Cooking is a sure delight for me at any time. But there was a time when all I did in my kitchen was pondering on how to clean my cookware better.
I’m a fan of stainless steel cookware. Honestly, it took a long time for me to get stains off until I got the correct turnaround info!
Today, when you get into my kitchen, all you’d see are squeaky clean stainless cookware. I’ve known how to clean stainless steel cookware for some time now, and you’ll be glad I’m sharing this info right now!
Why Do Stains Plague Stainless Steel Utensils
Before you get cracking at cleaning your stainless steel, you’ve got to know why these stains linger and need special care.
There’re tons of reasons why stainless steel cookware gets stained. The first reason is understandable. You’ve got to eat! But we’ll be taking a look at other not-so-fancied reasons before finally getting the answers you need for sparkling cookware.
Your heat source is an issue.
When you’re used to slow-cooking fuel, it’s a bit tricky to get accustomed to other modern, faster methods.
For example, you could’ve known how to use liquefied gas before getting introduced to the more modern induction heater.
And within the transition, there’s bound to be a heap of stained or burned cookware before you get it right.
There’s no doubt you’ll find it difficult at first to adapt to not scorching your meals. And burning food in your stainless cookware always makes it harder to get it clean.
You let TV series turn you into a toasted chef.
Most people tend to get lost when they’re hooked to their TV or PC. In most cases, you’ll get your meals toasted and very tricky to clean, even after repeated washes.
You find it hard to keep the heat down.
It’s no doubt you want to get your meals ready in time, but before you engage in this, make sure you’re prepared for burnt cookware now and then.
When your attention isn’t fixed on what you’re cooking with the heat turned up, you could get your meals burned beyond consumption.
With this, your cookware will need a lot of cleaning to become usable again.
You Use Too Little Oil
When the oil isn’t distributed around your pan properly on heat, stains and burn marks are common. Your non-oiled stainless steel cookware will develop stains really tricky to remove with a simple wash.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware
The perfect clean is elusive to many, and it’s no doubt many have given up on cleaning their cookware altogether.
If you’ve thrown in the towel, these tips will get you unbelievable results in no time!
Warm water and soap are the gold standards.
Maintenance of your stainless steel cookware isn’t as tricky as you think. What you need to do is get your utensils cleaned in warm, soapy water.
With your utensils dipped in this solution, remnants and stubborn food particles find it hard to stick.
Use a scrub for very stubborn stains
It’s no doubt you’ve regularly noticed there’s one stain too stubborn not to go away quickly.
Use a nylon scrub in getting those stubborn stains off your stainless steel. For best results, fill up your pan with water for a few minutes and allow the stubborn stains to soften. It’ll make it easier for the stubborn stains to come off.
Vinegar and water help more than you know.
Boiling stuff in your stainless cookware tends to develop noticeable stains around the edges and bottom.
What’s more, it disheartening is when you can’t get the stains off in a simple wash. But it’s all in the past right now, as there’s a solution capable of removing these deposits like magic!
All you need is a solution of vinegar and water. Use 4:1 water to vinegar mix and fill the cookware with it. Bring to a boil and allow the pan to cool. Wash with hot water and allow it to dry.
Do be careful anyway, as the acidic content in vinegar could initiate corrosion in your cookware, damaging it permanently.
What to Do Against Tough Burns
Getting a general clean is different from handling a severe cookware burn. With a burn, discoloration, reactions, and more are commonplace. There’s a tendency you won’t be able to use the cookware for longer if something isn’t done fast. Here’s the correct info you need;
Pour hot water into your pot after use.
When you’re through with your cookware and notice a burn, don’t think scratching is the best route.
Get your cookware soaked in hot water up to the burning point. Using hot water will weaken the hold of burned meals on your pan, making it effortless to wash.
Baking Soda is perfect for your pan.
There’re different tricks to use in getting baking soda to clean off the dirt from your pan, and we’ll see them in a bit;
Baking soda + vinegar
Using this combo isn’t as tricky as you’d expect. All you need to do is;
- Get the pot washed with warm and soapy water.
