How to get black off stainless steel pan

The black spots are likely burnt on food that gets stuck in pits that are formed when cooking with acidic foods, like tomato sauce. I've seen some cookware pieces with pretty prominent pits, and it isn't hard to imaging food getting burn on in those pits and resisting removal by scrubbing.

Baking Soda Let it soak overnight if necessary. Another alternative is to leave a paste of baking soda and green dish soap in your pan for several hours. Wash your pan well and if anything remains, sprinkle some more baking soda or a DIY aromatherapy cleanser into the pan and scrub away.

How It Works: Fill your dirty pan with equal part water and vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil and then add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Remove from heat and let soak for up to 15 minutes. Discard the liquid down your drain and then use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away any remaining burnt-on bits.