How to Clean Dosa Tawa (How to Clean The Iron Plate For Making Pancake)

Dosa Tawa before Cleaning Process

Dosa Tawa After Process of Cleaning

It is really irritating that when we want to make dosa, Uttapa, Chile or Pesarattu it refuses to leave the hot seat and gets stuck to it. I have had that experience whenever I have made the mistake of leaving my non-stick tawa or the tawa on which I make dosa to my maids. The problem of cleaning comes because they have to be handled with utmost care so that the surface does not get scratched. I think this problem is faced by most of us, so to unveil the mystery of bringing the dosa tawa to its old glory I am posting this article with the hope that it will be beneficial to all of those who look at the spoiled tawa with dismay.

Time for Cleaning: 15 minutes   

Material Required For Cleaning Dosa Tawa:

• 1Piece of Onion
• 1/2Lemon
• 2 Teaspoon any cooking oil
• Water

Directions For Cleaning Dosa Tawa:

Dosa Tawa With Cooked Dosa Stuck to it

Dosa Made on Sticky Tawa

• On the Tawa put 10-15 ml. water and 5-6 drops of oil and 5-6 drops of lemon juice.
• Heat Tawa with water and oil mixture on low flame till it boils.
• Remove from heat and let the tawa cool.
• Throw away the water oil mixture. Repeat the process two or three times.
• With a clean piece of cloth wipe the tawa clean. Try masking dosa. If the cooked dosa is yet sticking then do not scratch the stuck material but repeat the above said process again till the tawa is clean of all material stuck to it.
• Cut the onion to half and pour 1ml (8-10 drops) oil on the tawa and heat it.
• When the tawa is moderately hot remove from heat and scrub it with onion.
• The oil will spread all over the tawa. Keep scrubbing with onion piece for 2-3 min.
• Let the tawa cool.
• Wash with fresh water.
• Heat the tawa and scrub it with oil and onion piece and make dosa. 

Dosa Tawa After Process of Cleaning

• Dosa should come clean off the tawa.
• In case it gets stuck at any point do not remove it forcefully but gently remove the dosa and let the materiasl stuck to it remain as it is. Heat tawa with oil-water mixture. 

Uttapa Come Almost Clean Except At One Small Spot

• Wipe clean with soft cloth after draining the water from tawa.
• Scrub with oil and onion piece and make Dosa happily. It will come out clean off from hot seat making you feel winner.

Crisp Dosa After Cleaning Process

• After making dosa let the tawa cool and come to room temperature. Wash it with fresh water and wipe it clean with soft cloth. This will make sure the thin layer of oil is maintained on the tawa.

Tips:

• Never use harsh soap/scrub or iron spatula/scrub to clean the dosa tawa. Scratches formed will cause the dosa or chilade to get stuck to tawa.
• Never wash hot tawa as the top layer of tawa gets spoiled.
• Do not make roti/chapatti on dosa tawa the dry flour on the chapatti used during rolling the chapati will cause the top layer of tawa to become rough and cause dosa to get stuck to it.
• Onions have become expensive in India so do not waste it while cutting onion for vegetable the top which normally is cut off and discarded can be used it will be easy to grab the piece from the top as it has dry leaf bunch.
• After squeezing the juice from lemon, do not throw them. Store them in deep freeze of fridge and soak in water 5-10 min before using.
• Always scrub the dosa tawa with onion and oil right in the starting whenever you are making dosa this will increase the life of your dosa tawa. I do it before making each dosa this makes the dosa golden brown with least oil, Dosa/chilade does not get stuck to tawa and saves my tawa also.

Alternative suggestions:

• After cleaning the tawa if it is stubborn and yet is clinging to the dosa then instead of repeating the process again and again make omelet two three times and each time wash with hot water to let the smell of egg go away. Do not use soap or any cleaning liquid.