How to Clean Outside Bottom of Pots and Pans [Super Easy Tricks]

Previously, we covered how to clean baked-on grease from pan but in the flurry of everyday life, all of us are often guilty of leaving the pan’s bottom without cleaning.

It results in the blackened bottom from flames, burnt-on grease, lost shine, rust, and scorched black marks. Then we scratch our heads, trying to find quick hacks to clean the bottom of pots and pans.

Fortunately, cleaning the pots and pans exterior requires the things that are mostly found in our kitchen or cleaning arsenal. However, all types of pans require different ways to clean.

You can’t scrub an enameled pan’s exterior with a scrubber or can’t use ketchup on an Aluminum pan. Keeping these nitty-gritty details in mind, we have described the methods of cleaning different pan materials separately.

How to Clean Outside Bottom of Pots and Pans

The process of cleaning pans usually remains the same that includes:

• Clean baked-on grease from the pan by using dishwashing liquid
• Remove stuck-on food and grime layer with baking soda paste
• Scrubbing and rinsing
• Drying the pan

Now, let’s discuss the cleaning method in detail.

Cleaning the Bottom of Ceramic Non-Stick Pans

Many best ceramic non-stick pans don’t have a stainless steel plate welded on the bottom. The exterior of such ceramic pans is also coated, and any abrasive scrubbing or rubbing can damage the coating. Such pans often have light pastel colors, and the blackened flame marks are quite visible.

Using Baking Soda + Dishwashing Liquid

• To clean ceramic non-stick pans, generously sprinkle baking soda over them.
• Squirt a little bit of dish soap on it.
• Now gently rub it with either your fingers or a long-handled nylon bristle brush such as OXO.
• Don’t scrub it hard, or it will damage the coating. Spray some vinegar if the bottom has tough stains.
• Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then wash it under tap water.

Cleaning the Bottom of Non-Stick Pans

Non-stick pans having stainless steel and aluminum plates welded to the bottom of the pan can be cleaned by using any method of cleaning Aluminum or stainless steel pans. The rest of the exterior can’t be scrubbed hard to avoid damaging the coating. Don’t miss to check our top recommendations for the best 12 inch non-stick frying pan and pans for gas stove.

Using Baking Soda + Vinegar + Lemon

• Sprinkle baking soda only on the encapsulated disc of the non-stick pan.
• Pour 1 tsp. vinegar and squirt half a lemon on it.
• Spread it all over by using the lemon peel. Leave it for 10-15 minutes.
• Either use a Scotch Brite sponge or Scotch Brite Scrubber to scrub the bottom.
• Now, use any dishwasher to scrub the pan again. Don’t use a stainless steel scrubber on the rest of the pan.
• Rinse it with water and dry the pan.

Cleaning the Bottom of Stainless Steel Pans

1. White Vinegar to Remove Mineral Buildup and Degrease

White vinegar or apple cider vinegar removes the grease from the pan’s exterior. It helps remove the white spots in the pan that appear when the water spots on the pan evaporate and leaves behind chalky white spots. It also helps retain the shine of the stainless steel pan.

To use this method, mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:2, boil it and apply it with a cloth or immerse the pan in the solution. After half an hour, wash the pan normally. Use this method frequently to avoid grease build up.

2. Use Baking Soda in Different Ways

Baking soda is a miraculous cleaning agent found in every home. You can use it in the following combinations to clean the stainless steel pan’s bottom.

• Baking soda + water mixture
• Baking soda + vinegar
• Baking soda + vinegar + lemon
• Baking soda + vinegar + dishwashing detergent

Choose from the above combination depending on the condition of your stainless steel pan’s bottom. The cleaning method is similar. Just apply the paste, leave it for a few minutes and rub it. Wash normally and dry the pan to avoid water spots. It may require some elbow grease if the pan’s bottom is burnt and blackened.

Note: You can use this method to restore your Calphalon pots and pans that are slightly burnt.

3. Bar Keeper’s Friend

It’s a commercial cleaning agent that does a tremendous job to clean the grime, grease, and scorch marks. It breaks the grease at the molecular level and cleans the outside bottom of burnt pans.

• Make a mixture ( 3 parts Bar Keeper’s Friend powder and 1 part water). Apply generously on the pan’s bottom.
• Leave the paste for 10-15 minutes.
• Use a non-scratching sponge to rub the bottom and wash it.

Note: In our recommendation, it’s the best cleaning agent that you can use on stainless steel pans, cast iron, and also copper cookware.

4. Cream of Tartar to Restore Stainless Steel’s Shine

Cream of tartar not only cleanses the burnt and grease marks but also helps to bring back the sparkle and shine of stainless steel due to its powdery form and abrasive nature.

• Make a paste of cream of tartar and apply it to the bottom of the pan.
• Rub it in the direction of stainless steel grain to pick grease marks and add shine to the pan’s bottom.

Note: You can also make a mixture of cream of tartar with vinegar.

