Cleaning Stainless Steel Cookware

Basic Cleaning

There are several methods to clean stainless steel pots and pans cookware. If the goal is just to make sure that the pots and pans are clean, soap and water will do the trick. Use liquid dish soap and scrub until food particles have been removed and then dry with a towel. If a dishwasher is available, then it is also possible to place them in the machine and have them cleaned with the other dishes. The dishwasher will not ruin the cookware.

Tougher Cleaning

If there are cooked on stains or hard to remove food attached, then the best way to clean the cookware is to use an oven cleaner. Apply it to the stained or cooked food and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours, then wash as normal. The oven cleaner should take the food off and have them sparkling. If not, vinegar can also work on tough stains. Pour the vinegar in the pot or pan and let it sit for about an hour, then scrub until clean. Wash as normal.

Make Them Shine

If the goal is to have the stainless steel pots and pans to look like new, use a lemon or lemon juice and a rag. After scrubbing with the juice, rinse and dry with a towel. Ketchup will polish up the copper coating on the bottom of some stainless steel pots. Apply the ketchup and let it sit for half an hour, then wash off and dry.

What to Avoid

If you want your pots and pans to stay shiny and new, the best way is to treat them right from the beginning. Use liquid dish soaps for everyday washing. Coarse detergents can scratch or strip off the shine. Always use a soft sponge or wash cloth to clean the pot. Do not use steel wool or scouring sponges with a scrubbing pad built in. These will scratch the surface and leave the cookware dull. Even though it is possible to bring the shine back to older stainless steel pots and pans, deep scratches are virtually impossible to remove.