At one point or another, we burn food and it is one of the most annoying things that can happen in a kitchen. My first reaction is to salvage what I can and immediately pour cold water into the pot to soak overnight with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and dishwashing liquid. By morning the burnt contents have softened and I scrub the pot with the abrasive side of the sponge – any remaining burnt spots can be sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda and repeat the process with the sponge. Rinse the pot with water.