How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware Like a Pro + 6 Steps for a perfect polish

This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

Knowing how to clean stainless steel cookware is essential to cook correctly and hygienically to excel in the kitchen.

Obtaining equipment that will last over time; will avoid deterioration and be readily available within everyone’s reach. However, you must rely on sound cleaning and regular maintenance to keep it sparkling.

This blog post shows you good practices for regular cleaning of your oxidizable steel pans. You will also learn how to scour a stainless steel pan when cleaning, as it has never been this well explained before.

What equipment is needed to clean stainless steel?

Contrary to disposable dishes, which do not require any cleaning treatment, when investing in kitchen equipment, we should give them the appropriate treatment to guarantee their longevity.

How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware with Effective equipment

Microfiber Sponge

The ideal for regular maintenance is to use a microfiber sponge as it is the best for cleaning.

The structure of a microfiber cloth is designed to catch and hold dirt. Unlike a foam sponge, the microfiber sponge can be machine washed regularly.

Have a few sponges in stock to rotate periodically and disinfect them.
For a quick and easy hand wash, your microfiber sponge and warm soapy water are all you need to clean your stovetop after cooking.

Nylon Brush

If any food residue or grease is left, a nylon brush will be perfect for removing the muck.

After disposing of it in the garbage can, washing it in hot water, and brushing all the rough spots are recommended.

You can use this material without fear because the brush will not damage the stainless steel. It is also quite handy when pre-washing.

Even before you put your pan in the dishwasher, the nylon brush is very convenient when removing the residues.

Metallic Sponge

3) The metallic sponge is an indispensable material near your sink. It will be beneficial to remove burnt and stubborn grease stains.

A little elbow grease, and in a few seconds, the stains are gone. All you have to do is rub the stubborn stain in circular motions.

Be careful; however, the metal sponge is unsuitable for stainless steel pans with a non-stick coating.

It also happens that some stainless steel-coated kitchen utensils are very fragile and can easily get scratched. It is always best to do a pre-test beforehand.

Used Toothbrush

4. Finally, here’s a little tip for cleaning the nooks and crannies of the pan. Recycle a used toothbrush to get rid of the dirt on the handles of your pots and pans.

 

 

 

 

What product should I use to clean stainless steel regularly?

You will need:

• Water
• Dishwashing liquid
• Vinegar

1) Water is essential for cleaning the steel pan, especially hot water. Water will rehydrate all the residues to remove them from the surface. Although it seems obvious, it should not be neglected in the cleaning process.

2) If the pan is greasy, soapy water or the usual dishwashing liquid will do the trick because it is a degreaser. Therefore, the action that we want here is to degrease the pan that has accumulated grease.

3. Sometimes, after using the dishwasher, your pans are stained white or give off a rainbow glow. In this instance, you need to wipe a cloth moistened with vinegar to get its shine back.

What product should I use to scrub a dirty Stainless steel pan?

There’s nothing more unpleasant when you’re cooking than working with equipment that hasn’t been adequately maintained.

Let’s agree on clean and tidy equipment. When you use your pan for grilling meat or browning vegetables, you want to use a pan with an inner cooking surface free of dirt and an exterior free of stains and residues.

Dirt, if left on the bottom of your stainless steel pan, will interfere with the cooking process. First, it is not pleasant to taste or eat leftover residues, nor is it healthy. It can also prevent your food from cooking evenly, which will result in it sticking to the bottom of your pan.

As for the outside of the stove, the stains and residues remaining can cause unpleasant and unhealthy toxic fumes.

It is therefore essential to ensure the quality of the material when using it.

If the stains on the stove are resistant to washing with soapy water, there are three miracle solutions to give your stove a second life.

Solution 1 – Boiling Water

Boil the pan with a few drops of soapy water for 5 to 10 minutes. The residue will then quickly come off.
If the residue is burned and stuck to the bottom of the pan, a dishwashing tablet soaked in water directly on the dirty surface overnight will loosen the grime.

Solution 2 – Baking Soda

Baking soda and lemon will be appropriate to clean and remove stains on the outside of your pan. The result is immediate, mainly if you use a steel sponge. Mix the bicarbonate and lemon in a bowl to form a more or less liquid paste so that you can quickly spread it on the dirty surface for 5 minutes, then rinse.

Sometimes the stains are very stubborn, and it is then necessary to repeat the same process and renew the operation until the stains disappear.

How to polish your Stainless Steel cookware?

And voila, it’s as simple as that!

Remember to systematically dry your steel utensils with a soft cloth to avoid the deposit of watermarks or fingerprints.

A little tip: The petite glass wool sponge, sold in the sponge and garbage bag section, can also be very useful to polish your stainless steel utensils.

How to Ecologically clean Stainless Steel Cookware ?

The best way to think about your health and environment is to clean in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Here are some steps that will help you improve your actions.

Natural Cleaning Products

No need to use abrasive products that promise you miracles but, on the contrary, chemically risk being harmful to the water that you will pour into your sink pipes. It’s also dangerous for your health since you are in direct contact with the product.

The best way is to use natural products that do not attack your skin or surfaces, such as dishwashing liquid, which is the best degreaser for cleaning pots and pans.
You also have bicarbonate, white vinegar, or lemon in your cupboards, which are essential natural cleaning products that are readily available.

Water Usage

Finally, limiting water consumption when washing by hand is an essential thing to do. When you wash your drums in the sink, it is better to put a plug in the sink to block the water and do at least a big pre-wash before running the water unnecessarily.

Machine Washable Wipes

For washing, prefer very efficient and machine-washable microfiber wipes rather than sponges with an abrasive green side that is not hygienic and that you throw away in the garbage.

Regular or occasional maintenance?

If you maintain your cookware regularly, you will save more time than scrubbing it. In addition, regular maintenance is recommended to ensure that your cookware will work like it did on the first day and that it will last a long time in your kitchen.

Stainless steel is the most accessible material to maintain for beginners or if you are not very careful. If you follow our simple and effective cleaning rules, you will get the perfect results from your cookware.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)