How To Clean Your Stainless Steel Cookware

Even seasoned cooks can scorch a pan, whether they’re searing meat at high temperatures or fiddling with a delicate sauce. But cleaning those tough stains isn’t as much of a pain if you have the right gear and supplies. Based on our years of experience cooking at home and in professional kitchens, here are the techniques we use to keep our cookware gleaming.

General Care

The best bet for everyday cleaning is hand-washing your cookware in hot, soapy water and drying it thoroughly with a soft cloth before storing. Using a dishwasher is controversial; experts are divided on the effect the detergents have on stainless steel finishes. If you do use the dishwasher and want to prevent spotting, remove your cookware after the wash cycle and dry it by hand.

Cleaning Scorched On Stains

Dealing with burnt stainless steel is a certainly a chore but this is a tried and tested solution. Make a paste of baking soda and water (the consistency of toothpaste works well). Use a sponge to cover the stain with the baking soda paste, and let the solution sit on the scorched areas for 15 or 20 minutes. This will remove any burnt food. Afterwards, rinse the solution off and clean any stubborn areas with a sponge. Be patient, you may need to repeat the process.

Clean Your Pan With Vinegar

Place half an inch of water in a stained pan, add a cup of household vinegar, and bring the solution to a boil. Turn off the heat, add 3 TBLS of baking soda, and the allow solution to foam. When the solution is slightly cooled (hot, but not so hot as to burn your hands) scour the pan with a sponge. You can also allow the pan to soak in the solution for 15 or 20 minutes before scouring.

How The Chefs Clean Pans

A paste made with water and cream of tartar is reportedly a chef-favored method for cleaning stainless steel cookware. Combine 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cream of tartar with enough water to make a paste, and sponge the paste onto the offending stains. Allow the paste to work on the stains for at least a few hours, or better yet, overnight. Scour the area with a non abrasive sponge. Clean the pan with warm water and dry thoroughly to avoid water spots. A benefit of the cream of tartar cleaning method is that it leaves stainless steel pans beautifully shiny.

How To Clean Cooked On Stains From Your Pan

For cooked-on stains try lime and salt to clean stainless steel pans. The acidity of the lime breaks down food particles, and the gentle and harmless abrasiveness of the salt cleans the pan. Add a generous 1/4 cup of salt to the pan, and add the juice of one lime. Allow the mixture to work for 10 or 15 minutes, and then scrub the pan with a non-abrasive sponge.

Dos and Don'ts

Stainless steel cookware often requires stronger cleaners and more elbow grease than other types of cookware. The good news is, it can take it. With that in mind, you should use a non-abrasive cleaner—like Bon Ami Powder Cleanser or Bar Keepers Friend—for general cleaning, stain removal, and keeping the cookware shiny as new. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use.

Don't use metal scouring pads or abrasive cleaners. Although they do an excellent job of removing stuck-on food, all stainless steel cookware makers caution that abrasives can scratch the surface of the cookware. Instead, opt for nylon-net scouring pads or plastic or nylon brushes.

Now that you know how to make your stainless steel pan shine, your cookware will look great and last for years to come. It will also make you feel proud of having guests round the house and not feel embarrassed to have them pop into the kitchen in case your cookware looks all dirty.