5. Coke

The burnt or scorched bottom of the stainless steel pan can be revived by Coca-Cola. Immerse the pan in the boiling Coca-Cola liquid for half an hour before scrubbing the scorching marks away.

Cleaning the Bottom of Cast Iron Pans

The main issue with cast iron pans is the rusting. You can’t leave it soaked overnight or keep it in a dishwasher. Even the moisture in the air can cause rust spots. So, always keep your cast iron skillets in bone dry condition to avoid this.

1. Salt for Stuck On Bits

If you have burnt on bits at the bottom of the cast-iron skillet, you can sprinkle salt on it generously and use a Scotch Brite to scrub it all out before washing it with mild dishwasher soap.

2. Bar Keeper’s Friend to Remove Rust

If your cast iron pan has become rusty, you can use a Bar Keeper’s Friend to remove the rust from the outside and inside of the pan.

Prepare a mixture of the cleaning agent (Bar Keeper’s Friend) with water and apply it to the pan.

Use a stainless steel scrubber to remove all the rust or grease from the pan, wash it and re-season your skillet.

3. Submerging in Vinegar Solution

If the pan has a thick layer of rust or burnt-on grease, then submerge it in the solution of vinegar and water. You will hear a fizzing sound that indicates the rust’s reaction with vinegar. Don’t let your pan dip in the solution for too long. It can damage the cast iron skillet. Remove it when you think enough rust has been lifted off, and then scrub the remaining rust with the stainless steel scrubber. It will also take care of the burnt grease marks on the pan. Don’t forget to re-season the pan afterward.

4. Coca Cola

Coca-Cola can also be used to remove rust or scorch marks from the pan. Either pour Coca-Cola directly on the bottom of the pan, or dip the pan in the container that has coca-cola in it. You can also boil the solution to speed up the process of cleaning.

5. The Mixture of Lemon and Tartar

To remove the soot and grease layer from the bottom of cast iron pans, use a mixture of lemon and tartar (1:1).

• Apply it with a soft sponge or steel wool and scrub the burnt or rusted layer to make it sparkly clean again.

Note: Heat the iron skillet to further harden the soot. It will make it easier to scrub it off.

6. Magic of Baking Soda with Dishwashing Liquid

Mix baking soda, dishwashing liquid with warm water, and use elbow grease to clean the iron skillet bottom.

• This method is useful for deep cleaning the iron skillet that has not been rusted.
• Dry and oil the pan before reusing and cooking in it.

Note: Enameled cast iron pans should never be cleaned with an abrasive stainless steel scrubber. The best way to clean discolored enamel cookware is to use baking soda along with dishwashing liquid.

7. Oven Cleaners

Oven cleaners are very harsh and toxic. You should only use it if you have years of burnt grease or rust that can’t be removed using any method from above.

• Use oven cleaners in a well-ventilated space using face masks and rubber gloves to protect yourself.
• Spray oven cleaner thoroughly, including handles, interior, and exterior of the pan. Keep the pan in an enclosed bag for several hours.
• After that, remove it from the bag and wash it twice with a dishwasher using a stainless steel scrubber. Dry and season the pan before using.

Cleaning the Bottom of Copper Pots And Pans

Copper material is highly reactive. If your copper cookware is coated with another material, then hot soapy water should be enough to clean the pan.

1. Examine the Exterior for Lacquered Coating

To retain the gloss and shine of the copper cookware, the exterior is often coated with lacquer. If that’s the case, you can simply clean the exterior with dishwashing liquid.

2. Use Acidic Solution to Cleanse the Tarnish from Copper Cookware

Anything acidic, be it lemon, vinegar, or Tartar can clean the tarnish off the bottom of copper cookware.

You can boil the pan in the vinegar or mix vinegar with tartar to make the paste; apply it on the bottom before cleaning it.

Also, you can scrub the bottom with lemon to revive its original shine.

3. Ketchup and Tomato Paste

Ketchup and tomato paste are also acidic. So, they can also be used to clean the copper pan.

• Apply ketchup or tomato paste with salt.
• Give it a resting time, scrub the pan and then wash it with dishwashing liquid.

4. Wright’s Copper Cleaner and Polish

Wright’s copper cream is a commercial cleaner for copper cookware. It’s a mild formula containing ammonium chloride and citric acid.

It not only removes tarnish (copper oxide) from the copper’s exterior but also gives it a protective coating to prevent further tarnishing.

The cream formula is gentle enough for everyday use. Apply and rinse it off to keep the copper shine intact for years.

Wrapping Up!

The scorch marks, blackened burn marks, rust, stuck-on food, and grease steal the beauty of your pots and pans. We often tend to neglect the pan’s bottom and exterior, whereas we clean the interior with due diligence. But if we take a few extra minutes to clean the bottom of the pans after every use, we will save our precious time, later on, scrubbing the bottom when it will have layers and layers of grease and marks. We have mentioned the methods of cleaning all the pan’s bottoms separately, keeping in mind that each kind of pan requires a different method of maintenance and cleaning. We hope that you benefit from it and keep your cookware in mint condition.