are you also struggling to clean your burned cookware you probably already own all the products and materials you need to save scorched pots and pans from stains left by screaming hot burners and discolored food a usual let it soak and wait technique is not always the best solution try one of these tried and true strategies for restoring scorched cookware to its original shiny state should all else fail try these simple methods for how to clean a burnt pot so it looks brand new again method 1 boiling waterthis cleaning technique involves going back to the source of your problem the stove first fill the pot with a few inches of water or enough to cover the charred area bring the water to a boil and let it roll for 5 to 7 minutes next remove the pot from the stove and set it aside to cool down once the water has returned to room temperature pour it out if needed use a plastic spatula or wooden spoon to carefully scrape any large now softened burned bits into the garbage can finally sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the wet pan and proceed to scrub any remaining stains with a cookware safe sponge or scouring pad you should find that the black residue comes off much easier particularly with the potent abrasive combination of baking soda paste and a little bit of elbow grease method 2 vinegar and baking soda in the most extreme cases try this alternative method fill the pot with enough vinegar to cover the charred area here vinegar is not diluted with water then bring it to a boil turn the heat down slightly and let it simmer on the stove for a few minutes remove it from the heat and let the vinegar cool slightly next add about 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the pot the mixture of these two ingredients will cause a fizzing reaction helpful hint you may want to do this part in the sink to minimize potential messes once the fizzing has stopped discard the liquid then scrub the pot with a dish brush or scouring pad suitable for the type of cookware you re working with if needed add a bit more baking soda and elbow grease until the stain is completely removed method 3 boiling lemons another popular method to remove caked on debris from your cookware involves lemon and water similar to the acetic acid in white vinegar the citric acid in lemons helps to break down burned food stains but without the pungent odor the lemon method rather will clean a burnt pot and add a refreshing citrus scent to your kitchen that s a win win first things first cut approximately two lemons into quarters or thick slices and place them along the bottom of the pot next add enough water to cover the entire scorched area and bring it to a boil on the stove you ll see the burnt food particles coming off the bottom of the pan as the lemon floats around after about 5 minutes remove the pot from the heat and let it soak while the water cools to room temperature discard the water and lemon pieces and then lightly scrub off any remaining grime with a soft sponge