Calphalon pans have won the battles of non-stick cooking, frying, and baking like a warrior. Dump all your cooking fears in rest with this durable and easy to clean cookware. 

Some cooking accidents leave irresistible tough stains that are hard to remove even from your favorite non-stick pans. 

These burnt scars or sticky stains can leave you in cute misery. And now you’re looking for some guides on how to clean burnt calphalon pans. Did I get you right?

In this blog post, I’ll share some most effortless ways to clean your burnt calphalon pans. But before proceeding further, let’s understand the chemistry and manufacturing details related to calphalon pans.

Calphalon pans – a reliable cooking gadget

Calphalon pans are non-stick pans made of hard-anodized aluminum. 

These non-stick pans are easy to handle, as they’re processed with low-maintenance cooking needs. They have a hard-anodized metallic base covered with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coatings. These coatings are made of plastic polymers and are free from PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). PTFE-coated cookware was found unhealthy, but, there is no solid proof behind the toxic nature of these coatings [1]

Most people confuse calphalon with Teflon cookware. But the fact is, calphalon and Teflon are 2 different brands with somewhat the same properties.

What is meant by an anodized aluminum base?

The aluminum base of calphalon pans undergoes an electrochemical process called anodization. This anodization process hardens the metal, fills empty spaces, and increases its strength and durability. Hence, the process makes its heat conduction ability far much better than other metals. 

How to clean burnt calphalon pans safely?

Calphalon pans are the safest cooking ware until you get them burnt or scratched. 

No cookware cooks properly when burnt food is stuck to its coating or base. So, to ensure hygienic and smooth cooking, clean your cookware correctly. 

Let’s begin with learning some basic cleansing practices for your burnt calphalon pans. 

Using hot water and mild dishwasher

Make it a must-follow ritual for cleaning your calphalon pans! 

Remove your calphalon pan from the burner or stovetop, and allow it to cool. Once it reaches normal temperature, wash it off with hot water.

Even if you’re using dishwashing liquid or mild soaps, hot water would be a convenient option. It not only removes oil but also loosens the grip of burnt food. 

After washing, soak the pans in soap or dishwasher liquid. You can use soft scrubbers to scrap the burnt food particles. Be safe with its lids, as we know tempered glass can be sensitive to pressure. 

Rinse it with normal water and use a soft cotton cloth to wipe moisture (it prevents white stains and foul odor). Let it air dry at standard temperature and store in clean and spacious drawers. 

Exfoliating burnt calphalon pan with baking soda

The baking soda you’ve been using for your baking luxuries can also help you with burnt calphalon pans. The fizzy powder provides a deep cleansing solution to remove tough stains from fabric, cookware, and countertops.

Did you know this fantastic cleaning hack before? If not, let me show you how to clean burnt calphalon pans effortlessly by using baking soda.  

• Wash and dry your pans thoroughly using mild detergents (as mentioned above).
• Make a solid paste of baking soda with water. Use the quantity depending on the dimensions of your pan. 
• Apply an even layer of this paste all onto your pan to cover it completely. 
• Leave it for a good 30-45 minutes to let baking soda exfoliate the burnt areas properly. 
• Later, use a scrubbing brush or pad gently to loosen the adhered food from its surface. Be careful while scrubbing to avoid scratches on PTFE coatings. 
• Rinse it thoroughly with lukewarm or normal water. 
• Follow the same whipping and drying steps before storing the cleaned pans.

Alternative method

Add 2 tbsp. of baking soda into your burnt calphalon pan and pour 2 cups of water into it. Mix it well and heat the mixture on medium flame. Continue heating this mixture for 10-15 minutes while frequent stirring using a wooden spatula. Turn off the flame and discard the solution. The burnt food will already have lost ground. 

Otherwise, use a prescribed scrubber to swipe the burnt food or stains from the pan. Rinse it using clean water to remove leftover detergent or soda residues.

How to clean burnt calphalon pan using white vinegar – my favorite query!

Vinegar being available at every countertop adds significant value to my cooking and washing expertise. Some of you might wonder how vinegar can be a remedy for a burnt calphalon pan?

