What Not to Do

• Your first impulse might be to reach for a heavy metal implement--even a knife--that you can use to cut through the char. Resist that urge at all costs. Metal abrasion creates small grooves in stainless steel pots. Bacteria collect and grow in these grooves, and the ridges also make your cooking surface rougher and more difficult to use.
  
  

Soaking

• To loosen the burnt material, soak you stainless steel pot as soon as you remove the food. Add warm water with a little bit of soap at least up to the level of the burn. The longer you soak your pot, the more you will loosen the burnt food, but even soaking for a few minutes can make it easier to clean.
  
  

Scouring Powder

• Scouring powder such as Ajax or Bon Ami is the best product for cleaning burnt stainless steel pots. Sprinkle the scouring powder generously over the burned area. Add a little bit of water, enough to create a thick paste. Use an abrasive nylon pad to scrape the bottom of the pot. Rub vigorously for a few minutes, then rinse the area and repeat the process as necessary until you remove all of the burn.