One of the most frustrating tasks in the kitchen is the cleanup after a big meal. It may not happen often but burnt rice, oatmeal and pan drippings can create major kitchen anxiety. Don’t throw in the towel on those pots and pans you think may be ruined—here’s what you need to do to save them all:

1) Cover the burnt area with equal parts vinegar and water.

2) Bring to a boil.

3) Reduce the heat to medium, add a bit of baking soda and continue to scrape the pot with a wooden spoon until all the burnt bits have loosened.
(Note: The amount you need may vary, but start with a heaping teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of liquid, adding more if necessary.)

4) Rinse well.

If you still have little spots with burnt food, just sprinkle in a bit of baking soda and scrub it away with a sponge—any leftover pieces should come off quite easily.

Now that cleanup is less of a fuss, you can go ahead and dirty those pans with these one-pot recipes.