Rescue Your Dinner From a Scorched Pan

A blackened skillet makes an entire recipe taste burned. Use this technique to salvage your supper.

Step 1: Remove skillet from heat. Gently pull the food to one side of the skillet, being careful not to disrupt the burned bits on the bottom.

Step 2: Tip the pan in the opposite direction and add a few tablespoons of water. Scrape up the burned bits, pushing them into the water.

Step 3: Using a wad of paper towel (try holding it with tongs), sop up the water and the scraped-up bits; discard. Repeat on other burned areas, if necessary. Continue cooking.