I wanted to share this.

My expensive copper-bottom stainless stell cookpot got burnt.
The black carbon deposits stuck to the bottom were impossible to
remove by scouring. After 15 minutes of exhausting scrubbing with
a scotchbrite pad, aided by a dull knife to scrape off the bigger
chunks, I was ready to give up.

So I searched the web and found a whole bunch of suggestions. The
one I tried worked beautifully.

I put dishwasher detergent into the pot (liquid Cascade in my case)
with some water, filling it to about 1/2 inch. I'd say there were 2
parts water to 1 part detergent.

Then I put it on the stove and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Amazing. The carbon deposits slowly dissolved, and completely
disappeared.

I didn't know it could be so easy.

-A