Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali celebrations call for feasting even if you are fasting. These festivals include enjoying gathering with friends and relatives which cannot be successful if the spread does not include many starters, main course dishes, and desserts.
In India, from snacks to sweet dishes, most festive season recipes include deep-frying or using a lot of ghee and oil. This can leave the cookware with stubborn stains that are hard to get rid of and often leave your arms muscles aching. But a few simple kitchen hacks can come in handy and help you get rid of the grease and stains without effort.
Scrape Excess Oil
Use a metal scraper to remove excess oil from the utensils. If the ghee has solidified, you can easily remove it using a spatula and store it in another container. This process will help you avoid waste. Leaving the cookware to rest after cooking helps to strain the oil and remove burnt food particles with ease.
Soak In Hot Water
This is kitchen hack 101. Since childhood, you must have heard your grandmothers and mom instructing you to soak utensils, especially if you have eaten greasy or cheesy dishes in them. This works like a charm with non-stick cookware. If you soak in hot water for a while, it breaks down the oil particles and makes cleaning an easy task. Hot water also loosens up food particles without requiring the strength of your arms.
Use Non-Scratch Scrub
Instead of using steel wool, use a normal scrubber. Once you have dipped utensils in hot water, add a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing gel to a glass of hot water. Dip the sponge in it and scrub the greasy surfaces. It will remove the stains, greasiness, and any build-up. Your cookware will also get its original shine back and smell fresh.
Use Vinegar And Baking Soda
If the aluminium utensil is burned, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area. Now sprinkle some vinegar and leave the cookware in the sink. The mixture will work its magic as the frizz reaction will remove the residue. You can also prepare a mixture of hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. Dip flatware and small bowls in it for a while and clean them with soap and water for a shiny dinner set.
Lemon, Salt, and Vinegar
If you used copper pans and pots for preparing delicacies this festive season, scrub the surface with lemon and salt. Not only will it remove the grease but also tarnish from the surface. You can also prepare a solution of vinegar and salt for stubborn stains. Let the utensils sit in the solution, scrub them gently, and rinse with soap and water.
Salt Scrub
People using iron skillets for cooking know about the extra effort required to clean the pan. It is best to keep the soap aside and let the magic of salt scrub make your life easy. Use a non-metal brush to remove grease and residue from the surface so that you do not end up ruining the pan. Thoroughly rinse it with hot water and dry it with a paper towel to avoid rusting in future.
Cream Of Tartar
Tartar cream and water solution is the last resort to remove greasiness and stubborn stains from utensils after several sessions of deep-frying. Apply it on the stains and leave the utensil sit for at least 30 minutes. Remove the paste using an everyday scrubber and rinse off using soap and water. Tartar cream will also help you get rid of discolouration and odour.