FOOD NEWS
The Salt Trick To Clean Stuck-On Tomato Sauce
By Chase Shustack
Tomato-based sauces "stain" or cling to plates and containers because a pigment in tomatoes called lycopene repels water instead of absorbing it, thereby preventing the molecules from breaking up. Many detergent companies claim their products can easily remove these stains, but if you don’t want to spend money experimenting with dish soaps, try using some salt.
All you need to do is soak the stained dishes and containers in heavily salted water for about 30 minutes and then wash them clean to make the tomato sauce effortlessly slip right off. If the tomato stains still remain on your dish, apply salt directly to its surface and gently scrub it clean.
Salt has extremely strong dehydrating properties and a mild abrasiveness, the combination of which can effectively clean stains from pans and even clothes. However, you should avoid this method if you're taking care of nonstick pans, as salt can damage and remove their coating.