Lentils are a delicious and nutritious food, but if not cooked properly they can stick to the bottom of the pot and burn, leaving a film that is difficult to remove.
If this has happened to you, don’t worry. Here we offer tips and tricks for cleaning up this embedded dirt, as well as suggestions for preventing lentils from sticking in the future.
Tips and tricks for cleaning the pot
The pot in which the lentils are stuck can jump with the following tricks:
- Water and baking soda. Fill the pot with water to cover the burned area and add 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Heat over medium heat and boil for about 10-15 minutes. Then remove it from the stove and let it cool slightly. Gently scrub the affected area using a brush or sponge. Baking soda acts as a mild abrasive that helps loosen residue.
- White vinegar. Vinegar is an excellent natural degreaser and cleaner. Fill the pot with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. Heat until boiling and then let sit for 30 minutes. Then scrub with a brush or sponge.
- Salt. If the layer of burnt lentils is not very thick, sprinkle salt on the affected area and add a few drops of water to form a paste. Leave it for a few minutes and then scrub it with a brush. Salt acts as a natural abrasive.
- Detergent and hot water. Fill the pot with hot water and add a generous amount of liquid detergent. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Then scrub with a brush or sponge.
- Commercial Products. There are special products on the market to clean burnt pots. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and rinse the pot thoroughly after use.
Tips to prevent lentils from sticking
If you want to prevent the lentils from sticking, we recommend doing this before cooking. Soak the lentils for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. This softens the lentils and reduces cooking timereduces the risk of burns.
You can also add add some oil or butter to the cooking water. This creates a barrier that prevents the lentils from sticking to the bottom of the pot. While cooking the lentils, stir them occasionally to prevent them from settling and sticking to the bottom.
Finally, cook the lentils. on medium or low heat. Too high of a temperature can cause the water to evaporate quickly and burn the lentils. Using a quality pot will also help prevent this from happening to you, because thick-bottomed pots distribute heat more evenly, reducing the risk of food sticking.
Source: Informacion
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.