I now realize why it is not a good idea to reheat spaghetti in the pot in which it was originally cooked.
Mama always said to place leftovers in Tupperware.
That goes double if you are reheating spaghetti in an aluminum pot.
Apparently, there is a science to cleaning aluminum pots and pans that have caked on foods glued onto them… and it doesn’t include sharp fingernails. Rather, I found out the hard way that you should use a fine grade steel wool pad to gently dislodge the stuck on food from the surface of the pot or pan. Do not attempt to scrub vigorously at the baked on food, as you run the risk of compromising the aluminum finish.
If your aluminum pot or pan is unfinished but features a coating of paint or lacquer, then you need to follow the cleaning directions that came with the item in order to preserve the coating and the aluminum underneath.
Deep cleaning aluminum pots and pans requires two steps. Once you remove the caked on food, you can gently cleanse the remainder of the item with natural acids. Top picks include lemons and tomatoes. The natural acids found in these inexpensive foods are much safer to clean aluminum with than bleach or hydrofluoric acid.
Some people swear that you can clean aluminum pots and pans simply by cooking something acidic in them. However, I have not shared the same experience. Rather, if you prefer to go the natural cleaning route, I would suggest that you add two tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice to a quart of water and bring it to a boil. Once the mixture boils for about 15 minutes you can lower the heat and let it sit for a while. Once the mixture cools, empty the pot, and dry it thoroughly. Finally, apply a thin coat of olive or lemon oil to the surface with a clean cloth. The oil will help protect the aluminum from corroding.