Vinegar loosens to avoid the burnt stains from pans and dissolves minerals and dirt particles in them. I consider it the safest method to clean burnt pans and pots because it’s:

• Eco-friendly 
• Non-toxic
• Health-friendly 
• Readily available

Take a cup of white vinegar and mix it with equal amounts of water. You can choose to heat this mixture on a medium flame for 15 minutes or give it a stay time of 30-45 minutes. It will dissolve the impurities in both cases in both cases, leaving behind a clear, stainless pan after rinsing.

How to get rid of the post-cleaning odor of vinegar?

White vinegar has an undesirable solid odor, and I’m sure most of you won’t like it. The smell usually lasts only for a couple of hours. Still, you can use essential oils or scented yet mild dishwashing liquids to get off that pungent smell of acetic acid. 

A combination of olive oil and hot water can also do wonders

Oils work as the best softening agent for burnt stains in calphalon or other coated pans. This method is quite simple and easy to follow. 

Just pour 4 tablespoons of thick olive oil and 2 cups of water into your burnt calphalon pan. The quantity of ingredients can vary depending upon the size of your pan.

Heat the pan on medium flame and bring it to a boil. Continue boiling for 10 minutes. You can add more water if its quantity seems less. 

Discard the solution later, and scrub the burnt area using soft or mild brushes. Clean the oil with a mild dishwasher and rinse it thoroughly with normal water. Make sure no oil or other residues are left behind.  

Use lime or cream of tart 

Remember famous brands advertising the cleansing power of lime in dishwashing liquids? Have you ever wondered what they expect from lime to do with dishwashing? 

Lime and tart contain citric acid (a natural preservative) that works best to dissolve impurities. These 2 natural ingredients work great to enhance flavor in cooking and improve digestion in human beings. 

But here, our primary concern is how to clean burnt calphalon pans using lime or tart. This cleaning recipe is relatively easy and requires minimal effort. 

All you have to do is pour 2 tbsp of lime juice or cream of the tart into your calphalon pan. Half fill the pan with water and start heating this solution until it starts boiling. Add 2 tbsp. of salt while treating with lime to boost its cleansing ability. 

Discard the solution after 25-30 minutes (time may vary depending on the severity of stains). Use a scrubbing pad or brush to scrap the burnt scars or stains. Wash it later using a recommended mild soap or detergent. Rinse the pan with normal water and wipe it off before air drying.

Caution: Avoid lime to come in direct contact with the stainless-steel handles to avoid erosion. 

Use and care instructions for calphalon pans

Before learning how to clean burnt calphalon pans, understand what made your pan suffer from this disaster. To increase the usages of your calphalon pans, make sure you’re using them the right way. Here are some mistakes that you should avoid for better outcomes:

Don’t go harsh on your calphalon pans

I always emphasize using compatible utensils with your pans, whether it’s mentioned in instructions or not. It helps to avoid scratching of the coatings and aids in smooth cooking. 

For example, if you’re cooking or using plastic spoons to mix more significant quantities of food, it may break or melt away during the course. Uneven mixing spoils the original essence of your recipe and results in burning your pans or food ingredients. Both ways,, your pan has to pay for this disaster!

Don’t cook on high flame

Cooking on high flame does no good to your food or pans. 

I’ve learned from personal experience that cooking on medium flame cooks food better than high flame. The same goes for baking at elevated temperatures. In both cases, your food starts collapsing due to dehydration and starts sticking to the pan. If this burnt food remains unchecked for longer period of time, it can cause irreversible damage to the coating of your pan. While baking, make sure you’ve chosen the calphalon cookware that is compatible with the oven temperature. These pans might not collapse or burn at sensitive temperature ranges. 

Wash your pans with great care

Avoid using extra hot water for washing calphalon pans. 

Pouring boiling water directly onto a hot calphalon pan affects the chemistry of the PTFE coatings. It makes room for toxicity and food particles to adhere. Wait for some time until it reaches normal temperature and then wash it off using normal or lukewarm water. 

