How to Clean Burnt Pots and Pans (Without Scrubbing)
Staring at a black, crusty nightmare on your favourite roasting tin? If you want to know the ultimate way to remove these tough, greasy burnt on stains, you are in the right place. It’s the ultimate kitchen win when you are tired after cooking a massive family meal. Spending your evening elbow-deep in a grimey pan is a thing of the past.
Don't worry, we've all tried the weird hacks like soaking tins overnight or using harsh wire wool. Thankfully, your trusty machine can handle the hard graft for you, if you use the right strategy. Choosing our best dishwasher tablets is the easiest shortcut to a sparkling, stress-free kitchen.
How to clean baked-on pots and pans in the dishwasher
Wondering how to wash pots in the dishwasher without leaving a greasy residue? Follow these simple steps:
1. Check for the stamp – verify it’s dishwasher safe
Flip your pan over and look at the bottom for a stamped symbol or manufacturer’s mark as we want to make sure they are dishwash safe. If it's a quality brand, it’s highly likely good to go, but double-checking saves any tears later.
2. Scrape away loose debris – clear the big chunks first
Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to remove any loose food chunks straight into the food bin.
Don't worry about the stubborn, scorched layer underneath. Just get rid of the loose bulk so it doesn't clog up your dishwasher filtration system. If you want to keep your machine in top shape, make sure you learn to clean your dishwasher.
3. Skip the sink pre-rinse – get dishwasher shine
It sounds completely counterintuitive, but do not pre-rinse or soak your cookware under the tap. Give your dishes a few quick sprays of Fairy’s Skip the Soak to instantly dissolve the top layer of grease. From here let Fairy 30 Minute Miracle take over, cutting through the rest of the grime for a flawless, brilliant finish.
4. Load the bottom rack properly – angle for maximum water pressure
When figuring out how to load the dishwasher with heavy cookware, always place your burnt pots face down on the bottom rack. Angle them slightly inward so the spray arms can circulate water directly inside the base and allow it to drain away freely without pooling.
5. Give the spray arms room – avoid crowding heavy items
Make sure your large roasting tins or heavy frying pans aren't blocking the rotating spray arms. If a bulky item stops the arm from spinning, the water won't reach the rest of your dirty dishes, leaving them greasy.
6. Use Fairy 30 Minute Miracle – for a superior grease cutting clean.
For best results, use Fairy 30 Minute Miracle. Each dishwasher tablet has the power to clean baked-on messes without pre-rinsing or pre-washing, which saves water and time. Fairy’s unique 5 gel formula is tough enough to remove burnt-on messes but won’t cause the non-stick linings to come off your pots and pans.
7. Set your dishwasher – choose the right cycle for the job.
While some dishwashers feature a dedicated pots and pans setting, standard machines usually require a long, heavy-duty cycle to give tough grime enough time to break down.
However, you can completely skip the wait by pairing Fairy’s Skip the Soak spray with Fairy 30 Minute Miracle. Thanks to Fairy’s 30Minute Miracle’ formula, you get that exact same superior, deep clean in just 30 minutes, saving you time.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends entirely on the material. Stainless steel pots and pans are perfectly safe for the dishwasher. However, cast iron should never go in the machine, as the high heat strips its protective layer and causes rust. Non-stick pans are also best washed by hand to prevent the dishwasher from wearing down their coating over time.
Generally, anodised aluminium is safe, but regular aluminium can discolour or oxidise in the machine due to high heat and detergents. Always check the manufacturer's guidelines for your specific cookware.
Fairy 30 Minute Miracle is widely considered a superior clean for baked on grease thanks to its unique formula that effortlessly cuts through stubborn grease and food residues.