Cleaning an Aluminum Frying Pan

Over time, carbon deposits form on any frying pan. They are difficult to wash off with detergents and water. In addition to the spoiled appearance, carbon deposits form substances that are harmful to humans. Therefore, many housewives have a question about how to clean an aluminum frying pan from carbon deposits at home so that the result is effective and does not lead to damage to the coating of the frying pan.

What is important to know about aluminum pans

An aluminum frying pan has special properties due to the material used. Such a frying pan is softer and easily comes into contact with the substances in it, and also heats up very quickly. Despite such features, the use of aluminum frying pans is relevant to this day, these frying pans are favorites for many housewives.

Methods for cleaning old carbon deposits from an aluminum frying pan at home

Carbon deposits are one of the most common types of contamination for frying pans. It is quite difficult to clean it, but using proven methods it is possible. Carbon deposits form on all frying pans over time, and this is a process that cannot be completely protected from, so it is so important to clean the frying pan from it in a timely manner.

Incandescence

Heating is the best way to clean burnt-on grease and other dirt. This method is quite effective, but when using it, you should be careful and approach the process with all due attention.

There are several ways to deal with this problem using heat, the simplest is to simply put the pan in the fire. When it is hot enough, you should take it out with a potholder and clean the carbon layer by layer.

A more specific method is to use a blowtorch. To do this, you need to use fire to perform internal and external treatment.

A long but no less effective method would be to heat it on a stove. However, this will take several hours, and it is important that the room is ventilated, since this method will emit a pungent odor. It is also possible to heat fine sand poured inside, this method will also take several hours.

Household chemicals

For modern cleaning, housewives can use various household chemicals. They are excellent in combating carbon deposits and burnt fat. Using these products allows for quick cleaning.

Using various household chemicals, housewives have determined how to effectively clean an aluminum frying pan from old carbon deposits using household chemicals. The following cleaning agents are best suited for this:

• Mr. Muscle;
• Shumanite;
• Helper;
• AmWay;
• Frosch;
• Oxyday.

The substances listed are ideal for cleaning, but it is important to follow the instructions on the packaging. The cleaning process is quite simple, you need to apply the product to the surface and wait a couple of hours. After that, it will be enough to simply run a sponge over the pan and remove the peeling carbon.

When using this method, several important factors must be taken into account. All household chemicals are partly toxic, and therefore the process should only be carried out with rubber gloves and in a ventilated room. Another disadvantage for many is the high cost of the products, so many housewives prefer folk cleaning methods.

Mechanical cleaning

This cleaning method is great for outdoor use. Using a grinder or a drill with a metal brush will quickly restore the pan to its former appearance. It is important to carry out this treatment only on the outside, since using it inside the pan can damage the protective layer. You should also use gloves and safety glasses when working.

Folk methods

Even our grandmothers faced the problem of carbon deposits on aluminum frying pans, and they did not have the opportunity to use universal household chemicals. At the same time, their frying pans always looked like new, thanks to the use of folk cleaning products. Nowadays, not everyone trusts household chemicals and still uses proven and effective folk methods.

Grandma's "liquid" method

To use this method you will need the following ingredients:

• half a kilogram of soda;
• 200 grams of silicate glue;
• a bar of laundry soap;
• 10 liters of water.

How does the cleaning process take place?

1. First, you need to find a large container, pour water into it and start heating it.
2. As soon as the water heats up, you need to grate soap into it, pour in glue and sprinkle soda.
3. It is necessary to mix everything thoroughly so that no small pieces of soap remain and all the components become a single mass.
4. Next, you should wait until the resulting mass boils and completely lower the frying pan into it.
5. You should wait for an hour or an hour and a half.
6. After the required amount of time has passed, some of the carbon will come off by itself. The remaining part can be cleaned with a soft brush.

Soap and soda solution

This method also requires a large container where the cleaning process will take place. You will need the same ingredients as in the previous point, only without adding glue. The process is exactly the same, after the cleaning time has elapsed, all the carbon deposits can be easily cleaned off with a soft brush.

