I weep for my pan

September 14, 2007 7:48 AM

In a moment of epic dumbassery, I turned on the wrong burner this morning and managed to melt part of a spatula to an $80 calphalon fry pan. If it wasn't coated, I'd just use steel wool. Is there any way to get the melted plastic off? How fucked am I? Can I heat it up again? If so, how should I do it?
posted by klangklangston to grab bag (14 comments total)

Stick the pan into the freezer for the day. The cold will make it easier to pry off the plastic.
posted by jamaro at 7:55 AM on September 14, 2007

I would guess that the pan is probably done for, but you should call Calphalon's customer service department, which has a reputation of being very helpful:

1-800-809-PANS (7267)
(Business Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm EST, Monday-Friday)
posted by cerebus19 at 7:56 AM on September 14, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

What jamaro said. Then after you get as much of the plastic off as possible, I'd try Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner on the rest of it.
posted by methylsalicylate at 7:57 AM on September 14, 2007

As much hot/cold shock as you dare might work. Like, heat it again and then plunge into ice water. But I wouldn't try it without first calling the help line suggested by cerebus19. They may even have a factory-fixit service.
posted by beagle at 8:16 AM on September 14, 2007

If it wasn't coated,

Coated with what?
posted by IvyMike at 8:23 AM on September 14, 2007

I melted some baby bottles onto some Revere-wear once and some oven cleaner and elbow grease eventually got it off. Not sure if it's safe to use on Calphalon.
posted by bondcliff at 8:23 AM on September 14, 2007

If you can't get it off Calphalon most likely will replace the pan for free. It doesn't matter how old or if you have a warranty or a receipt - they usually just send you a new one. I've replaced my $130 14" skillet 3 times, twice because I burnt it and once because it eventually got some scratches on the cooking surface. If they don't make the exact pan anymore they'll upgrade you to a newer or larger style.

The address to return the pan to is here.
posted by iconomy at 8:29 AM on September 14, 2007

How about heating it up again and wiping off the melting plastic with a thick, warm washcloth or clean rag? Granted you'll have to deal with some residual smell but I'd hate to see you peel off part of the coating. I did this with a cheapo teflon pan and it worked like a charm.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:29 AM on September 14, 2007

I would try putting a generous quantity of high temp frying oil in the pan so that it was lapping around the edges of the melted parts of the spatula, wrapping all exposed parts of the spatula in paper towels so that no further melting onto the pan can take place, and putting the whole thing into a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, then taking it out and gently pulling the softened spatula away from the pan, all the while being very careful to avoid getting any melted plastic on your skin.
posted by jamjam at 9:31 AM on September 14, 2007

Yes, thirding or fourthing "call Calphalon". Their customer service is so helpful that you feel like they're tricking you. I've replaced several pans on their dime with no hassles at all.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:55 AM on September 14, 2007

How hot was the heat? It sounds like non stick and if you turned it up fairly high without any food on it, you might have destroyed the pan/coating.

I'd toss it just to be safe.
posted by mphuie at 12:36 PM on September 14, 2007

i was going to suggest calling calphalon first, and then trying the freeze method second.

if that doesn't work, take a rag you aren't fond of, and lay it over the plastic. heat the pan so the plastic melts into the rag, then gently press the rag into the plastic to mop it up, and then let it cool and lift the rag off.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:06 PM on September 14, 2007

I know it was a wrong burner issue, but if you turn a teflon coated pan up past medium-high heat, you can easily destroy the coating, and give yourself teflon flu. This is why I've switched to cast iron and stainless.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:59 AM on September 15, 2007

"Coated with what?"

Y'know, I couldn't tell you. All it says is "Commercial cookware" and the model number (1308) on the bottom. Something non-stick that will probably give me cancer in 20 years. I can't even tell what line it's from.

I called the Calphalon number this morning, but couldn't get through to a human—it was all just touch-tone menus.

We got the plastic off (by freezing it, thanks), and there's a weird discolored part. I'm planning on mailing it in to them. Any advice on what to say in the letter I'm attaching? Should I be forthright? Or play dumb?
posted by klangklangston at 11:21 AM on September 17, 2007