First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Let the pan cool before it touches water.
- Erase loose marks with a soft art gum eraser.
- Blot rather than rub a mark on a delicate finish.
- Pretest any cleaner on an inconspicuous spot first.
Pencil and charcoal on cookware is graphite pressed into the surface, and a warm wash alone may not finish the job. Your pan's finish is what sets the next move, since nonstick, stainless and enameled cast iron each handle a treatment differently. Fresh marks often come off with a gentle erase, while marks baked on over time may need a longer soak and a second round.
Check the finish before you scrub, since a scouring cleanser that suits stainless can dull a nonstick pan for good. A damp melamine eraser handles charcoal on a pan better than a wet, sudsy sponge does. Stop after two rounds if the mark still shows, and don't push harder on the finish.
Before you start
What pots, pans & bakeware can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Soaking
Use with care4
- Hot water
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
8 items
What you'll need
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- Soft art gum eraserLifts loose pencil and charcoal marks without scratching. (opens Amazon)
- Dish soap and warm waterWashes off food and cleans the pan before any stain treatment. (opens Amazon)
- Soft sponge or clothGentle enough for stainless, enamel and nonstick. (opens Amazon)
- Non-abrasive spongeThe right scrubber for nonstick, where pads can scratch. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaLoosens burnt food and makes a paste for nonstick. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarClears blue or rainbow heat tint and cloudy white spots on stainless. (opens Amazon)
- Nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanserMakes the paste for burnt fat shadows on stainless. (opens Amazon)
- Wooden spoonLoosens burnt food without scratching the surface.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Cool the pan and erase loose marks
Let the pan cool completely before you clean it. Then erase any loose pencil or charcoal marks with a soft art gum eraser, blotting rather than rubbing.
Careful. Never put a hot pan under cold water, or cold water into a hot pan, because it can warp.
Step 2 of 5
Wash off the food residue
Rinse off loose food with warm water, then soak the pan in warm soapy water. Wash it with a sponge or soft cloth, working along the marked area.
Tip. For built-up residue on nonstick, fill the pan with water and dish soap and leave it overnight.
Step 3 of 5
Loosen any burnt food
Sprinkle baking soda over the burnt area, add water, and bring it to a boil. Loosen the softened food with a wooden spoon, then pour the liquid out.
Careful. Do not let the pan boil dry or sit empty on a hot burner.
Step 4 of 5
Treat the stain for your finish
On stainless with a blue or rainbow heat tint, wipe the area with white vinegar on a soft cloth. On nonstick, rub a paste of baking soda and water with a non-abrasive sponge, and on stainless with burnt fat or protein shadows, use a paste of nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser and a little water. Rub in circles with a soft cloth and let the paste sit if the mark has not lifted yet.
Careful. Never use steel wool, steel scouring pads or scouring powder on stainless or nonstick.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse and dry right away
Rinse the pan with warm water to remove every trace of cleaner, then dry it immediately. Drying straight away helps prevent spotting.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pencil on pots, pans & bakeware
Choose a gentle, non-chlorine cleaner for stainless, and one made for nonstick surfaces for that finish. Skip any product with bleach or peroxide on stainless.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pots, pans & bakeware, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The mark lifts onto the sponge or cloth without extra pressure, and the surface looks even once it dries. If it still looks dull or shows when the pan is dry, repeat the step for your finish before moving on.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pots, pans & bakeware
Nonstick pan
Nonstick needs the gentlest approach, so skip any abrasive pad or powder and use a non-abrasive sponge with the baking soda paste. Keep the heat low enough that the pan never overheats while you work.
If residue has built up, fill the pan with water and dish soap and leave it overnight before you wash it. Then rinse and dry it right away.
Stainless with blue or rainbow tint
This tint is a heat mark on the surface, and white vinegar on a soft cloth lifts it. Wipe the area with the vinegar and then rinse with warm water.
If the tint comes back after the pan heats up again, repeat the wipe rather than scrubbing harder. Dry the pan right away once the tint is gone.
