Stainless steel pans are a staple of cookware in almost every kitchen. Stainless steels are better known for their durability, even and quick heating capacity, and for controlling the heat. Unlike cast-iron skillets, stainless steel pans won’t require any extra care or frequent re-seasoning.
Due to the non-reactive and non-rusting properties of stainless steel pans, they can be used to cook anything, and you don’t have to worry about damaging the surface. While cooking is fun, cleaning those stubborn stains on utensils will be a major issue. Have you ever thought, “How to clean stainless steel pans to make them look brand new?”
Whether it is about cooking meat at high temperatures or preparing a delicate sauce, even the expert cook will end up in a scorching pan. The good news is that, with proper tools, cleaning those stubborn stains would no longer be a headache.
In this how-to article, we guide you through how to clean your stainless steel pan to make it look completely new.
How Long Will It Take To Clean Stainless Steel Pans?
It only takes less than five minutes to clean stainless steel pans if you clean them immediately after cooking in them. You then have to scrub them, rinse them, and dry them properly.
But for tougher stain removal, it might take a little longer. If you are using elbow grease or Bar Keepers Friend to clean your pans or prefer to clean them by boiling baking soda and water, it might take about 15 to 30 minutes or a bit more. Sometimes, for tough stains, you can leave the baking soda slurry for a night and clean it the next morning.
What You Need For Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Pans
Even while stainless steel pans are resistant to corrosion and rust, it is still susceptible to burnt-on residues, discoloration, water spots, and other stubborn stains from daily usage.
However, you can bring back their original shine and get a spotless finish with some household ingredients and a little bit of effort. Here are the quick tips for how to clean stainless steel pans to make them look brand new.
What All You Need?
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Dishwasher soap or liquid
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Commercial cleaner (optional)
Instructions:
Before you start, go through the instruction manual for specific washing tips. Even though most cookwares are mentioned as dishwasher safe, handwashing is always the best choice to clean your stainless steel pans.
Let your pan cool down before cleaning it in order to prevent it from warping. Avoid using harsh scrubs such as steel brushes or hard cleaners, including bleach or oven cleaners, for your stainless steel pans, as they would completely damage the surface.
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Step 1: Scrub The Pan:
For daily cleansing, use hot soapy water and a nonabrasive sponge for scrubbing your stainless steel pans.
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Step 2: Scrape Stuck-On Food:
Fill your pan with soapy water if the food has stuck to your pan, then let it boil, and remove the stuck food by scraping it with a spatula or wooden spoon. The food will come away easily. Allow it to cool a bit and clean it.
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Step 3: Boil It With Baking Soda And Water:
Removal of tougher stains, including burnt food or oil, requires a strong abrasive cleaning. Baking soda is one of the inexpensive and simple ways to clean burnt stainless steel pans. Add a little bit of baking soda to your burnt pan and fill it up with water. Leave it to boil and simmer it until almost all the water evaporates. Then scrub and wash it again.
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Step 4: Scrub And Wash Once More:
Switch off the stove and let your pan cool down to room temperature. Use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub it and clean it with hot, soapy water. Using some commercial cleaners like Bar Keepers Friend will help to clean stainless steel pans, but remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How To Remove Discolouration From Stainless Steel Pans:
After cleaning your stainless steel pans, you may notice some rainbow-coloured discoloration on the surface. This type of discoloration is caused due to overheating but can be easily removed.
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Step 1: Wipe With Vinegar
Put a few drops of vinegar into your stainless steel pans and wipe them off with a soft sponge or paper towel before washing fully.
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Step 2: Boil With Vinegar And Water
Hard water often leaves white, powdery residue on stainless steel pans. Mix one part of vinegar with three parts of water to remove this chalky buildup, and allow it to boil. Let it cool, then just rinse it with regular dishwashing soap and water.
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Step 3: Sprinkle Some Baking Soda
Sprinkle some soda over a damp sponge and wipe the pan to remove tiny water marks. You need to dry your pan completely immediately after washing, as it helps in getting rid of water spots.
How To Care For Your Stainless Steel Pans?
Prevention is the ultimate key to keeping your stainless steel pans stain-free and cleansed. As cold food sticks to a hot pan easily, let the refrigerated food come to room temperature at least 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
To avoid sticking the food to the stainless steel pan, you need to preheat the pan, then add oil and wait till the oil is hot to start cooking. While cooking pasta or similar dishes, make sure the water is completely boiling before adding salt to avoid corrosion, which may lead to small, irreparable dents.
Final Thoughts
Stainless steel pans don’t always stay stainless. Cooking mishaps, like boil-overs, drips, deep-frying, etc., will leave stubborn marks on your pans. The bottom of a used cookware often shows stubborn patterns of black and brown stains that become impossible to remove.
Cooking is fun, but cleaning is not. Cleaning those stainless steel pans with stubborn stains is always a big issue. But don’t worry knowing how to clean stainless steel pans and utilizing proper cleaning techniques, your stainless steel pans would really look like new ones.
Do you know any other methods to clean stainless steel pans? Please do share with us.
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