Help! I bought a posh and expensive new set of pots and pans for wifey before we left England. As a mark of her appreciation she's burnt rice in one of them. And when I say burnt I mean seriously burnt. The rice has left a blackened imprint. Can anyone suggest a good minimal-elbow-grease way of removing the blackened mark?

Have you tried boiling water and washing liquid in it?

Try pouring salt all over it and leaving it over night.

but whatever you do, don't inhale at the same time

Have you tried asking your wife to slip on the old marigolds and clean the ****er up?

Oven cleaner? Works on the old enamel stovetop.

Put on some Bob Marley music and chill out man!

I used to love Bob Marley . . .

"Pass the dutchie on the left hand side"

"Pass the dutchie on the left hand side" . . .

For a minute I thought the Reverend Paulry was going to own up to a small indiscretion

Thanks for the tips, will give them a try in decending order of what looks most likely to work:

1. Oven cleaner
2. Salt
3. Washing up liquid
4. Inhaling
5. Praying then away
6. Handing OH the marigolds.

...And if they all fail I'll get rid of the problem by lending the pot to BS.

Let us know how you go.

I also think microwaved rice is tastier, quicker and much easier than boiled. One cup rice, two cups cold water, cover and 14 minutes later, voila! (Fluff it and leave it stand covered for a couple of minutes. Perfect.)

Much better than burnt saucepans.

Yeah too right

You wouldn't want it back.

and there was me thinking you were about to divulge loadsa secrets about your hippy days.