How to Remove Odors from Aluminum Pans

Aluminum pots are notorious for picking up and holding onto cooking odors. Because there’s more than one type of aluminum product made for cookware, the ideal solution for getting rid of these smells is the one recommended by your manufacturer. When that information isn’t available, the following method should work for most aluminum pots and pans.

• Ammonia
• Water

1. Prepare a mixture of 50/50 ammonia and water.
2. Fill the pot with the solution.
3. Allow the solution to sit in the pot for about a week.
4. Be sure to dispose of the ammonia safely. Once diluted with water, it can usually be poured down the drain. Please check the bottle label for precautions and specifics.

• If your aluminum pot or pan is damaged or the finish is compromised, you may further damage the pot by using ammonia on it. Try sitting it outside in the sunshine for a day for a less invasive solution. The sun is a natural cleaner and the UV rays will destroy the odor-causing molecules – just orient it so the sun can shine into it.
• If the ammonia doesn’t work, try boiling tomato sauce or tomato juice in the pot.
• If there are dark stains on your aluminum pots and pans, trying boiling a mixture of one part vinegar to one part water in the pan. This may help to remove odors as well as the dark stain.