I burned a pot. Can I still use it?

Question

I left the burner on with an empty pot on top and now there are black marks on the bottom of my pot. Would using this pot have negative health effects?

Answer 1

My mom has a great trick that really helps loosen burned junk off the bottom of pans. She taught me years ago to put about an inch of water into the pan, sprinkle cream of tartar into the pan. Bring the water to a boil and then let it cool back down. The cream of tartar loosens some really tough stuff! Good luck.

Answer 2

I burned toffee in one of my pots and let me tell you - there's nothing worse!!! To clean it, I sprinkled over some bicarb soda and some water and let it sit for a an hour. After rinsing and repeating the process a few times, my pot ended up spotless and I've been using it ever since with no problems!

Answer 3

When we go camping the pots turn black as coal. A lot of scrubbing, soap and water gets the black off. We never had any health problems.

Answer 4

I burned a pot too. if it looks horrible don't use it anymore and if the bottom is slightly black you can use it.

Answer 5

No health problems unless the pot is really really old, which it most likely isnt.

Answer 6

I would not worry if it is just on the outside, but you can soak it to try to get them off. I burn lots of stuff and neither my husband or myself have ever been poisoned...by the pot.... I warped one of my nice skillets trying to make roux one day. It was very sad.

Answer 7

I will try to soak it for a few hours in very hot water with lots of soap!!

Answer 8

If it was a Teflon coated pan the coating could give you cancer if you burned it bad enough to crack.

Coach