A saucepan is a universal kitchen utensil. With its help, you can cook food both on the stove and over an open fire. To ensure that the food is always tasty and does not burn, you need to properly care for the dishes. It is important not only to observe the rules of storage and cooking in the cauldron, but also to use suitable cleaning methods. This can be done in many ways with the help of homemade or purchased cleaning products. Let’s consider the options for how to clean a burnt cauldron at home from burnt food, mold, rust.

How to wash a new cauldron before use

Cauldrons made of cast iron are made by a special method of pressing. As a result, technical oils and dirt get into the pores of the metal. To remove them, before the first use, you should:

  1. clean the container with dishwashing detergent,
  2. roast on a campfire or stove.

After the procedure, treat the surface with oil to create a natural non-stick layer.

How to wash a cauldron after cooking

Cast iron dishes should be cleaned in a special way.

Please note that cooked food cannot be stored in a cauldron.

After cooking, transfer the dish to another pan. If the food is not burnt, simply rinse the container with running water without detergents and wipe dry with a paper towel.

How to clean a burnt cauldron at home

If soot still remains:

  1. fill the cauldron with water to 1/3, close the lid,
  2. put on the stove
  3. bring to a boil.

After the procedure, all burnt particles are easily washed away.

Importantly! If you clean the container with detergent, the natural non-stick layer will be washed away and you will have to rebuild it. Use this cleaning method only in extreme cases.

Peculiarities of cleaning cauldrons from different materials

The cauldron can be made of different metals. In order for the dishes to last a long time, it is worth considering the properties of each material when using and cleaning.

  • Cast iron

The most popular and durable material. Absorbs oil, due to which a protective non-stick film is formed on the surface. After the first roasting, you cannot use chemicals and hard sponges, otherwise you will have to create a natural non-stick layer again. If the container has an enamel coating, it cannot be overheated, otherwise the enamel will be damaged.

  • Aluminum and duralumin

Cauldrons made of aluminum have thinner walls, so they do not tolerate the effects of abrasive substances and rough sponges. In addition, such actions usually lead to a violation of the non-stick coating.

  • Copper

Such dishes are practically not used now, due to peculiar cleaning methods. Copper containers are most often used in traditional Central Asian cuisine.

  • With non-stick coating

Such dishes are made of stainless steel and covered with a special coating that prevents food from burning. Cauldrons with a non-stick coating should in no case be roasted or washed with abrasive agents, hard brushes and metal sponges.

How to wash a cast-iron cauldron from soot and soot

Inappropriately removed soot and soot can harm not only the cauldron, causing oxidation of the surface, but also a person. If you eat food prepared in dishes affected by corrosion and mold, you can get poisoned. To prevent this, clean the container after each use.

Soap and glue

For the procedure, you will need the most ordinary stationery glue and laundry soap. Scheme of actions:

  1. First of all, open all the windows in the room and put gloves on your hands. This will help protect the skin and respiratory tract from the toxic ingredients of the glue.
  2. Treat the surface of the cauldron with detergent.
  3. Prepare a cleaning slurry by mixing a bar of 72% household soap and 100 g of glue.
  4. Immerse the cauldron in the bucket. Pour about half of the water there and put it on the stove.
  5. When the water boils, pour in the mixture of soap and glue, mix thoroughly.
  6. Boil the container for 2-3 hours.
  7. Next, thoroughly rub the surface with a metal sponge.

The substance will preserve the integrity of the surface of the dishes and will not affect the taste of the food later.

Salt, vinegar and soda

For the procedure, you will need 3 tbsp. spoons of soda, 3 tbsp. spoons of salt and 100-150 g of table vinegar. Step by step guide:

  1. Pour salt into the cauldron and pour vinegar.
  2. Put the container on the stove and heat it.
  3. When the mixture almost boils, add soda.
  4. Boil the mixture for 60 minutes.
  5. Cool the container and wash with dishwashing liquid.

Salt and soda

If vinegar is not at hand, use only salt and soda. Prepare 200 g of soda and the same amount of salt.

Scheme of work:

  1. Fill the cauldron completely with water.
  2. Add salt and soda to the liquid.
  3. Put the container on the stove and heat it.
  4. When the water boils, reduce the heat.
  5. Continue to cook the mixture over low heat for two hours.
  6. Cool and wash the dishes with detergent.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide perfectly copes with soot and fat. To prepare the detergent, you will need 125 g of soda, 1-2 drops of detergent and 1-2 tbsp. spoons of peroxide.

  1. Beat the ingredients until foamy.
  2. Apply the resulting mixture to the contamination and leave it for several hours.
  3. After that, rub the problem areas with a soft sponge and rinse with plenty of running water.

Activated carbon

Coal does a good job of removing grease and soot. For the procedure, you will need 1-2 plates of tablets, depending on the volume of the cauldron. Procedure:

  1. Grind the tablets into powder.
  2. Wet the surface of the container with water.
  3. Rub the crushed drug into the walls of the cauldron.
  4. Leave the charcoal for 2-3 hours.
  5. Without washing off the tablets, fill the container with hot water and leave it again for 1-2 hours.
  6. Rinse the cleaning agent from the surface with running water.

Vinegar

Scheme of actions:

  1. Mix vinegar and water in equal proportions.
  2. Soak the container in liquid for 2-3 hours.
  3. After that, prepare an abrasive by mixing salt with vegetable oil.
  4. Carefully rub all the inner walls of the cauldron with the resulting gruel.
  5. At the last stage, rinse the container with running water.

