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red
kateherself
[hip_domestics]
25 April 2007 @ 04:23 pm
how to remove scorch marks from enamel (?) cookware  
When I went on vacation, my boyfriend decided to boil some eggs.
Apparently, his method of "cook them until it seems like they would be done" failed him and he burned them.
I came home to find my pot burned and sitting on the counter top. I have no idea how long it's been like that, or what he's tried in terms of cleaning it. My guess? Probably a sponge and some Dawn. Or maybe nothing.

I have had this set of pots and pans for 11 years, so I don't have any of the paperwork left. I SEEM to remember that they are enamel or enamel coated.

Is there anything that I can do to get these scorch marks to go away? Or is it ruined? I tried scrubbing a little bit with an S.O.S scouring pad. It seemed to work a little bit. It looks like the burn marks are superficial, and should be able to come off, although there are burner marks from our electric range on the bottom of the pot. They are not teflon coated, so there's no danger from that.

If the burn marks don't come off, is it OK to keep using the pot anyway? My gut says "no", but I'd like some opinions. I'd really rather be able to get them off.

I seem to remember reading somewhere about using olive oil to remove burn marks. Does that sound familiar to anyone?
Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'll try any product or method to save my cookware!





 
 
Current Mood: frustratedfrustrated
 
18 comments | Leave a comment
 
 
18 comments —
( 18 comments — Leave a comment )
iyelliiyelli on April 25th, 2007 09:42 pm (UTC)
heat up some vinegar in them and use a soft scrubby on the marks
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redkateherself on April 25th, 2007 09:46 pm (UTC)
Thanks, I will try that straight away!
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Melli the Fragglefragglefemme on April 25th, 2007 09:47 pm (UTC)
good lord :|

I have no suggestions, but just wanted to offer sympathy to your plight. Keep him away from the kitchen in the future if this is what happens when he tries to boil some eggs!!!lol
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red: crosseyekateherself on April 25th, 2007 09:49 pm (UTC)
Haha!! Thanks. I've tried. Looks like I'll just have to keep him away from my pots and pans!
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Elana: spreaddomestinatrix on April 25th, 2007 09:50 pm (UTC)
That does look like enamel.

Are those just scorch marks, or it burned right through to the base metal? If you're not sure, run your finger along the edge of the burn and see it it feels like there's a ridge that dips down slightly on the inside. If it is burned through, i wouldn't use the pot anymore, especially if you're not sure what it's made of underneath. It's very likely something that would rust terribly once the protective emamel is removed.

If it is just carbon, some of it will come off with plenty of baking soda on a wet cloth or sponge. Without resorting to harsh chemicals, you should be able to remove more of it by simmering the pot with plenty of water and maybe some vinegar or salt (be sure to thoroughly rinse out any baking soda before adding vinegar).

It's perfectly safe to use a pot that's just discolored from burns. Eventually they'll fade more with regular use and washing.
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redkateherself on April 25th, 2007 09:58 pm (UTC)
Hmm... It's kind of hard to tell but there is one little spot where it feels like it might be burned through.
I was hoping it wouldn't come to this...
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amyinatlantaatlcatsmeow on April 25th, 2007 10:08 pm (UTC)
I had something similar happen to a le creuset french oven. I had to end up scrubbing it out with a steel wool pad, which you aren't supposed to do.
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take it all or leave me alone.: don't fuck it uppolaridad__ on April 25th, 2007 10:23 pm (UTC)
Make him buy you a new one.

You go with him and pick one out. Make him understand the need/want for a good cooking pots.
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.julian_black on April 25th, 2007 10:56 pm (UTC)
I agree.
Make him understand the need/want for a good cooking pots.

Not to mention the expense.
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cristina: bad dayshortsweetcynic on April 25th, 2007 10:38 pm (UTC)
O_o good golly god damn. that's BAD. what did he do, boil the water dry?

and to the boy, for future reference: about 25 minutes, at a steady boil, WITH ENOUGH WATER TO COVER THE EGGS. AAGH.

let us know if you find something that works!
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Alicealice_bunnie on April 25th, 2007 11:03 pm (UTC)
Off topic, but :p
Actually you shouldn't boil them, just bring to a boil then turn off and cover for 15-20 minutes. :)

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cristinashortsweetcynic on April 26th, 2007 10:33 am (UTC)
really? i'd never heard that! :) is the constant boiling bad for them? i'd think the water wouldn't stay hot enough, but i'll definitely try it sometime.
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Annequeenmaggie on April 26th, 2007 12:47 pm (UTC)
If you do it the turn-it-off way, it's plenty to cook them through, and they still have a silky texture, unlike the rubbery one you can get from long cooking, and you avoid that ugly greenish circle round the yolks. Both Alton Brown and Cook's Illustrated suggest this method.
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Alicealice_bunnie on April 26th, 2007 03:24 pm (UTC)
They will come out less rubbery and won't have the green ring that sometimes happens when you boil eggs.
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雪女mszzzi on April 25th, 2007 11:12 pm (UTC)
Eek!
If nothing else has worked, I find that for most of my stuff baking soda works pretty well. I use it and vinegar for my oven (which is enamel over steel I belive) and it works great for that kind of burned on stuff.

Barring that, for less harsh stuff, before chemical stuff, I'd maybe also try paste toothpaste - it's a mild abrasive. Works for getting stuff like marker/crayon/etc off walls. I've used it for other stuff, too that needed a little scrubbing when I didn't have baking soda available.

Otherwise, I'd try something like softscrub, which I use as well for that kind of thing when my usual cleaners fail me for that kind of thing.

Good luck, and if it doesn't come off or is ruined, I agree with taking him with you to buy you a replacement pot.

My husband has (finally) started really getting into cooking and such, thanks to Alton Brown...so I tend to not have to worry as much as I used to (like when we first got married), and now he's sort of geeking out on it, which is actually kind of cute. ;)

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celestialkiddy: libracelestialkiddy on April 26th, 2007 01:49 am (UTC)
Eek! I did something like that once, I forgot I was boiling eggs and the water boiled off. I was using a stainless steel pot though, so I just brillo padded it off, which you wouldn't want to do with enamel.

Sorry I dont have much of a recommendation on how to fix it :-/ I know bunches of ways to get a bunch of stuff off of enamel, except for that.

I would keep that boy away from the kitchen! and make him buy you a new one if it can't be fixed. Although it sucks that the new one probably wont match :(
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Annequeenmaggie on April 26th, 2007 12:54 pm (UTC)
If it hasn't burnt the enamel through, you can continue to use the pans...if it's gone down to the base metal, you'll start getting rust and won't want to use them anymore.
There's a new product out that I've had good results with on my enamelled gass burner stands from the sdtove top, when spills get burnt onto them: it's Pledge No Scrub. You get off the easily removed crust, and spray, then wait: rinse with running water and scrub with a plastic scrunge or scrubby brush: that way you don't scratch the enamel. Don't wet it before you spray, it doesn't work as well, and sometimes, when it's really bad, it takes a couple of applications. But then, I've been surprised and had a mess just rinse off after using this.

other, less chemical methods include boiling it with baking soda, or applying baking soda and vinegar(that will foam madly) and scrubbing. Bon Ami powder is what our grandmothers used (with that cute little chick on the label saying"it doesn't scratch!")
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