Stainless with cloudy white spots
Cloudy white spots need a boil rather than a wipe. Fill the pan with equal parts white vinegar and water and bring it to a boil.
Add salt only after the liquid boils or the food starts cooking, since early salt can leave white pits in stainless. Then rinse and dry the pan immediately.
Stainless with burnt fat shadows
Burnt fat and protein shadows need the cleanser paste. Mix a nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser with a little water, then rub it in circles with a soft cloth.
Rinse and dry the pan, then repeat the paste if the shadow is still there. Let the paste sit on the area before you scrub again.
Enameled cast iron
The interior takes the baking soda and water boil for burnt food, and the exterior should never see citrus-based cleaners. Use a wooden spoon or pan scraper rather than metal utensils on the enamel.
A small amount of staining is expected on enameled cast iron and does not affect performance, so stop scrubbing once a faint mark is the only thing left.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A mark that has sat on a pan for days needs more time than a fresh one. Start again with the erase step and the cleaning step for your finish, and give the paste time to work before you rinse. If the mark has dried into the surface, a stronger treatment fits: on enameled cast iron, boil 2 cups of water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda, then lift the residue with a pan scraper.
For stainless with burnt fat or protein shadows, repeat the cleanser paste and let it soak before you scrub. Work in short passes, rinsing and drying between rounds so you can see what has changed.
Some marks will not come out completely, and that is normal. Salt pitting on stainless is permanent but does not affect cooking, and long exposure above 500°F can change stainless color without hurting performance. A small amount of staining on enameled cast iron is expected and does not affect performance either.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pencil on pots, pans & bakeware?
Several pantry items have a place on cookware, but only some of them suit each finish. Baking soda paste suits nonstick, white vinegar suits a blue or rainbow tint, and a nonabrasive cleanser suits burnt fat on stainless. Check each finish before you reach for a pantry item, since only some suit it.
Works3Skip1Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put cookware in the oven during a self-clean cycle
A self-clean cycle is not a safe way to clean a pan, so keep cookware out of the oven during one. Clean the pan by hand using the steps above instead.
Don't put hard-anodized nonstick in the dishwasher
The dishwasher is not an option for this finish. Wash it by hand in warm soapy water, then dry it right away.
Don't use oven cleaners on stainless
Oven cleaners are a no for stainless cookware. Stick to the nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser paste from the steps for stubborn marks.
Don't use metal utensils on enameled cast iron
Metal can damage the enamel, so scrape with a wooden spoon or pan scraper instead. Keep citrus-based cleaners off the exterior as well.
When to call a professional
If the mark is still there after the set-in steps, stop rather than trying stronger products. Discoloration like this does not affect performance on stainless or enameled cast iron, so the pan can stay in use.
Questions
How do I get a charcoal mark off a pan?
Start with the cooling and erasing step, since a gentle lift often clears the loose part. Then choose the treatment that matches your finish, whether that is the baking soda paste for nonstick, white vinegar for a tint, or the nonabrasive cleanser for burnt fat.
Is baking soda safe on nonstick?
Yes, as a paste rubbed gently with a non-abrasive sponge. Avoid any abrasive pad or scouring powder, and if residue has built up, soak it with water and dish soap overnight first.
How do I fix cloudy white spots on stainless?
Boil equal parts white vinegar and water in the pan until the spots start to lift. Then rinse and dry the pan right away to help keep new spots from forming.
Will the stain come out of enameled cast iron?
Most of it will, but a small amount of staining is expected on enameled cast iron and does not affect performance. Start with the baking soda boil for burnt food, then move to the stronger treatment only if the mark remains.
Does dish soap alone remove the mark?
Warm soapy water is the first wash, and it may be enough for a fresh mark. For burnt food or shadows that remain, add the treatment that matches your finish.
What if the mark is still there after cleaning?
Repeat the step for your finish once, rinsing and drying between rounds. If it still does not lift, the set-in treatment is the next option, and a faint mark may stay without affecting how the pan cooks.
Pencil on other materials
Other stains on pots, pans & bakeware
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.