Soak it over night. Then go at it with barkeeper's friend. That's always gotten things off for me.

I'd do the same, but I've also found that heating it with the soapy water still in, and simmering a while, after soaking helps things along quite a bit too.

Or try this, with vent fan running and doors open. Mix bleach and water, about 1 - 2 parts and simmer for awhile. Let cool. May have to do it twice. Also, add some dishwashing liquid to the bleach/water. I've done this with pans totally crudded with burnt popcorn.

HTH, Rosie

I've had some luck with the comet paste and soaking/heating thing. But if all else fails, I ask DH to get it off. That ALWAYS works!

Never, ever use chlorine bleach with stainless steel cookware. Stainless can become permanently damaged by exposure to chlorine. It can cause pitting and even cracking, especially when combined with heat. It's a common problem in chemical plants where stainless tanks are used. Any chlorine in the product can destroy the tank.

Try boiling some plain water in the pan and using stainless steel wool. The stainless steel wool will scratch, but it's probably better that burned-on Pam. Just so you know....I have Calphalon stainless and use pam all the time. Strange that it messed yours up!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link that explains more about Chlorine damage to stainless

I do one of two things:
1. fill pan with hot water, add a little bit of espresso cleaner (Urnex) and soak (until clean).

2. use enzyme based dishwasher detergent (like Cascade plus) and soak with hot water.

The simmering with soapy water mentioned above also works.

Won't I create a toxic cloud by heating the chlorine products?? I will try the heating though, hadn't thought of that. Oh, why couldn't the kid have used one of my cheap pans or the andonized that wear like steel?! (oh yeah, it is steel!)

Where would I find Barkeepers friend?

Thanks everyone!

Bottom shelf in your supermarket cleaning products aisle - it's a cardboard cylinder with metal ends. Gold colour with navy blue, I think.

I've had good luck with a product called Greased Lightning for removing Pam residue from baking pans. It's fairly commonly available at grocery stores or at big box stores. You may need to spray a bit on, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub.

If all else fails, you can wipe on full strength household ammonia, and tie it up in a plastic bag overnight, then scrub the next day. That will take off just about anything burned on to a pan. Be SURE to use lots of good ventilation when you're working with ammonia, it's nasty stuff.

Good luck saving your pan, please let us know what worked out for you.

I would soak it overnight in hot soapy water, then scrape at the crud with a hard plastic scraper or a wood spoon (never a metal scraper), follow with something like Comet. Repeat as needed.

When your pan is clean, the inside will be covered w/ fine scratches (maybe it already was). Send your son to the hardware store for some rubbing compound and/or metal polish, and have him polish up the inside of the pan using the rubbing compound/polish and a soft cloth (which will be about 1/2 hour of elbow grease - so, better yet, use a buffing pad chucked in your electric drill).

Get that stainless steel nice and shiny (if using power tools, demand a mirror finish). You should see your reflection, and the surface should feel slick and silky. Wash the pan thoroughly with hot water and soap to remove all trace of the polish.

Now use your shiny pan. With just a bit of oil, it will act like a non-stick pan. Only use wood utensils to preserve the finish as long as possible.

I do this with my stainless steel pans. It is a small luxury.

Smiling,
I was just going to recommend greased lighting. I heard
the same thing.
The ammonia is scary to me.

Kayl,
: ( I know you are sad.
If all else fails. I recommend having your darling son
give you some free labor to earn a new pan.
Yes for such a pan it would be years of free labor.

My darling son just lost his retainer. In punishment
he is doing labor for me this weekend. I am so excited to
have him clean my garage, car, scrub toilets, clean out
the basement storage closets, collecting all the branches
that fell this winter for brush burning,
*dad is doing the burning.
bathing the dogs, scrubbing my plant boxes to prepare
for spring time, ....

He is grumbling about this but he should not have lost
the expensive retainer.
I just wish I could loan him out to friends. : )
I think his retainer is far cheaper than your Calphalon.
~boxer

On my All-Clad stainless pans, I just sprinkle some Barkeeper's Friend on and use a copper Chore Boy scrubber. It gets everything out, isn't that difficult, and is quick!

No lye version of oven cleaner, warm slightly,spray and bag it overnight.

Residue from PAM is the worst. My MIL took out 4 expensive pans during a week-long visit with that junk. I'm going to have to try the Greased Lightning.

I can't figure out why anyone would use PAM for anything after seeing what happens to cookware using it vs. a little decent oil in a Misto!

I would email Calphalon's customer service and ask them for advice. I've emailed them questions before and they were very helpful.

Also, NEVER mix dishwashing liquid and bleach -- it can create toxic fumes (in fact, I just checked my bottle of Joy and it says right on there not to mix with bleach).

Good luck!

Wow, all great suggestions - especially loved the child labor! HA! Actually it was the 18 yr. old (who knows everything!) who killed the pan.

The heating has helped a little. This is obviously going to take a while. I will look for Barkeepers friend & Greased Lightning as well.

As to the PAM... I think it was the "I'm hungry now let's cook the eggs on high PLUS the PAM that did the pan in!"

Lastly, I've never heard of a MISTO, but it's now at the top of my shopping list!

Back in the days when I used to have a kitchen, I would soak a pan with a dryer sheet for a while and things would wipe right out.

You know, I was unaware that PAM caused unusually bad residue. (I don't use PAM.) I thought the stuff was simply vegetable oil? Is it the propellant that acts badly?

I have had Pam gunk up my baking sheets before. I used Goo Gone (the gel spray). I sprayed a pretty thick layer on it and let it sit for a couple of hours. The gunk wiped right off. Now, I NEVER use Pam for ANYTHING. Olive oil in a Misto is the only way to go! Good luck!

Make a liquidy paste with baking soda and let it sit over night. If that doesn't work try a dryer sheet in water over night.

I've had luck heating with vinegar and water. Smells awful but seems to get the burned on stuff to release without hurting the pan

I have nothing more to offer regarding "how" to clean the mess, but definitely have a recommendation for "who" should actually be putting the elbow grease into the project. The offending son absolutely should be the person doing the cleanup and, if the pan can't be salvaged, he should purchase a new one from his own money.

That being said, I'm in a never-ending training mode when it comes to keeping my husband from ruining my non-stick frypans. You would think that paying for new ones would help reinforce the "use plastic utensils" rule.

Eggs on high??? Please remind him that he is still your son and you can still put him over your knee and spank, wooden spoon in hand.

I second countrygal's Dryer sheet. It is great for burnt on stuck on foods. Not so sure about the burnt on Pam but worth a try. I've always had great luck with the dryer sheet soaking overnight.