Stainless steel is one of the most popular materials available for cookware. It is most durable and provides an attractive as well as shiny outlook. 
Unlike other non-stick cookware, stainless steel cookware is suitable for heavy use and compatible with metal utensils.
Moreover, stainless steel cookware comes with a long lifespan. Once you buy a stainless steel pot or pan, you can use it after years. For all of these advantages people like this cookware most.
Unlike other metal cookware, the cleaning process of stainless steel cookware is a little challenging. In this article, I’ve listed some most effective and simple ways on how to clean stainless steel cookware. All of these methods will be helpful to save both your time and energy during cleaning your stainless steel cookware.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware (Pots and Pans)
Purchasing stainless steel cookware for your kitchen is an investment. So that it is important to take care of them regularly and clean them properly. Here are some methods you can follow to clean the stainless steel cookware perfectly. Hopefully, all of these processes will help you to clean your cookware easily and effectively.
Clean any Crusted Food with Warm Soapy Water
If the stainless pot or pan has food stubborn on the surface area you can clean it with this simple trick. Soak the pot or pan for several hours with warm soapy, water. It would be better to let the cookware soak overnight.
After that drain the water and then scrub strongly with a rubbing pad. This method will remove most of the build-up food. Never use metal wool or copper-based scrubber. They can cause scratched on the surface of the cookware.
Check Stainless Steel Vs. Teflon Vs. Ceramic
Apply Vinegar and Baking Soda Solution to Remove Stuck-on Food
For this cleaning process all you need only two ingredients. These are baking soda and vinegar. Vinegar is the most effective cleaner for food stubborn or stuck-on foods. It has an acetic acid content that helps to break down tough food particles. Fill the pots or pans with enough water to cover the affected area. Add one cup of vinegar with water and let them boil together.
Once boiling is done, remove the cookware from the heat and add two tablespoons of baking soda with the solution. Mix all the ingredients briefly and then drain the solution. Use a non-abrasive scrubber or sponge to remove any residue of the food.
Use Salt and Lime to Remove Difficult Residue of Food
You can use salt and lime to remove extra difficult remaining food particles from your stainless steel cookware. Lime’s acidity works on tough particles while the roughness of the salt helps to scrub away loose food. Squeeze the lime juice into the pots or pans and add a few amounts of salt together.
Let the solution to rest in the pan for several minutes. Put on more salt into the pan and start scrubbing immediately with a non-abrasive scrubber. Once the remaining food is removed wash the pan with water and dry it as normal.
Get Rid of Burn Marks from the Bottom of the Cookware with Baking Soda
It is might be irritating for you to have difficult burn spots on the bottom of the pots or pans. You can clean the burnt spots from your stainless steel cookware with the help of baking soda.
At first, make sure that the pan or pot is dry completely. After that flip the pan over and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the bottom of the pan.
Use a dry cloth or sponge to rub the baking soda around the pan. If it’s needed you can also add a small amount of water to the baking soda to make a paste. Once the burn spots are removed wash the pan with water and make the pan dry.
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Also Check: Hard Anodized Vs Stainless Steel
Clean Serious Burn Marks by Boiling Salt
If the burn marks of your cookware cannot be scrubbed away by baking soda solution or soap, you can try to cook them off. Fill your pan with enough water to cover the burnt area and bring the water to a simmer on the stove.
Add a few spoons of salt to the water, shut off the stove, and allow the pan to sit for several hours. Drain the water out and scrubbing away the burnt marks with a rubbing pad.
You can repeat the same process again if the burns are not removed completely. However, do not add salt to the cold water, you should mix salt when the water is already boiling. You can also use lemon juice or white vinegar instead of salt.
Remove Discolouration of the Cookware with Vinegar
Vinegar is an effective element for removing unsightly discoloration that is usually caused by overheating. Simply clean your stainless steel pans or pots with vinegar and rinse with tap water to remove discoloration.
Moreover, vinegar is also helpful to get rid of your pan’s white calcium build-up marks. Make a compound of one part vinegar to three parts water. Boil the mixture in the affected pan or pot. Let the solution cool and then dump them out. Wash the pan with water as normal.
Apply Club Soda to Clean any Water Spots from the Cookware
Water spots or marks are normally are caused by the minerals of the water, not the water itself. These kinds of marks are not likely to be a problem. However, if they arrive swish some club soda around the pan. Wash them off and wipe them dry with a clean dishcloth.
Tips to Maintain your Stainless Steel Cookware Properly
As soon as you’ve made your loveable cookware shining like new, there are some most effective guidelines to keep your cookware in proper. Let’s check right below.
- Clean your Cookware after Each Use
Clean your stainless steel cookware pans or pots immediately after every single use. It is important to prevent stains and dried-on food from building up. If the stainless steel pan is unseasoned, you can clean them with warm or hot water and soap.
If it is needed you can scour them with a scouring pad. If the pan is seasoned no need to use soap, just rinse it out with warm water.
- Try to Avoid Dishwasher
Do not use the harsh dishwasher to clean stainless steel cookware set. It can damage the non-stick surface and can reduce the lifespan of the cookware. If necessary, you can use a mild dishwasher, but rinse the pans with club soda to prevent water spots.
Or it would be better to use the cleaner that specially made for stainless steel cookware. Avoid the use of those cleaners that contain ammonia or bleach. As those cleaners can cause damage or discoloration of your cookware.
- Cool It before Washing
It is important to give enough time to the cookware to cool it completely before starting the cleaning process. Do not put the hot stainless steel pan or pot into cold water. It can cause warping and disfiguration of your cookware. So that it would be best to let the cookware cool completely before washing it.
- Let the Pans or Pots Dry Completely After Washing
To prevent water spots, it is necessary to dry the pot or pan immediately after washing. Use a paper towel to wipe each pan and dry it thoroughly. You can air-dry your cookware but it could allow watermarks to form.
- Polish Stainless Steel Pans or Pots to keep them Shiny
If you want to keep the shiny look of your stainless steel cookware for a long time you can polish the cookware with stainless steel polish. Put some of the polish to a clean and soft cloth, and buff it into your cookware. To remove the fingerprints from the outside of the cookware using a glass cleaner and a paper towel.
Related: Stainless Steel Vs Nonstick Cookware
How to Re-season Stainless Steel Pans?
Re-seasoning of stainless steel pan is an important part to keep it safe. Follow the steps to re-season the pans properly.
- At first, heat the clean stainless steel pans on the stove at medium-high heat, till the pan is very hot.
- Once your pan is very hot take it off from the stove and add a tablespoon of oil. You can use any type of oil such as coconut, olive, peanut whichever you prefer. Swirl the oil around the pan until the fat melts.
- Place the pan again on the burner and continue to heat the oil until it starts to smoke. As your pan heats and the oil liquefy, the fat of the oil will become attached to the surface of the pan.
- Turn off the heat when the oil starts to smoke and let the oil cool completely. As soon as the oil has cooled and the surface of the cookware becomes mirror-like the pan is seasoned properly.
- Pour the oil off when the seasoning of your pan is completed properly. Wipe the surface of the pan with a paper towel to reduce any excess oil.
Final Words
Hope this guide on how to clean stainless steel cookware will help you to transform your oldest stainless steel pots and pans into like-new. However, stainless steel cookware is considered the best-used type of cookware in the household kitchen.
If you take good care of your stainless steel cookware you can use it for a long period of time. So buying stainless steel cookware for your kitchen will save both your money and time.