Stainless steel can make for some wonderful cookware for several reasons. First, it resists corrosion. In fact, this is one of the most notable benefits of using stainless steel cookware. Second, it’s mostly non-stick. Third, it does a great job retaining the taste of your food. Finally, stainless steel is pretty easy to maintain and keep clean.
However, because it’s not totally non-stick like some other pots and pans, it does take a little effort to keep these stainless steel cooking items clean. So how do you clean them without harming their surfaces?
The good news is that you can clean discolorations, burnt foods, and even sticky or caked-on foods off your stainless steel cookware—and get your pans and pans looking shiny and new—with items you have in your kitchen right now. You can also buy many great eco-friendly stainless steel cleaners.
The following are 13 ways to clean stainless steel pans and cookware that will help you clean your cooking set in order to keep it in top condition.
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1) The Vinegar, Water, and Boil Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Half Cup Vinegar; Water; Wooden Spatula; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: 10 to 15 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Minimal to Moderate
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Pour half cup of vinegar into the pan
Step 3: Add enough water to the pan to cover the burnt parts
Step 4: Bring to a boil
Step 5: Use a wooden spatula to scrape the burned particles off the pan’s surface
Step 6: Empty the liquids into a sink
Step 7: Rinse under warm water
Step 8: Use a sponge to work the burned particles off the pan’s surface
Step 9: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
2) The Barkeepers Friend Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Barkeepers Friend Cleaner; Hot Water; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Clean, Dry Cloth; Rubber Gloves
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 30 minutes
Elbow grease rating: Moderate
Step 1: Fill the pan with enough hot water to cover the burnt or caked-on food particles
Step 2: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 3: Bring to a boil and turn off burner
Step 4: Empty the liquids into a sink, leaving in about a cup of water
Step 5: Sprinkle enough Barkeepers Friend cleaner into the pan to make a thick paste
Step 6: Wearing rubber gloves, use non-abrasive sponge to scrub particles from the pan
Step 7: Rinse under hot water
Step 8: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
3) The Cream of Tartar Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. It also works for the outer side surfaces including burned bottoms of the pan.
What you will need: Cream Of Tartar (not tartar sauce for seafood); Water; Non-Abrasive Sponge, Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Overnight
Elbow grease rating: Moderate (due to the time it takes for this method to work)
Step 1: In the pan, mix enough cream of tartar with warm water to form a paste
Step 2: With non-abrasive sponge, work paste over affected surface of the pan
Step 3: Allow the mixture to soak in the pan overnight
Step 4: Rinse under warm water
Step 5: Wearing rubber gloves, scrub the pan to remove remaining burnt or caked-on food particles
Step 6: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
4) The Salt-and-Lime Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. It also works for the outer side surfaces including burned bottoms of the pan.
What you will need: Lime Juice; Salt; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 15 to 20 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Minimal
Step 1: Squeeze lime juice into the pan
Step 2: Add a couple teaspoons of salt
Step 3: Mix into a paste
Step 4: Allow the mixture to sit in the pan for about 10 minutes
Step 5: Wearing rubber gloves, scrub the affected surface with a non-abrasive sponge
Step 6: Rinse under warm water
Step 7: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
5) The Easy-off Oven Cleaner Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. It also works for the outer side surfaces including burned bottoms of the pan.
What you will need: Easy-Off Oven Cleaner; Warm Water; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: 10 to 15 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Minimal
Step 1: Spray a generous amount of Easy-Off onto affected surface of the pan
Step 2: Use a non-abrasive sponge to work the cleaner over the affected surfaces
Step 3: Rinse with warm water
Step 4: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
6) The Baking Soda and Dish Soap Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. It also works for the outer side surfaces including burned bottoms of the pan.
What you will need: Baking Soda; Gentle Dish Soap; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 3 Hours
Elbow grease rating: Minimal to moderate (due to the time it takes for this method to work)
Step 1: Make a paste with baking soda and dish soap
Step 2: Apply the paste to the affected surface of the pan
Step 3: Leave on for approximately 2 to 3 hours
Step 4: Add warm water and scrub with non-abrasive sponge
Step 5: Rinse under warm water
Step 6: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
7) The Boiling Salt Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Salt; Water; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Several Hours
Elbow grease rating: Moderate to High (due to the time and effort it takes for this method to work)
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Fill the pan with enough warm water to cover the burnt surface of the pan
Step 3: Bring to a boil
Step 4: Add several teaspoons of salt and mix
Step 5: Immediately turn off burner and remove pan
Step 6: Allow salted water to sit in pan for several hours
Step 7: Wearing rubber gloves, scrub with non-abrasive sponge
Step 8: Rinse under warm water
Step 9: This method may need to be repeated
Step 10: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
8) The Cola Method
This method is good for removing burnt oil and sticky substances such as caramel from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Cola; Wooden Spatula; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 30 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Moderate
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Pour enough cola into the pan to cover the burnt or sticky surfaces
Step 3: Bring to a gentle simmer
Step 4: Remove from heat
Step 5: Use a wooden spatula to scrape the burned or sticky particles off the pan’s surface
Step 6: Rinse under warm water
Step 7: Scrub with non-abrasive sponge to remove remaining particles
Step 8: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
9) The Vinegar and Baking Soda Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Vinegar; Baking Soda; Wooden Spatula; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 30 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Moderate
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Pour in enough vinegar to cover bottom of pan
Step 3: Bring to a boil
Step 4: Add about a half cup baking soda and allow to sizzle
Step 5: Use a wooden spatula to scrape the burned particles off the pan’s surface
Step 6: Allow to boil for several minutes
Step 7: Empty contents into a sink
Step 8: Rinse with warm water
Step 9: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
10) The Tomato Sauce Method
This method is good for removing discolorations from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Tomato Sauce; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Overnight
Elbow grease rating: Moderate to High (due to the time it takes for this method to work)
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Add enough tomato sauce to cover burnt or otherwise affected surfaces of the pan
Step 3: Bring to a simmer
Step 4: Allow to simmer for approximately 10 minutes
Step 5: Remove from heat
Step 6: Allow sauce to sit in pan overnight
Step 7: Rinse under warm water, scrub with non-abrasive sponge if necessary
Step 8: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
11) The Dish Soap and Dryer Sheet Method
This method is a great hack that’s been making the rounds via the internet recently. It’s good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan.