- Add water to the pan or pot, stopping halfway.
- Bring this mixture to a boil for 15 minutes.
- Drain the mixture out of your pan and wash off the stubborn burns with no hassle.
If the burns aren’t too apparent on your pan, this second, faster method can also work well;
- Ensure the pot is clean
- Pour vinegar around the affected area of the pan
- Add baking soda to the Vinegar (You’ll notice a reaction between the vinegar and baking soda)
- Let the mixture rest in the pan for 10 minutes.
Wash as normal
Baking soda + water
Here’s how to do this in simple steps;
Get the baking soda in a pan.
Ensure the baking powder forms a paste by adding water little by little till you get the right consistency.
Rub this mixture on the burned part of your cookware.
Allow resting for 30 minutes.
Use a sponge in removing the stubborn stains, and you’d notice them coming off quickly.
Baking Soda + Scouring Powder + Palm Oil
Scouring powder comes made with smoothened shells and some other non-abrasive elements. Be careful how you use them anyway, using a mixture of baking soda and palm oil.
The mixture is best when you have a terribly burnt inner pan. Apply the mixture to the utensil’s affected area, allowing it to rest for a few hours. It’ll work its way around all burn marks, weakening their grip, and making them easier to clean off.
To be sure this mixture’s working, you’ll be able to remove a bit of the burn with a spoon effortlessly. After this, use a wooden or plastic tool in removing as many burn marks as you possibly can. Then wash the utensil in warm, soapy water to remove the rest.
Baking Soda alone
Using baking soda on its own or with a little water to form a paste will increase the sparkly look of your pan.
When you’ve noticed a burn mark on your pan from improper oiling or overheating, ensure you allow the pan to cool.
After washing, allow the pan to dry. Then get the baking soda powder/paste and work it around the burnt surface of the cookware. You’ll see the burn marks coming off cheaply, leaving your pots/pans looking fresh.
Salty water works like magic
Salty water can be useful in getting the stains beneath and around your cookware off in a flash! You only need to use it with these steps;
- Fill your utensils up to the affected area with water.
- Allow the water to come to a boil
- Add salt as desired
- Let the salted water boil for a few more minutes
- Drain the water out from your pan
- Get the pan a wash and clean it dry
Club soda works
- Add club soda to your cookware
- Allow resting for 5 – 10 minutes
- Get the pot rinsed with warm water
- Wash off stains/burn marks with soapy water.
- Ensure the water’s warm.
- Rinse and dry off.
Lemon juice also does the trick.
- Add lemon juice to water and get it to a boil in your pan
- Drain off water and lemon juice mix
- Wash your pot and dry off
You can get the tomato to make it squeaky clean.
It’s a one-stone-two-bird scenario. Tomato paste/juice is easily removable from cookware of different types.
What you need to get done is to get your pan filled with tomato juice and bring it to a boil. Allow to cool enough and wash with a sponge.
The tomato would’ve taken off any stain with a stronghold in your pan. Don’t forget you can also make use of tomato juice in your next meal!
General Maintenance Tips
To get your stainless steel cookware working optimally in your kitchen, you can’t afford to throw maintenance out the window.
Don’t ever, ever scrape.
Scraping your cookware in the name of cleaning does more harm than good. Ensure you don’t use metal objects in scraping your pan. It could leave it with marks and dent it in the long run.
Also, if you really need to scrape, use plastic or wooden tools instead to insure no scratching occurs.
Clean off water spots
Water spots could be a result of a few things. The most common cause of these stains is excess calcium in your water supply.
When you notice these stains, know they aren’t hard to remove. The first thing you should do is get vinegar on a piece of cloth. Then clean off noticeable water spots. After this clean, wash the pan and store only after a thorough clean by hand with a dry cloth.
Get them a dip regularly.
Even when you don’t use them, it’s the best choice to get your cookware washed every now and then. Soaking in warm water with an anti-oil detergent is the best choice to avoid corrosion. It’ll also make seasoning the pan effortless.
