How to clean stubborn saucepan stains in minutes with 'magic' kitchen hack

Bid farewell to pesky food stains clinging to your saucepans with this brilliant hack.

We've all encountered that moment of horror when you realise something's overcooked on the hob, and upon serving you discover a mess of charred remnants defiantly sticking to the bottom of your pan.

Whether it's vegetables, rice, or pasta, the prospect of laboriously scrubbing your cookware to regain its former glory is enough to make you want to pull your hair out.

But don't resign yourself to a fate of eternally scorched pans, as there's a simple trick that could save your cookware.

Cleaning fans online say all you need to get your saucepans gleaming again is one kitchen cupboard staple that you probably already have at home.

One individual sought advice on Reddit after a late-night taco reheating session left his pan in a sorry state. He said: "I heated some corn tacos on this pan at 2am and now these things won't come out. Please help. I've tried hot water, cleaning paste, boiling water, cold water, cold water with soap, and hot water with soap."

Helpful commenters flocked to offer their wisdom, with one particular solution rising above the rest - good old baking soda. The consensus was to mix baking soda with water, heat it up until boiling, let it simmer down, and then proceed to scrub.

One individual advised: "It's just burnt bits of corn. Cover with water add 2 or 3 heaped spoons of baking soda and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, let it cool for a while then scrub. Will come right off. Works for any burnt vegetable matter, if there's fat/meat repeat the same thing and add a 1/2 spoon of dish soap once you turn the heat off."

Another echoed this method, posting: "Cover the bottom in baking soda, add water and boil. Scrub and it will come right off."