What you will need: Gentle Dish Soap; Dry Sheet; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 1 Hour
Elbow grease rating: Minimal
Step 1: Place the pan in a sink
Step 2: Add warm water to cover all affected surfaces of the pan
Step 3: Add a dryer sheet
Step 4: Add dish soap
Step 5: Swish dish soap around in warm water to work up a little suds
Step 6: Allow to soak for one hour
Step 7: Wearing rubber gloves, use a non-abrasive sponge to clean off remaining particles (this step may not be necessary, as the dryer sheet and dish soap typically pull up all the particles during the soak)
Step 8: Rinse under warm water
Step 9: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
12) The WD40 Method
WD40 has a lot of uses. For cleaning, it’s typically used for cleaning stainless steel appliances such as refrigerators, but obviously enough, the same concept works for stainless steel cookware. This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. It also works for the outer side surfaces including burned bottoms of the pan.
What you will need: WD40; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 10-15 Minutes
Elbow grease rating: Minimal
Step 1: Spray WD40 over entire surface of pan, or just on burned or otherwise affected surfaces
Step 2: If necessary (and wearing rubber gloves), use non-abrasive sponge to work over sprayed surfaces
Step 3: Rinse under hot water (this is necessary because WD40 is a petroleum-based product that should not be left on surfaces that will contain food)
Step 4: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
13) The Simple Boiled Water Method
This method is good for removing burnt and caked-on areas from the inner cooking surface of your pan. This is a helpful method if you have no other products in your house, or you just don’t want to use any other product such as Barkeepers Friend, Easy-Off, etc. However, most kitchens do contain salt or dish soap, so using the simple boiled water method may not be necessary, as this method tends not to work as well as some of the others on this list.
What you will need: Water; Wooden Spatula; Non-Abrasive Sponge; Rubber Gloves; Clean, Dry Cloth
Estimated cleaning time: Approximately 1 Hour
Elbow grease rating: Minimal to Moderate
Step 1: Place the pan on a burner and turn on
Step 2: Pour enough water into the pan to cover all affected surfaces
Step 3: Bring to a boil
Step 4: Bring to a simmer
Step 5: Allow to simmer for approximately 10 minutes
Step 6: Take the pan off heat and allow to cool down
Step 7: Wearing rubber gloves, use a wooden spatula to work remaining particles off pan surfaces
Step 8: Rinse under warm water
Step 9: Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth
ADDITIONAL TIPS ON MAINTAINING YOUR STAINLESS STEEL PANS AND COOKWARE
Now that your favorite stainless steel pans and cookware are looking brand new again, you undoubtedly don’t want them to get messed up again. Here are some prevention tips and tricks on maintaining your cookware as you work in order to keep them in tip-top shape.
Notice that every method listed above contains this step: “Hand-dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth.” Why? If water or any kind of moisture sits in your stainless steel pan for any length of time, water spots will form and discolorations will occur. Minerals and substances such as fluoride can cause discolorations on stainless steel. (It’s not the water itself that will cause these discolorations but the minerals.) For this reason, always dry moisture off your stainless steel cookware immediately.
If you notice water spots, immediately add baking soda and a little warm water to your pan and scrub with a non-abrasive sponge.
While cooking, add salt to your recipes only after the water begins to boil. Adding salt to water before it boils will cause corrosion that can create dents in the surface of your pan.
While cooking, leave cold foods out of the refrigerator long enough for them to reach room temperature before placing them in a stainless steel pan. Why? Because cold foods are far more likely to stick to your stainless steel pans than room-temp ones.
Never use cold water on a stainless steel pan, as cold water will cause warping.
To remove white streaks from stainless steel cookware, simply soak any affected surfaces with vinegar before you wash them.
For best results, use warm, soapy water to clean stainless steel pans as you use them, and always dry with a clean, dry cloth. This will keep your cookware looking new and shiny as you go, eliminating the need for using more serious cleaning methods later.
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