How to Clean Pans With Baking Soda

Your complete guide to cleaning every kitchen pan with baking soda

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 - 45 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr - 1 hr, 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $1 to 5

Cleaning pans with baking soda can eliminate burned-on food and tough stains on all pans—non-stick, stainless steel, ceramic, cast iron, and more. Add natural cleaning agents like vinegar, lemon juice, or salt for more scrubbing power. Baking soda is a non-toxic, inexpensive household ingredient with mild abrasive properties.

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for cleaning pans with baking soda to get them looking great.

Tip

Baking soda is alkaline. It reacts with mild acids like vinegar, lemon, and hydrogen peroxide to become a foaming cleaner. The foaming chemical reaction gives baking soda more power to remove stains and burned-on food. Use these stronger options on all pans except cast iron, which can create rust.

clean with baking soda

The Spruce

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Wooden spoon
  • Dry towels or cloths
  • Nonstick-safe nylon scrubbing brush

Materials

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Lemon

Instructions

ingredients for cleaning pans
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

How to Clean Nonstick Pans With Baking Soda

Nonstick pans can benefit from mixing baking soda and water to remove lingering food smells and flavors. Baking soda also works as a mild abrasive to help clean stubborn stains and scorched oil.

  1. Create a Paste

    Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of water. Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the water to create a thin paste.

    sprinkling baking powder onto the pan
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 
  2. Rest, Rinse, and Wash

    Let the pan sit for several hours, then rinse and wash the pan.

    let the baking soda and water work its magic
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
  3. Remove Stubborn Stains

    Remove stubborn stains on nonstick pans by boiling a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1/2 cup water in the pan. Let the pan cool.

    Rinse the stain with straight baking soda and a nonstick-safe nylon scrubbing brush.

    scrubbing the inside of the pan with a nylon bristle brush
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans With Baking Soda

Try these three methods for cleaning stainless steel pots and pans with baking soda based on the severity of the food stains or burned-on mess. Each method is a progressively stronger option.

  1. Use a Baking Soda Paste

    Wet the pan with water and add baking soda, enough to make a paste or slurry. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes.

    Scrub off the crusty food or burned-on oil using a scouring pad or scrubby side of a sponge. Repeat or leave it to sit overnight if it doesn't work the first time.

    using a baking soda paste to scrub burn stains

    The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

  2. Boil Water and Baking Soda in the Pan

    Tougher stains require tougher methods. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda to a pan and 1/4 cup of water.

    Bring the mixture to a boil in the pan. As the water evaporates and while the pan is still hot, scrub off the film of baking soda and food residue with a scrubby sponge or kitchen scrub brush.

    baking soda paste working on a burnt pan

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Submerge Pan in Boiling Baking Soda Solution

    To remove years of burned-on stains on both sides, boiling the entire pan should loosen caked-on stains.

    Fill a large pot, like a stock pot, with water. Add the pan, submerge it, and bring it to a boil. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda to the pot.

    Reduce heat to a gentle boil, boiling for 15 to 30 minutes. Brown residue should begin to flake off.

    While the pan is still hot, remove it from the boiling solution. For lingering, stingy stains, create a paste or slurry by adding more baking soda and water to the pan. Scrub away the stains.

    burnt pot submerged in oxygen bleach solution

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

How to Clean Ceramic Pans With Baking Soda

Ceramic pans are metal cookware with a ceramic coating. The ceramic coating gives pots and pans a non-stick coating without using Teflon.

  1. Soak Pan in Soapy Water

    Soak the pan in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes. Use a grease-busting dish soap.

    scrubbing the pan with a soft sponge

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Scrub Pan With Baking Soda

    Remove the wet pan from the soapy soak. Sprinkle baking soda over the pan and scrub away food residue and stains using a scrubby sponge.

    For stingy stains, add some white distilled vinegar to the paste.

    using baking soda to scrub a ceramic pan

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Soak in Baking Soda Solution, If Stain Persists

    For persistent or years-long residue, sprinkle the pan with baking soda and add two tablespoons of water to make a slurry. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

    Scrub away the caked-on residue with a sponge or kitchen scrub brush.

    baking soda paste formed inside pan

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Clean Cast Iron Pans With Baking Soda

When cleaning cast iron pans, refrain from soaking in water, soap, and acidic items like vinegar or lemon juice since they can create rust and destroy the pan’s seasoning. Baking soda remains an effective cleaning agent.

  1. Create a Baking Soda Paste

    Cover the bottom of the pan with a thin layer of baking soda. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to make a paste.

    making a baking soda paste

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena 

  2. Scrub With the Paste

    Scrub the pan with a stiff-bristle brush or scouring pad. Do not add soap. The abrasive power of baking soda will help remove food residue, and its deodorizing property neutralizes odors on the pan.

    Rinse and repeat if necessary.

    Cleaning paste spread across cast iron griddle over rust areas

    The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

  3. Season the Pan

    Dry the pan and rub the entire surface with oil. Place the pan on medium-low heat on a stovetop burner or in an oven set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour.

