on it. If not, feel free to wipe it down and store the now clean pan.

Here is how to clean baked on grease from pans with baking soda and vinegar:

Spread ketchup

Although you may find it weird, ketchup is actually pretty good at getting the stains out. Ketchup is remarkably similar to vinegar. Its acidity and the components that make up ketchup actually work together to remove the grease and stains.

This method works especially well with copper pans. The acidity in ketchup interacts with the copper, making them squeaky clean.

Step 1: Put ketchup on the pan

Simply spread a generous amount of ketchup all over the pan, especially in the greasy spots. Be sure to cover all the areas!

Step 2: Let it sit

Once covered, allow it to sit for anywhere from thirty minutes to overnight, depending on your preference.

Step 3: Rinse off the ketchup and grease

Rinse off the pan afterward and ensure that no grease is left. Repeat the process if there are spots you missed.

Check out this video on cleaning baked grease from pans with ketchup:

Use hydrogen peroxide

For this one, you’re going to need hydrogen peroxide, dishwashing soap, and baking soda.

Step 1: Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

Add some hydrogen peroxide and baking soda together. This will create a thick paste. Into this, add some drops of dishwashing soap.

Step 2: Put the mixture on your pan and let it sit

Use a scrubbing pad to spread the paste all over the dirty surfaces of the pan. You can use circular motions while doing so to ensure that all the spots are covered.

Let the paste sit and allow it to dry for about 30 minutes to one hour.

Step 3: Scrub the grease off

Afterward, start scrubbing the pan. Scrubbing is pretty important in how to clean baked grease from pans as this task does the job.

Step 4: Rinse and repeat

Rinse it and check for any remaining residue. If it is extremely greasy, you can also presoak the pan in vinegar for 30 minutes to further loosen up the dirt.

Here is your visual guide for the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide method on how to clean baked on grease from pans:

 

Sprinkle some salt

You can also use a combination of salt, baking soda, and vinegar to clean your pans.

Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda and salt.

Sprinkle one layer of baking soda, then follow with a generous sprinkle of salt.

Step 2: Spray vinegar

Spritz the whole thing with vinegar. Repeat this process and layer them until you’re satisfied.

Step 3: Let it sit then scrub

Let it sit for a while, then start scrubbing the pan. You’ll find that a lot of the grease and dirt as successfully removed by this combination.

Step 4: Rinse it off

Rinse off the now clean pan thoroughly and allow it to dry.

Tips to avoid baked on grease from pans

It can be hard to find ways on how to clean baked on grease from pans. It’s an arduous process that involves a lot of materials, a lot of strength, and a lot of time. To avoid this problem, here are some tips to help you out.

Wash your pans immediately

Avoid layers of grease and caked-on dirt by washing your pans in hot soapy water immediately. Scrub any grease with a scrubbing pad to really clean it.

This will also promote good hygiene while cooking, and make your kitchen an overall better one.

Practice good cooking techniques

Good cooking techniques are a game-changer and can drastically reduce the grease and gunk you’re gonna have to deal with.

It’s always important to preheat your pan just like an oven, and also preheat the cooking fat you’re going to use. You can also dry meat and fish before cooking it by patting it dry.

Use hot, soapy water

Hot, soapy water is a lifesaver. It loosens up the grease, dirt, and gunk on your pans. It helps tremendously when you’re cleaning up your pans.

When washing, be sure to use hot and soapy water. This can be a crucial step to help you look for ways on how to clean baked on grease from pans.

Learn how to clean baked on grease from pans

Greasy pans are no fun for anyone. They’re slimy, they make the food we eat taste different, and they feel dirty. Luckily, there are different ways on how to clean baked on grease from pans. Try out the different hacks and see which one works best for you.