Our tests found that Dawn Ultra and Seventh Generation dish soaps excelled at removing stuck-on food, including dried-on lasagna and burnt cheese.
The EPA recommends looking for dish soaps that are Safer Choice certified, which includes products like Method Squirt + Mop and Ecover Zero.
Research from the University of California, Berkeley, explains how surfactants in dish soap, like those found in Palmolive Ultra, help break down and remove grease and food residue.
The Kitchn's testing found that dish soaps like Cascade ActionPacs and Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day were effective at removing stuck-on food, even after a day of soaking.
This video from Clean My Space demonstrates how to use a combination of hot water, baking soda, and a good dish soap, like Dr. Bronner's, to remove stuck-on food.
Wirecutter's in-depth review found that dish soaps like Ajax and Fabuloso were effective at removing stuck-on food, but had some drawbacks in terms of sudsing and rinsing.
This tool uses a combination of heat, water, and a specialized dish soap to remove stuck-on food from dishes and cookware.
Treehugger's roundup of eco-friendly dish soaps found that products like Better Life and Dr. Bronner's were effective at removing stuck-on food while also being gentle on the environment.