From the sink, to knives and household appliances, stainless steel is everywhere in our kitchens. Solid and aesthetic, it is also very popular in the utensils section such as frying pans and saucepans. However, when you take the plunge and invest in stainless steel cookware, you wonder how to take care of it to keep it intact. However, we do not maintain a stainless steel pan as we would a copper pan, for example. Also, it is important to know the essential grandmother’s tips for maintaining and cleaning the coating of your stainless steel pan.
What to never do when maintaining a stainless steel pan
First of all, beware of bleach or ammoniac. Your utensil may interact poorly with these ingredients and end up damaged or discolored. In addition, the scraper and the copper brush should also be limited as much as possible. As for the dishwasher, it requires it to too strong temperature variations. So, even if the manufacturer says the opposite, it is advisable to limit its use as much as possible so as not to harm the lifespan and aesthetics of your utensil. However, if you cannot do otherwise, consider rinse them with sparkling water and wipe with a soft cloth to avoid formation of traces of water drops. Furthermore, for this same reason, prefer careful drying with a clean cloth to simple drying in the open air.
Finally, the last mistake would be not paying attention to the materials used. Whether you decide to cook with a DE BUYER stainless steel pan or any other brand, we advise you to opt for one thick or cast iron bottom which will be more resistant over time and use. Otherwise, opt for an interior or background copper or aluminum which will help stainless steel conduct heat better. This way, the food will cook better and without sticking!
2) Protect a stainless steel pan or saucepan with oil
The stainless steel pan can be more difficult to clean unlike non-stick pans. Nevertheless, you can make it non-stick and make it easier to clean by oiling it! To do this, heat it well over medium to high heat. Then off the heat, evenly melt a spoonful of vegetable oil of your choice. Then put everything back on the heat until it smokes. This will cause the fat molecules to make the pan less sticky. Finally, let cool and dry with a paper towel. That will last a while if you don’t use dishwashing detergent for cleaning (you won’t need it anyway). However, remember to add a little fat to prevent the food from burning and to repeat these steps as soon as it turns yellow or brown.
3) For more in-depth cleanings
In addition to the sparkling water technique against water and lime stains and oiling as a protective layer, there are many tips for removing stubborn stains.
- Against burn marks or heat on the back of the utensil, sprinkle baking soda on the dry surface. Then rub with a cloth or sponge. A water/bicarbonate paste can also be used and will also be used to polish small scratches on stainless steel.
- To remove food stains, you can of course soak in warm, soapy water. Then use a simple scouring pad.
- If that’s not enough, heat some water well. Once it’s doneadd salt then let sit for a few hours. Next, use your scouring pad. THE white vinegar or lemon juice can also be used as a replacement for salt.
- And finally, you can use the natural acidity of pure tomato juice to boil in the stainless steel saucepan. This will remove any embedded stains.
Good plan: Benefit from the promo code “conseilsdegrandmere” offered by the Kitchen website: a gift from DE BUYER for any order over €39 (valid 30 days after publication).
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