Even if it’s mandatory to wash with hot water, wait for your pan to reach room temperature. Extreme temperature fluctuations impose pressure and burns coatings by creating holes or tiny cracks.

Frequently asked questions about calphalon pans

Most people get confused by the disasters of high temperature or other wrong cooking practices. The burnt scars can overwhelm the users and trigger some cute anxious questions. Here are a few proven tactics that can help you tame your fears related to burnt calphalon pans

Is it possible to clean a burnt calphalon pan?

Of course, you can clean your burnt calphalon pans without any doubt. The cleaning procedures are pretty simple and easy to implement. All of the ingredients mentioned above are inexpensive and primarily available at every countertop. 

Just follow the cleaning guidelines and don’t go hard on your pans. Gently scrub the burnt residues using a compatible scrubber.

What’s the result of a burnt calphalon pan?

First of all, there’s a limit to repairing burnt calphalon pans. You can repair and season these worn-out coatings for a limited period. One day you’ll have to replace it with a new one. Frequent repairing or seasoning also impacts the quality of the cookware. You can recycle your old burnt-out pans in different ways. So it’s better to replace the severely damaged pans with new ones as soon as possible. 

Are PTFE-coatings safe for human health?

PTFE-coatings are pretty safer than PFAO ones. These do contain chromium and other significant heavy metals but in a small quantity. Their presence in your food commodity could have harmful impacts, but that doesn’t declare them unsafe for cooking. For more satisfaction, try using PTFE-coated pans with great care, such that they stay intact with zero damage. 

Does lime affect the coatings of a calphalon pan with its acidic nature?

The PTFE-coatings are firmly bound to the aluminum base,, which means they are unreactive towards outer reagents. The same goes for lime or any other acidic food commodity. But you have to be extra careful while using these lime and salt paste on the steel handles of your pan.

Can I wash my hot calphalon pan directly with cold water or vice versa?

It’s a big fat no. The mistake that people usually make is, dropping their pans directly from the stovetop to hot water. A sudden transition in temperature of your pan and outside environment can be troublesome. It disrupts the chemical composition of your pan and affects its efficacy. 

I always thaw my frozen meat or vegetables before throwing them directly on heat. It’s safe both for the pan and your health. Thawed and properly handled foods are nutritionally safer than their frozen state.

Calphalon vs. ceramic coated non-stick pans – which one should I go for?

To be honest, ceramic-coated pans are better than calphalon pans. These ceramic-coated pans are more durable and long-lasting than calphalon non-stick pans. But this doesn’t mean calphalon has lost the game. It’s oven-safe, resistant to extreme heat, easy to clean, and provides a better cooking experience than metallic cookware. 

Why can’t I use a burnt calphalon pan?

Burnt or worn-out calphalon pans don’t cook your food correctly. Additionally, they lack their lustrous look and durable nature. Cracked PTFE-coatings are dangerous as they start leaching more chemicals than expected. So it’s better to clean, season, and finally replace the burnt calphalon pans when they can’t be used further.

Are calphalon and Teflon the same brand? 

No, calphalon and Teflon do have the same coatings, but both brands have their unique identity. Both pans are made with PTFE and are free from PFAOs. 

Why do I need to clean calphalon pans before seasoning?

Seasoning your burnt or scratched pans can increase their durability and minimize the present damage. But it requires your pan to be completely neat and clean before undergoing any seasoning or repairing procedure. It’s essential because clean surfaces are easy to repair than burnt ones. The cleaning operations are elementary and must-have for better performance of calphalon or any other cookware. I’ve shared some washing tips and strategies that can ease your cleaning and maintenance process. 

Is it safe to use scrubbers with burnt calphalon pans?

You can use soft or mild scrubbing brushes or pads with calphalon pans. This is why calphalon pans are my ultimate favorite option. 

In a nutshell

Calphalon pans are worth spending money on if you know how to keep them for longer. Just like other high-end cookware brands, calphalon pans are durable, resistant to heat, and show excellent oven safety. But you must know how to clean burnt calphalon pans if you want to boost your user experience. Now, we can safely say calphalon pans are worth spending money on when they are cleaned and maintained safely.