Citric acid

For the procedure, 4-6 tbsp. spoons of citric acid and 2-3 liters of water.

  1. Boil water in a cauldron and add citric acid.
  2. Boil the detergent in a container over low heat for 1-2 hours.
  3. After that, wash off the remaining dirt with dishwashing detergent.

Sand

Sand is convenient to use if you need to clean the cauldron outdoors.

  1. Fill the cauldron to the top with sand and place it over the fire.
  2. Fry the mixture for 10 hours.
  3. After the procedure, cool the container and remove excess sand from the surface.

Frying with salt

The method is suitable both for primary frying immediately after purchase, and for removing fat that has entered.

  1. Pour 1-2 kg of salt into a dry cauldron, depending on its size.
  2. Fry on the stove for several hours.
  3. The salt darkened, which means that the walls of the container “got rid” of fat and oil.
  4. After the procedure, cool the dishes and rinse with running water.

Household chemicals

To clean the cauldron, you can use purchased products intended for cleaning ovens and stoves. They remove soot and soot from the surface well.

However, before such cleaning, carefully study the substances included in the composition of the product. Perhaps they contain carcinogens, which will later affect the taste of food from the cauldron.

It is best to fill the container with a washing solution at night, and wash off the remains of soot already in the morning.

Special means for cleaning cauldrons from the brands “Aromika”, “Sidel”, “Folg”, “New formula” are on sale.

How to clean a cast iron cauldron

A cast iron cauldron can suffer not only from soot and soot. Sometimes rust, mold or scale appear on the surface. To remove them, use only appropriate means and follow a certain sequence of actions.

How to clean a burnt cauldron at home

From rust

First of all, determine the degree of damage to the surface.

  • If there are very few corroded areas, use chemicals with abrasive particles and a metal sponge.
  • Rub small rust lesions with half a potato. After all manipulations, rinse the cauldron under running water.
  • If the layer of rust is large, first try to clean the area with a detergent. After that, rub the surface with sandpaper or metal shavings. Use both large abrasives to remove the top layer of rust, and small abrasives to clean microscopic pores on the surface.

You can also remove a thick corrosion layer using a drill with a flat nozzle or a grinder. Please note that only a specially trained person can work with such tools.

  • If there are no household chemicals or tools at hand, try boiling the cauldron in boiling water with salt. To do this, place the container in a bucket and fill it with water, add salt at the rate of 1 kg per 6 liters of liquid. Put the bucket on the stove and boil the dishes for 7-8 hours.

From scale

If scale has formed on the surface of the cauldron, try to remove it with a special product for the kitchen. Citric acid, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide cope well with limescale. Take enough detergent to cover the entire volume of the container.

From mold

Of course, it is better to prevent the appearance of mold. To do this, it is enough to wipe the container dry after each wash. If an unpleasant fungus has appeared on the surface, the cauldron will have to be roasted on the stove, bonfire or in the oven.

How to clean an aluminum cauldron from oxidation

Since the aluminum cauldron is prone to the formation of oxide deposits and does not tolerate the action of caustic chemicals, its surface should be cleaned after each use. Use a normal dishwashing liquid that does not contain aggressive acids and alkalis and only a soft sponge, as hard metal brushes can scratch the surface.

What can’t be done

In order for the cauldron to last a long time, and rust or mold did not appear on its surface, do not allow it to:

  • was not cleaned after use;
  • stored in a humid room with a closed lid;
  • after roasting, it was treated with detergents;
  • when cleaning in cold water, wipe with hard sponges.

If you remember the simple restrictions and do not use them, the cauldron will always be as new.

Restoration of the non-stick layer

The protective film on the surface can be damaged if you:

  • scraped burnt food with a metal spatula;
  • cleaned the surface with a metal sponge or a stiff brush;
  • any detergent capable of dissolving fat was used for washing.

In such cases, you will need to restore the natural non-stick layer. For this after washing:

  1. grease all the inner walls of the container with vegetable oil or chicken fat,
  2. fry the cauldron on the stove for 20 minutes.

The oil will heat up and penetrate the metal structure. As a result, an oily protective film forms on the surface, which prevents food from burning or sticking. If in the future you wash the cauldron, damaging the natural non-stick layer, it will need to be restored again.

How to wash a cauldron after cooking on a campfire

Food cooked on a campfire has a special taste and aroma. But the cauldron is covered with a layer of slag and soot.

  1. To get rid of pollution, use a mixture of river sand with grass, coarse salt or ash.
  2. Carefully rub all surfaces of the container with the selected substance.
  3. Soak the cauldron in water with a gentle soapy solution for several hours.
  4. After that, rinse the container with hot water and wipe dry.

Care and storage rules

Dishes made of cast iron and aluminum do not tolerate prolonged exposure to moisture. As a result, rust and oxidation products form on the surface. Cast iron cauldrons are also covered with a natural non-stick layer, which can disappear if you wash the container with detergent or a hard sponge.

To make the dishes last a long time:

  • wash the container after each use only with water without detergents;
  • use only soft sponges for cleaning;
  • after washing, dry the surface thoroughly;
  • store dishes in a well-ventilated area with an open lid.

Please note that if you washed the cauldron with a fat-soluble agent, you will have to restore the protective oil layer with the help of roasting. You can wash the cauldron from fat and soot in many ways. For this, purchased chemicals (with a certain composition) or improvised substances are used. The cauldron will last a long time if you wash it after each use, as well as follow the rules of storage and care.

How to clean a burnt cauldron at home