How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans & Pots
Stainless steel pots and pans are restaurant favorites because of their durability and long-lasting construction, but if you don't maintain them properly, these benefits might not outweigh the higher cost of stainless steel. Cleaning stainless steel pans the right way can keep them good as new for a long time, which in turn saves you the money you would otherwise spend replacing them.
Mishaps are bound to happen in a busy commercial kitchen, so we'll go over how to clean a burnt stainless steel pan so your investment isn't wasted after a single cooking accident. We'll also cover how to clean a burnt stainless steel pot and how to clean discolored stainless steel pots. With the knowledge found in this blog, you'll be able to keep your stainless steel spotless and shining for years to come.
How to Clean Burnt Stainless Steel Pans & Pots
Cooking with high heat or long cooking times risks creating a solidified mess of oil and food debris at the bottom of your stainless steel pan. This residue can be tough to clean, especially if it sits for too long, and makes the pan unusable until it's cleaned, as the residue will transfer burned flavor to your next dish. Luckily, what gets burned on can be scrubbed off, given the right cleansers. We carry a variety of steel cleaners that can make the process easy. Read on to find out how to clean a scorched pan efficiently using some of the most effective methods.
General Tips for Cleaning Stainless Steel Cookware
- Try to get to them while the pan is warm. If the pan and burned residue is still warm, it'll be much easier to scrub it off the pan than if it's had time to solidify.
- Remove as much grease or oil as you can with a spatula or paper towel. Getting rid of the surface layer makes it easier to scrub the really tough bits.
- Scrub the pan with dish soap and an appropriate scour pad or sponge. Don't use anything with metal bristles, which might accidentally damage the surface of the pan over time.
- Pay special attention to the rivets and handles. These hard-to-reach areas harbor food and are ripe for bacterial growth.
- If the burnt-on food is particularly stubborn, try filling the pan with warm, soapy water, letting it soak for an hour, then boiling the soapy water for about 10 minutes. Try scrubbing the burnt food after the water has cooled to a safe temperature.
How to Clean a Burnt Pan with Salt
With the right technique, simple table salt can effectively clean your stainless steel pans as well. Fill your pot or pan with warm water, then add a few tablespoons of table salt. Mix the salt with the water and let the pan soak for a few minutes. Then, boil the salty water for 15 minutes. This should pick up most of the burned residue, but if it doesn't, you can add more salt to a small layer of water and then scrub the pan with a soft scrubber or sponge. Larger salt crystals are more abrasive, which can help scrub your cookware clean.
How to Clean Burnt Stainless Steel Pots
Cleaning a stainless steel pot works the same as cleaning a stainless steel pan except you might need more cleaner and water to cover the increased surface area. Choose your favorite pot cleaner from the chemicals above or just read down to our instructions for cleaning stainless steel with vinegar.
How to Clean Discolored Stainless Steel Pots
Stainless steel pots and pans can develop discoloration in the form of rainbow streaking or white, chalky buildup. White, chalky spots come from lime scaling resulting from the minerals in your water – you can fix this by rinsing your pots and pans with filtered water after cleaning or drying them thoroughly with a clean cloth before storage.
The rainbow discoloration comes from the chromium in the stainless steel reacting with air under heat to form a patina. Luckily, this rainbow discoloration is easily removed with a single ingredient: vinegar.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans with Vinegar
Dilute one part vinegar with three parts water, then splash it on the pan and scrub it clean with a non-abrasive scrubber. If this isn't sufficient to rid your pan of the discolored rainbow heat tint, you can try boiling the vinegar/water mixture in the pan for around 10 minutes. Rinse the pan and dry it completely to have your stainless steel pan looking like new.
Is Discolored Stainless Steel Safe?
In most situations, discolored stainless steel is safe to use. If you have the rainbow stain from chromium or the mineral scaling mentioned above, you can still use your pots and pans until you have time to clean them. However, if the discoloration is from burned-on food, it may impart unwanted burnt flavors into whatever you cook next. If you regularly clean your stainless steel pots and pans, you can avoid ever needing to use a dirty pan. If your pots regularly need deep cleaning, such as the boiling methods with salt or vinegar, you can plan to do that once a week or so, as you may not have time at the end of every work day.
Cleaning Stainless Steel Equipment
After learning how to clean stainless steel cookware, are you curious about applying these steps to larger pieces of stainless steel as well? Check out KaTom's guide on how to clean stainless steel appliances for more specific information on cleaning cooking equipment, prep tables, and more.
