How do you clean a really burnt aluminum pan?

Mad29910583
by Mad29910583
It's a shallow pan, more like a small cookie sheet, and both the inside & outside are REALLY burned badly. I've tried SOS & Brillo pads, but it didn't work. Is there a solution I can mix up to soak it overnight?

  8 answers
  • Crystal Meyer Griffith Crystal Meyer Griffith on Sep 16, 2017

    You need something that will remove carbon. Most restaurant supply stores carry a product to do exactly this. I believe it's called Carbon Off depending on where you live. Ask the supplier for a product to remove burned on carbon. If you can't find that, you can use Easy-Off oven cleaner but you can't walk away and leave it. It will pit the aluminum. You spray, lit it sit 15 min., rinse and scrub a little, re-spray and repeat until the pan is as clean as you want it.


  • Dfm Dfm on Sep 16, 2017

    you could try oven cleaner...spray...put in plastic bag....let sit over night. i would have to check my chemistry about ammonia and aluminum.

  • Rose Broadway Rose Broadway on Sep 16, 2017

    Make a paste out of water and Comet powder. Keep working with this and a scratchy pad. If it doesn't work, your pan could be a "goner."

  • Dfm Dfm on Sep 16, 2017

    its all good do the aluminum with the amonia. Soak well.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Sep 16, 2017

    Use baking soda and water, almost like gravy consistently and put it in the pan and simmer on the stove for, 30 minutes, let sit, til cooled off and use a non-,stick spatula and scrape the burnt off. Good Luck!

  • Lynne Webb Lynne Webb on Sep 16, 2017

    Try letting a layer of baking soda and a slight mist of water sit overnight and see if anything comes off. I understand your frustration. I have my Grandmother's old stove top bun warmer that I have tried to brighten for years. It's aluminum and, yes, I used all the things you did to no avail. BTW, SOS, Brillo and chemicals aren't kind to aluminum.

  • Kay Kay on Sep 16, 2017

    Put salt in the pan, make sure to cover the burnt gunk completely with the salt, place the pan outside with a peice off glass on top. The sun and the glass help to loosen the burnt gunk. Note, this is best done on a hot day! You can allso use Bicard of Soda to, put some water in the pan on to boil, once the water has boiled place a good heaped teaspoon of Bicard of Soda in tbe pan and simner for 5-10 mins, loosen the gunk using a wooden spoon till all the gunk is loosend, tip the water out then wash as usual. This method is much better than the first one, though my brother used to swear by the first method. Kay Adelaide Australia

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Jun 11, 2020

    Hi There, I make a paste of baking soda and water, apply and let it sit for a few hours, then use the rough side of a scrubber sponge to scour it off, repeat if needed.