To clean a crusty pot or burnt on food (hey it happens!), try this:

[heather_in_sf]

Place 1 Tbl of powdered dishwasher detergent in the empty pot and fill with the hottest water you have or from a boiling kettle and let soak overnight. The next morning the crusted on stuff will just slip off. You won't even need to scrub.

Why I didn't learn about this earlier is baffling!

By the way, do NOT use on nonstick pans, it will ruin the finish.