OOPS!

This may well be one of my biggest "oops"-es!

I had made Ginger-&-Panko-Crusted Chicken, and I forgot to turn the burner off under the pan!

The kitchen is isolated from the rest of the house so we never smelled anything. Then the smoke alarm went off!

My $200+ All-Clad sauté pan ... ruined?

RECOVERY:

I cleaned the pan with oven cleaner ... five times. Each time a little more came off, but it became a case of diminishing returns.

I emailed the All-Clad folks ... they suggested soaking in a solution of water and baking soda. That did nothing.

Finally, my husband used his Dremel tool and a fine wire disk to remove some of the remaining bits. He finished the job by wet-sanding with 600 grit paper. Phew! Good thing I have him!

And ... believe it or not ... my pan is as good as new!