How to Clean Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Naturally
How to Clean Stainless Steel Pots & Pans: Step-by-Step Guide
For everyday messes, cleaning stainless cookware takes a few simple steps and a little bit of care. Here’s what to do.
Step 1. Let your cookware cool completely
Once you finish cooking, let your pot or pan cool down to room temperature before cleaning. Running a hot stainless steel pan under cold water from the kitchen faucet can cause thermal shock and warping.
Step 2. Give it a good rinse
Once your cookware has cooled down to room temperature, rinse off excess bits of food and cooking residue in the sink.
Step 3: Let it soak
Rather than scrubbing and scouring, let your pan soak in warm, soapy water for up to 15 minutes. To avoid soap residue, use a plant-based dish soap, like Truly Free Home Dish Soap, that’s tough on messes but gentle on your cookware.
Step 4: Wash it thoroughly
After soaking, wash your stainless steel with a soft, non-scratch sponge or cleaning cloth and your favorite dish soap. Avoid scouring pads, as they can scratch and damage the surface of your stainless cookware.
Step 5: Dry completely
As soon as your pot or pan is clean, dry it with a dish towel. Drying immediately after washing helps prevent unsightly water spots.
How to Clean Burnt Stainless Steel Pots & Pans
If your cookware needs a little extra help returning to its former shine, we’ve got you covered.
How to Remove Burnt-On Food
Begin by following steps one and two in the step-by-step guide above.
Then, generously spray Truly Free Home Heavy Duty Pot and Pan Spray on the areas covered in burnt-on food. To make sure you penetrate the mess, allow the solution to sit for a few minutes before washing, then complete steps four and five.
How to Remove Burn Stains
Follow this easy process when your pans have black burn stains, and none of your usual stainless steel cleaning methods are doing the trick.
- Generously sprinkle baking soda on the surface of your pot or pan.
- Add water and bring to a boil. When most of the water has evaporated, turn off the heat.
- Scrub. While your pot or pan is still hot, scrub the stains with a sponge. Be sure to protect yourself and use an oven mitt for holding the pot or pan.
- Wash as usual using dish soap and warm water.
- Dry immediately.
How to Clean Water Spots
To remove cloudy hard water spots (also called “scale”) from your stainless cookware, follow these steps:
- Bring equal parts water and distilled white vinegar to a boil.
- Turn off the heat and let the solution sit until it’s cool.
- Rinse and wash as usual.
- Dry immediately.
How to Fix Discoloration
If your cookware has a rainbow-colored sheen or discoloration on its surface, it means that it’s experienced high heat. Your cookware will still work as usual, but if you want to remove the discoloration, wipe it with distilled white vinegar and a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse, wash, and towel dry.
How to Care for Stainless Steel Cookware
The best way to prevent stubborn messes in your pots and pans is to care for them properly—starting with how you use them. When cooking with stainless steel, avoid using high heat, as it can damage the material.
Another thing to remember: patience is key. Stainless steel pots and pans preheat slowly. How will you know when your pan is ready to use? The Leidenfrost Effect. If the pan is hot enough, water will bead up and dance around the pan when sprinkled onto it, and this is key to preventing food from sticking to the surface. On that note, don’t flip your food before it’s ready. Even in a properly heated pan, food will stick to the surface before it’s ready to be flipped. Once it is ready, it will easily release from the pan.
Cooking with stainless steel can feel intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with it. But once you know how to clean and take care of it, you’ll be using it like a chef in no time.
