How to Get Caramel off Pots and Pans

Caramel can be immensely stubborn and difficult to remove. If you remember to take care of it before it cools, removal will be far easier. Soaking the caramel in hot water or club soda may prolong the amount of time you have before it solidifies. Once it does solidify, a thin enough layer can usually be removed by carefully chipping it off with a kitchen chisel, but a thick layer may need to soak in simmering water, salt water, or soapy water.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Scraping and Freezing

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If only a thin, partially translucent layer remains, you may be able to scrape it off without taking any additional steps. If a thicker layer remains, you may need to soak it before scraping.
Position the chisel at the nearest end of the pot or pan and move the chisel away from you in short strokes. Apply firm, even pressure.
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Pat it dry with paper towels.
If additional caramel remains on the bottom of the pan, repeat the scraping and rinsing procedures.
Leave it there two hours to allow the pan and the burned-on caramel a chance to thoroughly freeze. Frozen food is often easier to chisel away, and caramel becomes especially brittle at below-freezing temperatures.
Repeat the scraping process to chip away the brittle pieces of frozen caramel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Club Soda

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This works especially well for cast iron. The effervescence of the soda reacts with the iron, making the sides slick and difficult to stick to.
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After a 15-minute soak, scrub the pot with a dish sponge or washcloth. Do not dump the soda out of the pot. Instead, submerge the sponge beneath the club soda and scrub the pot while the soda is still inside.
- If a sponge isn't cutting it, try using a Brillo pad.^{[1]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
  House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
Wipe out any remaining flakes of caramel with a dry paper towel.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Hot Water

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You only need enough water to cover the caramel. This is best done immediately after you finish using the pot, before the caramel has had a chance to fully solidify.^{[2]XResearch source}
Cover it, and allow the inside to soak for an hour.
If, upon inspection, you still notice a considerable amount of caramel stuck to the pot, try using hotter water.
Again, you only need enough to cover the caramel.^{[3]XResearch source}
The water should simmer but not quite boil. Allow the water to simmer for at least ten minutes.
Scrub away any remaining caramel with a dish sponge.^{[4]XResearch source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Salt Water

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Dump in 1 tablespoon (14.3 grams) of salt for every cup (250 milliliters) of water you use. Make sure the caramel is completely submerged under water.
Do not dump the water out beforehand, no matter how murky or dingy it may look.
By now, the salt should have weakened the stuck-on caramel, causing it to lift off the sides of the pot as soon as the water heats up.
Gently scrub the sides of the pot with a dish sponge. Any remaining caramel should lift off without much difficulty.
Use running water to remove any residual flakes of caramel.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Dishwashing Detergent or Fabric Softener

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This can either be done while the caramel is still warm or after it cools.
^{[5]XExpert SourceSusan Stocker
House Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview. 8 November 2019.} You can also use fabric softener. If the caramel has already hardened and seems especially stuck, fabric softener may prove more helpful, since many dishwashing detergents may be too mild.^{[6]XResearch source}
The water should be a dingy brown by the time you return to it.
Submerge the sponge beneath the water and vigorously scrub at the caramel until it chips away. After soaking for an hour, it should wipe away with relative ease.
Give the pan a final rinse beneath running water.

Community Q&A

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Question
Peanut brittle is stuck to the cookie sheet. How do I get it loose?
Community Answer
Peanut brittle is mostly sugar, so soaking the sheet in hot water should dissolve the sugar. You may need to soak it for a while.
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How do I get stuck caramel off a bowl?
Community Answer
Soak in hot water for 30 minutes and then use a cleaner like Comet or Dawn and scrub, it should come right off.
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Tips

When soaking your pots and pans, soak your utensils, as well. Most of these solutions will work just as well on metal cooking utensils as they do on metal pots and pans. Simply sit the utensils inside the pot and allow them to soak simultaneously.
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Warnings

Be mindful of the material your pots and pans are made of. Certain materials have specific care requirements. For instance, cast iron can rust if you allow water to sit in it, and some non-stick coatings can be damaged if you scrape or scrub them with salt or steel wool.
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