How to clean your paella pan

The process of tasting a paella is a pleasant one: the flavor of the rice, the combination of the ingredients on our palate, giving the cook accessories and seeing how he blushes... but once we run out of paella, we come to the less fun part: clean the paella pan.

Whatever the container for our meals, once it is finished it is time to scrub and clean everything used. Scrubbing a paella pan is not a difficult task in itself, but depending on what kind of paella we have, we should give some consideration to how to clean the paella pan.

In this blog post, we are going to see how to clean paella pan and how to preserve the paella in the best way after cleaning.

How should we clean the paella pan?

Cleaning the paella pan is largely similar to how we clean any other type of saucepan, frying pan or pot.

If our paella is enameled or stainless steel, we can soak it by filling it halfway with water, this will allow us to soften any remains of food or utensils that may have remained attached, making it easier to clean.

In the opposite case, if we have a polished steel paella, we should not soak it, otherwise the only thing we will achieve is rust our paella.

How to clean the paella pan?

Paella pans can be scrubbed in a similar way as we would do with other kitchen utensils. If it is made of polished steel, stainless steel or non-stick, we can use brushes, scouring pads or sponges to clean it, since since it is polished steel, we are not at risk even if its surface is scratched.

If we are going to clean an enameled paella pan, then we should use a soft, soft sponge, because if we use a brush or scouring pad we run the risk of accidentally lifting its protective enamel. Don't worry, there are still ways to clean the toughest pieces of food from this paella without using a scouring pad.

As for the soap, although technically any kind of dishwashing soap would work for this purpose, we recommend that you use Asevi, a cleaner made exclusively for cleaning paella pans, paella pans and cauldrons.

We recommend it precisely because it makes it easier to eliminate the fat, which will cover the entire interior surface of your paella, and it greatly helps in removing stuck or burned pieces of food, which is especially appreciated for enameled paellas.

Finally, remember that you can display any of your paellas on your wall as long as you have cleaned and preserved them correctly, although if you know that you are not going to use them on a semi-regular basis, we recommend following our storage recommendations in each of the classes of paella pans.

How to clean and preserve the polished steel paella pan

If you are going to clean a polished steel paella pan, add a little bit of asevi cleaner and scrub with a scouring pad. Once it is scrubbed or rinsed, dry the paella with kitchen paper, it must be completely dry or there is a risk that it could rust.

When it is clean and dry, add a splash of oil and with the help of a kitchen paper we spread it over the surface of the paella pan, including its interior.

This layer of oil will protect the steel of the paella, since thanks to it the steel will no longer be in direct contact with the air. Don't worry about what kind of oil you use, any kind will do.

If you are going to use the paella for a long time, instead of displaying it, consider storing it in a plastic bag in a dry place.

Remember that enameled and stainless paella pans do not require this extra maintenance process, because they cannot rust.

How to clean the enameled paella pan

To clean an enameled paella pan, you can start by soaking it to soften the remains. If you have many areas with dirt or stuck-on food and you see that you cannot remove them, use warm water for a few minutes before cleaning or in the middle of the process, this will help soften it more, making it easier to clean without the need for scouring pads or brushes.

Once the food is softened, use a soft sponge to remove any remains of food and utensils. Don't be afraid to squeeze with your fingers, as it is a sponge, you don't run the risk of marking the enamel. Then lather and rinse with plenty of water. Once clean, dry the paella with a cloth or kitchen paper.

This paella does not require extra maintenance or special storage, so you can display it without problems. Even so, if you are going to display it with your other paellas, we recommend storing it in a plastic bag. It is not strictly necessary, but it can help avoid possible scratches during the storage process or when you take it out again to use it again.

How to clean the stainless steel paella pan

Cleaning a stainless steel paella pan is simple, first of all, you can let it soak to soften the remains of food and utensils if there are many remains left. Then, use a scouring pad or sponge with Asevi to clean.

Once clean, dry the paella pan with kitchen paper or a cloth. Unlike other paella pans, you don't have to worry about storing it in a plastic bag or a dry place, store it where it is most convenient for you or display your paella proudly with a hanger or paella stand.

Is any special cleaning necessary for induction paella pans or other types of paella pans?

You don't need to worry, other types of paella pans such as induction/hob-ceramic, divided paella pans or special thickness paella pans are governed by the same rules and needs as polished, enameled or stainless steel paella pans. Simply look at what kind of steel it is and follow the steps that we have indicated above depending on what kind of paella pan you need to clean.

How to clean a burnt paella

Accidents happen, perhaps it was an oversight or we didn't realize because a diner had distracted us with a good story, but the result of this oversight is that our paella burned and now everything has stuck to the bottom of it. Don't worry, it can still be cleaned and left like new.

First, add water and put a few drops of asevi, how much you want to use will depend on the level of burning that your paella has suffered, more burning, more Asevi.

Boil the water for approximately 15-20 minutes, this will eliminate part of the remains at the bottom and leave only the most resistant.

Let it cool for a few minutes and remove any remaining remains with a plastic spatula or, if it is on an enameled paella pan, with a soft sponge. The reason for using a plastic spatula is to avoid grating our paella, although if the latter does not matter to you or your paella is made of stainless steel, you can also use a scrubber or brush for this part.

How do I remove rust from paella?

There is the saying “prevention is better than cure”, but sometimes we are not able to prevent or we have completely forgotten about it. If your paella has rusted, you can follow our guide on how to remove the rust from our paella, don't let your paella spoil when it has a simple solution.

Should I use other methods to clean my paella?

Although there are other popular and homemade methods to clean your paella, we warn against using them, because these types of methods can harm or damage our paella. Use designated products and methods to avoid potential damage.