Safe Removal of Burned Sugar From Stainless Steel

Liquid Dish Soap

• Sometimes, liquid dish soap is all that’s needed. The dish soap breaks down the stain, so that it comes off the cookware. Heavier stains may need soaking in warm, soapy water for two or three hours to loosen the burned sugar. After washing the cookware with warm, soapy water and a washcloth, wiping vinegar over the cookware restores the shine. Rinsing the cookware afterward and drying it with a soft washcloth prevents water spots.

White Vinegar Soak

• White vinegar restores the shine on stainless steel cookware, and the acidic liquid helps break down tough stains. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the cookware and soak it for 30 minutes. After the cookware soaks, rinse it with hot, soapy water and scrub on the stainless steel with a nonabrasive sponge. A quick rinse under cool water and a thorough drying job makes the cookware look new again.

Heated White Vinegar

• Tough burned sugar stains may need a heated vinegar treatment. The boiling-hot vinegar loosens burned sugar crystals from the cookware, so that you do not have to do much scrubbing. Pour an equal amount of white vinegar and water into the cookware until the stain is completely covered. Bring the solution to a boil for five minutes. Once the vinegar boils, lightly scrubbing on the cookware removes the burned sugar stain. Rinse and dry the cookware afterward.

Baking Soda

• Baking soda works as a gentle abrasive for removing tough stains from stainless cookware. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your normal dish soap, sprinkle it onto a damp, nonabrasive sponge, or combine it with an equal amount of water creating a paste. Regardless of the chosen method, the baking soda removes the burned sugar from the pan without damaging the stainless steel. The baking soda may darken in color when you use it, but this is normal. Always rinse and dry the stainless cookware once the stain is removed.