Wipe dry by hand before hanging
Before getting your cookware hung, dry them thoroughly with a clean piece of cloth. With this practice, you’ve forestalled grime build-up, making your cookware easily reusable.
Don’t use the dishwasher.
It may seem like a good choice, but the dishwasher is actually a no-no when it comes to cleaning stainless steel. Apart from a real possibility of dent marks, your cookware’s surface could get eroded in a short time.
Use your hands when it comes to cleaning pots and pans for the most flawless results.
Salt at the perfect time
There’re meals prepared by salting your water before adding ingredients. These meals are tasty without a doubt, but make sure you add salt when the water’s already boiling.
Salt is a crystal with reactive properties to cold water and metals. You’d experience marks all around the bottom of your pans when you salt them too early. Wait till your water comes to a boil to avoid salt corroding it.
Cleaning Seasoned Stainless Cookware
With seasoned pans, you’re assured of better, non-stick meals to wow your taste buds. But cleaning a seasoned pan isn’t the same as in an unseasoned container.
Here’s what you need to do;
Use paper towels instead of washing them out.
When your seasoned stainless cookware isn’t messy, it’s best to get it cleaned with paper towels before storage. Using this technique will keep the pan seasoned and ensure it works well in putting your meals together just as you want!
Wash off only after a long period
To get your seasoned pans a wash, ensure it’s absolutely needed first. Washing your pots with soapy water will erode all the seasoning, meaning you’d have to do it all over again.
When you’ve noticed your pan getting too sticky and packing up excess grime, get it a thorough wash and re-season for proper hygiene.
The Outer Part of Your Cookware is Oh So Vital
When some people cook, it’s no secret, and there’s little to no emphasis placed on maintaining the outer part of their cookware.
It’s a wrong practice, I must say. The outer part of your pan is as essential as the inner part when cleanliness is what you’re keen to achieve.
Let’s take a detailed look at everything you need for a flawless outer look for your cookware;
Use scouring powder on the outside.
There’re tons of non-abrasive scouring powders in stores. Get one right for your cookware and use it with the following steps.
Add water till you form a pasteUse a brush in applying the paste to your cookware’s outer partAllow sitting for 20 – 30 minutesScrub with a sponge or hard brushRinse and wash as normal
If you can get coal ash, it works like magic.
Do you have a charcoal burner, or know someone who does? Then you don’t have to use any stained cookware anymore!
There’re lots of combinations for cleaning the outer parts of your cookware for a squeaky clean look. Let’s see the significant combinations and how to use them;
Coal Ash + Detergent Powder
Add a little water to form a paste
Rub the paste all over the pan’s outer surface
Allow sitting for about 15 minutes
Get a sponge in scrub the outer part of the pan
Rinse and wash with warm and soapy water
Coal Ash + Anti-oil liquid soap
- Add the coal ash to the soap to form a thick paste
- Rub the entire affected area of your stainless
- steel cookware with the paste
- Scrub with a sponge
- Rinse with water
- Wash with soaped water and clean with a dry cloth
Cleaning Cookware Other Than Pots/Pans
Cookware is often mistaken for only pots and pans. But there’s other stuff made for cooking in your kitchen you could be leaving out of your cleaning process. Let’s see how to maintain these extras for an all-around sparkle in your kitchen.
Don’t neglect your knives, spoons, and forks
Your knives, spoons, and other utensils could also come in stainless steel. The best practice is to get these cookware clean immediately after use.
If you’ve got these utensils sticky with food, wait for them to cool before soaking in water for about an hour. Take the appliances out and wash them in soapy water.
Also, don’t forget to dry out these smaller utensils with a piece of cloth. To make it better, store them in a container with a pored bottom to make further draining possible.
Summary
Without a doubt, all these tips and tricks will leave your stainless steel cookware looking factory fresh. Don’t waste this info. Use it in keeping your utensils as sparkly as possible!