There is one method circulating on the Internet that has gained many fans. It washes even the most burnt dishes and works wonders, and all you have to do is pull this miracle product out of the cupboard or fridge. It really works and saves a lot of time and money.

At home, we often rely on the cleaning power of acids – both tart white vinegar and grapefruit are great natural additions to your cleaning kit. So it’s no surprise that ketchup – full of citric acid and vinegar – can also help with cleaning.

How does ketchup help clean a burnt pan?

One of the basic ingredients of ketchup is vinegar. According to NSF.org the main component of vinegar is acetic acid, which can break down the structure of some dirt, oils, deposits, stains and bacteria.

  • When used on the bottom of pots and pans that have seen better days, the acid in the ketchup will attack and help loosen the layer of greasy grime that builds up on the bottom of the pan, making the pan shiny and free of grime.
  • Plus, the thick consistency allows the ketchup to completely cover the pan and stay in place during the dip, unlike if you tried to use just vinegar, for example.

How to clean a burnt pan with ketchup?

  1. Using a spoon or rubber spatula, spread an even layer of ketchup on the bottom surface.
  2. Leave the pan with the ketchup and if the ketchup runs down the walls, reapply as needed.
  3. Leave the ketchup in the pan for about 2 hours.
  4. Then wipe a small area with a paper towel and check if the dirty surface has thinned. If the burnt part of the pan seems to need more time for the acid in the ketchup to break down the dirt, you can leave the ketchup on for an additional 20 minutes.
  5. When you’re ready to remove the ketchup, use a sponge to scrape off the dirt to reveal a clean surface underneath. You can also roll up the aluminum foil and make circular motions.

Does cleaning a burnt pan with ketchup work?

I tried this kitchen trick on a pan I thought was beyond help, and while it’s not perfect, it did a good enough job of saving my pan from the trash can. So much so that I decided to use this method on several others and will definitely use it in the future.

Squeeze it out of the tube and wipe the pan with it. After 10 minutes there will be no burn marks