Stainless Steel Pans Definitely Get Stained and Sticky, so Here’s How To Clean Yours
No matter how much you invest in a stainless steel pan, cookware of all kinds are prone to stickiness and staining—it’s just one of the many plights of the home chef! At that point, you're probably wondering: How do I clean stainless steel pans?
Believe it or not, this is a way to keep your collection in tip-top shape—read: glistening!—so long as you’re willing to put in a bit of (light) elbow grease after each use, according to Vera Peterson, President of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. So roll up your sleeves and strap on your kitchen gloves...or forward this link to your household’s designated dishwasher. The directions below will make the meal you just cooked disappear from pots and pans so you (and everyone) can spend less time scrubbing and more time savoring.
Related: 10 Cleaning Hacks to Save You Time and Money
How To Clean Stainless Steel Pans
What You’ll Need:
Kitchen gloves
Paper towels
Baking soda
White vinegar
Hot water
Spatula
A non-abrasive sponge, scouring pad, or brush
Related: How To Clean An Oven: A Step-by-Step Guide
What You’ll Do:
Carefully wipe out excess oil and residue using a paper towel.
If the pan is still hot, add hot water. This will “deglaze” the pan, or help loosen food particles.
Sprinkle about half a cup of baking soda over the entire pan.
Pour about the same amount of vinegar over the baking soda. The combination will result in a chemical reaction that bubbles, helping to dislodge any pieces of food. Leave for a few minutes.
Soak the pan in hot water for 15-30 minutes. Don’t worry about removing the baking soda and vinegar first.
Scrub the pan and rinse. Use a spatula to scrape any larger pieces of food debris and sponge or brush to scrub. (“Because you let the baking soda and vinegar do a lot of the hard work, this shouldn’t require too much elbow grease,” Peterson says.)
For stubborn stains: Lather the pan with a generous amount of baking soda and scrub it pan thoroughly with a scouring pad.
Related: How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
More Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Stainless Steel Cookware
Use half a lemon instead of a sponge to scour affected areas
The acidity works wonders on tough-to-scrub scum, and you’ll save yourself the hassle of cleaning your sponge.
Keep a spray bottle on hand
Fill it with warm soapy water and spritz away whenever an oversized stainless steel pan needs a glow up, but can’t fit in your sink. Wipe with a microfiber cloth in the direction of the grain.
Skip steel wool and abrasive sponges
These can damage the finish on your steel pans.
The hotter the water, the better
It cuts through tough messes better than lukewarm water—unless you’re dealing with dairy residue, in which case Peterson recommends cold water to prevent stickiness.
Avoid adding cold water to a hot pan
A sudden temperature change can sometimes cause warping.
Read Next: 5 Quick House Cleaning Hacks