    Olive oil added to cast iron griddle pan for seasoning

    The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

How to Clean Enameled Pots With Baking Soda

Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cookware, such as Le Creuset, has a seemingly bulletproof, relatively nonstick surface, but it can get crusty like any other type of pan. The secret to removing stubborn buildup is boiling water with baking soda.

  1. Boil Water

    Fill the pot or pan with about 1 quart of water—or more if necessary to cover the burned area. Bring the water to a boil on medium heat.

    Enamel pot boiling water

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  2. Add Baking Soda

    Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir with a wooden spoon. Let the mixture simmer for several minutes.

    Baking soda poured and stirred into emamel pot with boiling water

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  3. Scrape the Pan

    Dump out the pot's contents and rinse the pan with warm water and let dry.

    Enamel pot pat dry with microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

How to Clean Copper Bottoms on Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Baking soda with vinegar and lemon can restore the copper bottoms of pans to a shiny finish.

  1. Cover the Bottom

    Turn the pan upside down, and sprinkle baking soda over the copper bottom. Pour vinegar over the bottom of the pan.

    Turning the pot upside down and sprinkling baking soda on top

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Scrub With a Lemon

    Use a half lemon as a "scrub brush" to scrub all over the bottom of the pan. Scrub upward along the sides, too, as needed.

    Using a lemon to scrub the bottom of a copper pan

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

  3. Rinse and Dry

    Rinse the pan thoroughly and dry it with a cloth.

    Drying off the copper pan

    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Clean Burned Pans With Baking Soda

Cleaning a burned pan can be difficult when cleaning off scorch marks. Cook off the burn with baking soda and water.

  1. Make a Paste

    Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda. Add water to make a thin, pasty solution.

    Pouring baking soda into a burnt frying pan

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  2. Heat the Pan

    Heat the pan on the stove until it comes to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. (Don't burn it again!)

    Heating up the mixture in the burnt pan

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

  3. Wait and Wipe

    Wait for the solution to cool. Wipe or scrub the pot to remove the burned-on food.

    Wiping off the burnt food residue

    The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

How to Clean Cookie Sheets

It doesn't take long for new cookie sheets to start looking old with brown stains that don't come off no matter how hard you scrub. Return your cookie sheets to perfection with a thick paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

  1. Mix Baking Soda With Hydrogen Peroxide

    Mix baking soda with a small amount of ordinary household hydrogen peroxide to create a thick paste.

    Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide mixed to create cleaning paste

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  2. Apply Paste

    Apply the paste all over the stained area of the cookie sheet.

    Paste applied to cookie sheet with gloves

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  3. Wait

    Wait two hours.

    Paste setting on cookie sheet for two hours

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  4. Rub Off the Paste With a Cloth or Sponge

    No heavy scrubbing is necessary. If any stain remains, rub it with your fingers or a kitchen sponge; it should come right off.

    Paste rubbed off cookie sheet with sponge and gloves

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  5. Flip and Repeat

    Flip the cookie sheet over and repeat the process on the bottom side. 

    Paste applied to bottom of cookie sheet

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  6. Wash and Dry

    Wash and dry the cookie sheet as usual.

    Bottom of cookie sheet being dried with cloth

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

How to Clean Roasting Pans

Clean any roasting pan with stuck-on food using baking soda, water, and vinegar.

person cleaning a roasting pan
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 
  1. Sprinkle the Surface

    Sprinkle the surface generously with baking soda.

    person sprinkling baking soda in pan
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
  2. Create Fizz

    Combine 1 cup of hot water and 1/3 cup of vinegar. Pour the solution into the pan. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz for a moment.

    roasting pan fizzing
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
  3. Soak and Scrape

    Let the pan soak for a few hours. Scrape the surface with a spatula or other suitable scraper and continue to soak.

    person scraping a pan with a spatula
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
  4. Wash and Rinse

    Wash the pan with straight baking soda and a scrubbing brush.

    person scrubbing a pan
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How Often to Clean Pots and Pans With Baking Soda

Because baking soda is only mildly abrasive, you can use it anytime your pots and pans need a thorough cleaning. This can be as often as every time you use them, or you can reserve this method for the most stubborn, stuck-on food and stain situations.

Tips to Keep Your Pots and Pans Clean Longer

  • Allow pots and pans to cool before washing them; hot stainless steel cookware can warp if submerged or splashed with cold water.
  • Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads, oven cleaners, bleach, or strong abrasive cleaners—these can scratch your cookware.
  • Thoroughly dry your pans immediately after cleaning them to prevent the development of water spots and dried, white calcium spots.
FAQ
  • How long should you soak a pan with baking soda?

    The severity of the crusted-on food residue, burned food, or char marks should guide whether to soak a pan for a few minutes, 30 minutes, several hours, or overnight.

  • Is baking soda and hydrogen peroxide effective for cleaning pans?

    Combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is a stronger cleaner for cleaning pans than baking soda alone.

  • Is it safe and effective to mix Dawn and vinegar with baking soda?

    Mixing Dawn dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda creates a non-toxic and effective cleanser. Vinegar and baking soda create a foaming cleaner that combines with the sudsing effect of Dawn for longer-lasting bubbles.