Brown coating on bottom of cooking pot

Washing soda and hot water and bring to the boil.

A soak in bleach and cold water will return cast iron interiors to their proper colour. If stuff sticks to my pots I soak them overnight in water and detergent and then scour them with wirewool.

Great tips and our family seem to only have two cooking heats, especially DH, off or boil!

I have 2 old cast iron pots that have a brown colour to the inside. Yesterday, I poured half a pack of Soda bicarb into each, along with a little water to wet it, and left it overnight. Washed, and rubbed with a sponge this morning. The enamel looks so much better; I have not seen them look so good in years!

Soda crystals and soak in hot water overnight

Just boil up some washing powder or dish washer powder and leave for a while and it will rub off perfectly.

Haven’t tried it on saucepans but roasting dishes have responded well to that Pink Stuff you can get for stains on clothing. Sprinkle a good amount of powder onto the surface, add boiling water - it’ll fizz and bubble - and leave to soak for an hour or two or overnight. Then give it a good clean.

Fairy Skip the Soak spray. It’s very effective and you can clean worktops, hobs etc too.

Obviously you have to then wash it really well - don't just rinse it!

Yes exactly Notspaghetti what ever washing powder is at hand it strips it off very quickly as you boil it up and leaves it sparkling

My go-to would be washing powder. You just need about a desert-spoon of it and boil it up.
I think maybe this is what you are saying BlueBelle?

I use ordinary soap powder boil it up and most stains an d burns will just disappear

Try boiling up some vinegar , ideally white although it doesn't matter, just dont let it boil dry.
Alternatively - but this does pong- an enzyme stain remover such as ACE - will generally lift crusty burnt on bits.