Have you ever "ruined" a good pot because you've scorched it? Yesterday I was trying out a new recipe for the crock pot...pinto beans. By the way... Awwwwwe-Som! (I'll share Friday) and it was pretty full. I knew better, but I turned it on high. "Oh, I'll just turn it on high for about an hour and I'll turn it back down to low and let it finish. Uh, yeah right! I totally forgot. The bean "juice" bubbled from under the lid and down the sides and inside the metal part. I came home to an awful smell. The beans were fantastic. The scorched smell? Not so much.
After we had dinner, and I'm about to wash the dishes I take the crock out of the metal housing and look inside. Ugh! G-R-O-S-S !!! (spell it, it's way more effective).
Not to worry, by now I'm a pro at this (ask me how). Here's what it looked like....
See? G-R-O-S-S !
Poor old Polly, (you name your kitchen appliances too, don't you? No? hmmmm, pity) is really old but still works and isn't yet ready to put out to pasture, so I go to the laundry room, grab a couple of dryer sheets, put them in the bottom of the pot, pour a little water in there (maybe 1/4 of the way up) and let it sit overnight. Here's the result...
See? Cool huh? This trick hasn't failed me yet! It doesn't matter what dryer sheet you use, cheaper is better, but I used Downy - smelled good while doing it's job and took care of the scorched smell too :) I just used the "spent" drying sheet to wipe it up, and then rinsed it out.
Do you have a favorite kitchen trick? I'd love to hear it! Share with us all in the comments.