Randy Chandler
Cleaning melted cheese off plates and pans can be a challenging task, as cheese has a tendency to cling to surfaces and harden. However, with the right techniques, it is possible to remove stubborn, stuck-on cheese without damaging your dishes. The key to success is softening the cheese before scrubbing, which can be achieved through various methods such as soaking in hot water, using grease-fighting liquid dish soap, or applying heat. Once the cheese is softened, it can be easily scraped off with a wooden spoon, plastic utensil, or a scrubber brush. For more persistent spots, natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice can be effective in breaking down the fats and proteins in the cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature of water | Cold water is better for removing cheese |
| Soaking | Soaking in hot water and soap helps to loosen the cheese and prevent it from drying |
| Scrubbing | Use a wooden spoon, plastic spatula, scrubber brush, or sponge to scrub off the cheese |
| Natural ingredients | Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are effective in breaking down fats and proteins in cheese |
| Lining | Line the plate or pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper to avoid direct contact with cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Soak in hot soapy water
Soaking in hot soapy water is an effective way to remove old cheese stuck on plates. The first step is to fill your sink with hot water. The water should be as hot as your faucet can produce. Add a grease-fighting liquid dish soap to the water. Place the plate in the sink, ensuring it is fully submerged, and leave it to soak.
The length of time you should leave the plate to soak varies depending on the source. Some recommend letting the plate soak for at least 15 minutes, while others suggest leaving it for an hour. One source recommends letting the water cool enough to work with before removing the plate, while another suggests letting the water cool enough to touch.
Once the plate has soaked, you can begin to scrape the cheese off. Use a wooden spoon, a plastic utensil, or a plastic scraper to gently remove the cheese. If there are any remaining bits of cheese, use a sponge or scrub brush to wash the plate with hot water and dish soap to remove any lingering grease.
It is important to note that this method may not be suitable for all types of dishware. For example, cast iron cookware should not be soaked in water as it can rust. Additionally, if your dishware is nonstick or easily scratched, avoid using a metallic scrubber.
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Scrape off with a utensil
Scraping off old cheese from plates with a utensil is a simple and effective method. The first step is to soften the cheese. This can be done by soaking the plate in hot water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid for at least 10 minutes. If the cheese is particularly stubborn, you can add grease-fighting liquid dish soap and the hottest water from your faucet. Soaking helps to loosen the cheese and prevents it from drying into a hard, immovable crust.
After soaking, you can begin the process of scraping. Using a wooden or plastic utensil, such as a spoon, spatula, or an old credit card, gently scrape under the layer of cheese to lift it off the plate. If the cheese is still soft, you can even use your fingers to scrape it off. For more solidified cheese, a pot scraper or a plastic scraper can be effective tools. It is important to avoid metal utensils when cleaning delicate surfaces to prevent scratching.
In some cases, you may need to repeat the process of soaking and scraping multiple times to fully remove the cheese. Additionally, for baked-on cheese that has hardened, you can try running cold water over the plate to further harden the cheese before scraping it off.
While scraping with a utensil is a straightforward approach, it is important to note that it may not work for all types of dishes. For example, cast iron cookware should not be soaked in water as it can rust. In such cases, alternative methods or natural ingredients, like vinegar or lemon juice, may be more suitable for removing old cheese.
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Harden with cold water
If you're dealing with old, stuck-on cheese on a plate, it might seem counterintuitive, but running the plate under cold water will make it easier to clean. This is because the cold water will cause the cheese to harden, so you can simply scrape the solid cheese off. You can then run the plate under hot soapy water to finish the job.
This method is much more effective than using hot water, which will only keep the cheese in its gooiest, stickiest form. It is also more efficient than using natural ingredients like vinegar or lemon juice, which are effective at breaking down fats and proteins in cheese but require more time and effort.
By using cold water to harden the cheese, you can quickly and easily remove the majority of the cheese residue. This technique is especially useful for plates and pans with large amounts of stuck-on cheese, as it minimizes the need for scrubbing and reduces the risk of damaging non-stick surfaces.
It is worth noting that this method may not be suitable for all types of dishes, such as cast iron cookware, which should not be soaked in water to avoid rusting. However, for most plates and pans, hardening the cheese with cold water is a simple and effective solution for removing stubborn, stuck-on cheese.
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Soften with warm water
Softening old cheese stuck on plates with warm water is an effective way to get them off. The key is to soften the cheese before you start scrubbing. So, what are we dealing with? A cheesy casserole dish or a plate covered in stringy remnants? Regardless, soaking will be your best friend.
Fill your dish with hot water and a squirt of dishwashing liquid as soon as possible. This loosens the cheese and prevents it from drying into an immovable crust. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, and you'll already have easier cleanup. If you're cleaning cheese off cast iron cookware, this option isn't the best as cast iron can rust if you leave it soaking in water.
If you're dealing with a particularly stubborn patch of cheese, you can try a few different methods to soften it. One is to place the dish in a trash bag and close it to keep the fumes contained. After an hour, take the dish out of the bag and run hot water over it, using a wooden or plastic utensil to scrape off the cheese. Repeat this process as many times as needed.
Another method is to fill the dish with hot water and then dump it out before adding a handful of baking soda. Use a scrubber to scrub the cheese off with the baking soda, and rinse the dish, adding more baking soda as needed. Don't use a metallic scrubber if your dishware is non-stick or easily scratched.
You can also try softening the cheese by simmering it for a few minutes, making it easy to scrape off with a spatula or scraper once it's cooled. Then, rinse the dish with warm water and dish soap to remove any lingering grease.
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Use baking soda
To remove old cheese stuck on plates, baking soda is a safe and effective solution. It acts as a mild abrasive, removing grease and grime without scratching the surface of your plates.
Begin by scrubbing away as much of the dried cheese as possible without using baking soda. Use a plastic spatula, kitchen brush, or gentle scrubbing brush for this initial step. Once you have removed as much of the cheese as possible, rinse the plate.
Next, coat the plate generously with baking soda and a few squirts of dish soap. Then, fill the plate with hot water. Allow this mixture to sit for 15 minutes. The baking soda and hot water will work together to loosen the cheese residue.
After 15 minutes, scrub the plate again, focusing on any stubborn spots. If needed, add more baking soda to these areas and repeat the process until your plate is clean.
For particularly tough spots of cheese, you can also try sprinkling baking soda over the area and adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice. This will create a fizzy reaction that helps to loosen the residue.
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Frequently asked questions
Soak the plate in hot soapy water for 10-15 minutes. Then, use a utensil to scrape off the cheese.
If the cheese is still stuck, try softening it further by running the plate under hot water. You can also try using a scrubber brush, as melted cheese does not ruin them.
You can try to prevent cheese from sticking to your plates in the first place by lining your plates with aluminum foil or parchment before cooking. For plates, you can also try rinsing them with hot water immediately after eating.
You can try running cold water over the plate to harden the cheese and then scrape it off.
You can try using baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice to help break down the fats and proteins in the cheese.
