One-ingredient trick to stop food clinging to pans

Pans come in all shapes and sizes yet one thing they all have in common is a tendency to harbour burnt food residue after cooking. Even non-stick styles can be hard to keep clean after several uses, making even harsh scrubbing ineffective for removing stubborn stains. However, according to one author-turned-cleaning enthusiast, all you need is some hot water to leave pans looking as good as new. In a video posted on her Instagram profile, Bethany Ugarte (@lilsipper) showed followers the surprisingly easy trick.After cooking with the visibly dirty pan, she placed it directly under running water in the sink.As the water splashed onto the remnants of garlic and other food residue, she explained that the hack only works if you act quickly.She said: “To avoid getting food stuck on your pan, immediately put water in the pan while it’s hot.”READ MORE: ‘Best thing I’ve ever had’ – Use ‘game changing’ hack to prevent mould Best way to prevent burnt food clinging to pans using one ingredient- ‘nothing sticks!’ (Image: GETTY) Scrubbing non-stick pans causes long term damage to the coating (Image: Getty)The Instagram user 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.DON’T MISS:’Really easy’ trick to cut back ‘scrappy’ herbaceous perennials [INSIGHT]Four easy steps to ‘strengthen’ your lawn and prevent frost damage [REVEAL]House prices reach five-month low – cheapest UK regions mapped [LATEST] All you need is water to remove stubborn dirt (Image: Getty) Always run the pan under water when it is still hot from cooking (Image: Getty)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.