How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans {And Prevent Messes}
I love stainless steel cookware. I know the rage is nonstick and ceramic, but I don’t feel as comfortable using those. Stainless steel pans are more sustainable and safer! But let’s be real, the mess can be work. So here are my tips for how to clean stainless steel pans (and how to prevent messes as much as possible).
How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans
A few tips before even getting to the soapy water…
Let your cookware cool completely before running cold water over its surface to avoid thermal shock (which will affect the performance and longevity of your pans).
If food gets stuck onto the surface, remove residue by boiling a baking soda & water mixture in your pan, or use a stainless steel cleaner. Avoid using a baking soda and vinegar combination.
For the sake of ease, I’ll actually just use some water in the pan after I’ve removed the food and gently scrape the residue from the bottom of the pan.
And in the sink,I cannot rave about these bamboo pot scrapers enough. They’re available at eco stores and then in a 5-pack (thankfully directly from the company) on Amazon. They scrape the food off without scraping your pots and pans!!
We recently added the new Caraway stainless steel pans to our kitchen and I love them. They come with a great storage rack and even a lid storage situation. Not to mention the “Cleaning Eraser” that looks like a magic eraser but is made specially for stainless steel.
How to use stainless steel cookware without sticking
- Before adding oil, preheat your pan for 90 seconds on low-medium heat.
- Allow oil to preheat and coat the surface before adding food
- Avoid sprays and aerosols as they leave a film that’s hard to remove
- High smoke point oils are recommended (see examples here)
- Wait for food to heat up before adding salt (to prevent calcium deposits & pit marks)
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Pan
To clean your stainless steel pan, use warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge or brush until the pan is spotless before storing. Make sure your pans are dry before storing to prevent water spots from staining the surface.
Browning, oil spots, or rainbow discoloration are natural and bound to occur with regular cooking. These marks are completely safe & pose no danger to your food. It only adds character! To remove, clean with a vinegar & water mixture or stainless steel cleaner and a gentle cloth.
Natural Home Cleaning
See the brands and items of non toxic cleaning products we use in our home, including a few of my favorite refillable cleaning products and hand soap.
