We love our stainless steel cookware for its endurance and shiny appearance. Stainless steel pots and pans are easy to maintain and perfect for almost any cooking task. However, sometimes our love exhausts the stainless steel pots and pans to the extent we can clearly observe.
Stainless steel cookware can develop persistent stains and burns from overheating. The cookware's bottom and outer sides sometimes look brown or black. The bottom can be covered with a thick black layer of burn, so it cannot be used. If your stainless steel cookware has signs of overuse, such as burns and stains, or is wholly charred, you don't have to give up on it.
There are some homemade and store-bought remedies for reviving stainless steel. This article lists five different methods. Continue reading to learn how to clean burnt or baked-on stainless steel pots and pans.
- Baking soda and hot water
Removing char from a stainless steel pan using baking soda and hot water is a standard kitchen tip. Baking soda is a pantry staple, not just for baking but also for natural cleaning. It is also one of the magic ingredients for bringing burnt or baked-on stainless steel back to life.
Liberally sprinkle baking soda inside the burnt pan or pot. Pour some hot water in. Be careful not to go above half of the pan or pot since things will get foamy. Place the stainless steel kitchenware over the stove on medium heat. Let the mixture boil. Once it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. Leave for 10 minutes. Then, using a scrubber sponge, remove all the residue. Discard the water. Wash with warm water and soap.
- White vinegar and hot water
White vinegar is another famous natural cleaning ingredient. It can be very effective for cleaning burnt or baked-on stainless steel cookware. One downside may be the smell of the vinegar when boiling. Aside from the off-putting smell, white vinegar is a harmless ingredient that you can use comfortably at home.
Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and hot water in a bowl. Pour it into the burnt pot or pan. Be careful not to overfill; half the height is more than enough. Place the cookware on medium/high heat and let it boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Slide a spatula at the bottom of the pot or pan and witness the cleaning miracle of white vinegar. You can see the black stuff at the bottom lifting effortlessly. Turn off the stove. Pour the water. You can scrub the surface for remaining blackened spots. Wash with warm water and dishwasher soap.
- Lemon juice and salt
Another widely used natural remedy for cleaning burnt or baked-on stainless steel cookware is lemon juice with salt. The idea is the same as the previous two natural remedies. Lemon juice is a natural cleaner for many home cleaning tasks.
Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and hot water. Put a generous amount of salt in the burnt stainless steel. Pour the liquid mixture over and heat on a medium/high setting. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes. Gently try to remove the residue from the surface using a spatula. Remove the burnt cookware from the heat. Pour the water and give it a final wash using a sponge, dishwashing soap, and warm water.
- Abrasive powder cleanser
Powder cleansers are very effective for cleaning burnt stainless steel cookware, especially during the mishap. Pre-clean the pan or pot with water and dishwashing soap when the pan is warm. Using a scrubber sponge, apply a small amount of powder cleanser onto the surface and let the detergent work its magic. Remember to rinse the cookware thoroughly. Doing a final washing with warm water and dishwashing soap is best.
- Stainless steel cleaner
Stainless steel cleaners are designed to clean everything made from stainless steel. You can clean every stainless steel item using these cleaners, from kitchen sinks to showerheads, cutlery to pots and pans.
Stainless steel cleaners also work well for eliminating brown and black residue from burnt stainless steel cookware. Paired with stainless steel polishers, another one-task cleaning product, you can clean and shine burnt cookware and enjoy it as new.