Saucepans are a cooking necessity but they are known to harbour crusted on food that can be a nightmare to clean off.
The last thing you want to do after preparing a long meal is spend time hunched over the sink endlessly scrubbing to remove burnt food from your cookware. Even non-stick pans can gather hard to clean food remnants.
Luckily, one woman has shared her simple hack to get your saucepans squeaky clean using just water - but you must act fast. Bethany Ugarte has taken to social media to share the surprisingly easy trick, reports the Express.
In a video posted on her Instagram profile @lilsipper, the cleaning enthusiast took a clearly dirty pan that has been recently cooked with and quickly placed it under running water in the sink.
She explained: "To avoid getting food stuck on your pan, immediately put water in the pan while it's hot." Bethany then left the water to sit in the pan for around five minutes to lift the dirt.
While it is possible to leave the water for longer, it is best to work with the pan while it is still slightly warm from cooking. Bethany then discarded the orange-tinted water to remove the loose grease and got to work on the base of the pan.
She explained that "everything will lift up easily" due to the heat of the pan and cold water preventing the food from sticking.
Using a soft, flat sponge, she lightly scrubbed the pan in circular motions. Even without a single drop of soap, the dirty residue came straight off of the surface.
To finish, Bethany recommended rinsing the pan with some more water. Straight away the pan looked visibly clean, with no raised clusters of crumbs or seasoning.
It is important to note that pans filled with thick fat or grease should not be poured down the sink. Instead, fill the plughole with a thin layer of tinfoil to catch the liquid as you empty the pan. Leave the fat to solidify and place it in the bin.
Not only can grease contribute to severe blockages in your drains, but also leave unpleasant smells to emanate in your kitchen. For extra cleansing power, a few dashes of white vinegar can help to lift stubborn stains from cookware.
Though it is not necessary for most cleaning tasks, it can be particularly useful for softening cooked oats and grains that may be stuck on the surface.
To add vinegar to this simple hack, pour one tablespoon of it into the pan during the soaking period. Leave the acidic liquid to get to work on the hot surface before wiping and rinsing the excess.
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