Boiling in a soda solution

For this method, you need to collect the required amount of water so that the pan is completely immersed in it. Then add one tablespoon of soda for each liter of water.

It is necessary to boil the frying pan in such a composition for only ten minutes. Then you should leave the frying pan for another half an hour, in this solution. After the time has elapsed, the carbon deposits from the frying pan can be easily removed with a regular sponge or a brush with soft bristles.

Another way to use soda if you only need to clean the inside. Pour water into a frying pan, add a little vinegar and two tablespoons of soda. After the resulting solution begins to boil, you need to add another 50 grams of salt and make the fire weaker. The whole process must be carried out until the water has completely evaporated and then simply rinse everything with warm water.

Laundry soap with soda and glue

Another effective way to clean the inside of the frying pan. To do this, pour half of the water into it and add grated laundry soap, a little soda and glue. Mix it all well and put it on the fire. Boil for half an hour, then let it cool and rinse thoroughly after a couple of hours.

Washing powder and oil

You need to fill a basin with water and add some powder and a few spoons of sunflower oil. Put the basin on medium heat and place the frying pan in it. Bring the resulting solution to a boil, turn off the heat and let it cool, and then simply wash the frying pan in the usual way.

With vinegar solution

To use this method you will need the following ingredients:

• One hundred grams of salt;
• 250 grams of table vinegar;
• Two tablespoons of soda.

To clean using this method, you need to pour a thin layer of salt on the bottom of the frying pan. Then pour vinegar over everything and put it on the stove to boil. As soon as the resulting liquid starts to boil, add soda. Boil everything until the liquid is completely removed.

To remove the burnt mass, use a brush with soft bristles.

With lemon solution

Using citric acid, clean the inside of the frying pan. To do this, put it on the stove, pour water and add a teaspoon of citric acid powder. Then boil the resulting liquid for five minutes. Then let it cool and wash in the usual way.

It is also possible to clean the entire frying pan using this method. To do this, you need to prepare a large container that can hold the frying pan, then pour in water and add a teaspoon of citric acid for each liter of water. Boil the resulting mixture for half an hour, then let it cool and wash.

How to clean an old frying pan from external carbon deposits

Abrasives cannot be used to clean the inside, but they can be used for the outside. For this, you can use a knife, a scraper made of metal, as well as fine-grained sand and salt. To clean the carbon better, you should first boil the pan in water and then proceed with the treatment.

Procedures for restoring the protective layer

In addition to the question of how to remove carbon deposits from an aluminum frying pan, many housewives are also interested in the question of how to restore the protective layer at home? It will no longer be possible to completely restore the layer, but you can achieve partial restoration so that the products do not burn.

For the partial restoration process, you need to grease the frying pan with sunflower oil or lard. Then it is placed in the oven upside down. The oven temperature should be 180 degrees. After an hour, the oven is turned off and allowed to cool.

Preventive measures against the formation of soot

In order for the frying pan to last longer, it is necessary to calcine it before the first use. Salt or oil will do for this. Pour oil so that it completely covers the surface of the frying pan and then heat it on the stove until the smell of burnt oil.

When using salt, it should be poured onto the surface in a centimeter layer and pricked for 10 minutes. Thanks to this method, a special film is formed that protects against carbon deposits.

Common Mistakes When Cleaning

Many housewives use regular cleaning products, not suspecting that this has a detrimental effect on the aluminum coating. Another common mistake is using metal brushes to clean the inside of the frying pan.

Recommendations for the care of an aluminum frying pan

When cooking on an aluminum pan, it is advisable not to be distracted from the process. It is advisable, if possible, to avoid cooking certain foods that will leave behind carbon deposits. If this is not possible and carbon deposits still appear, you should immediately get rid of them using the correct method.

VIDEO: How to clean a frying pan from old fat.