Cleaning Pans With Bar Keepers Friend: Easy And Effective

Bar Keepers Friend is a popular product for cleaning stainless steel pans. It is a bleach-free, oxalic-acid-based powdered cleaning product that can remove rust, tarnish, mineral deposits, and tough stains from most surfaces. It is also safe to use on cookware, with manufacturers recommending it to remove stuck-on food or discolouration. To use the product, wet the surface of the pan, sprinkle on the powder, and scrub with a wet cloth. For tougher stains, make a paste with water and let it sit for a minute before washing, rinsing, and drying.

Wet the pan's surface and scrub with Bar Keepers Friend

To clean your pan with Bar Keepers Friend, start by wetting the pan's surface. Then, sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend powder onto the surface. You can also make a paste by mixing the powder with water. Use a soft, wet cloth to rub the powder or paste onto the pan in a circular motion. For very tarnished or greasy pans, you may want to start scrubbing with steel wool before switching to a soft sponge or rag.

Be sure to rinse the pan well after cleaning. Bar Keepers Friend is abrasive, so it's recommended to wear kitchen gloves to protect your skin. Do not let the product sit on the pan for longer than a minute. If necessary, scrub for longer and then rinse and repeat the process.

Make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend and water

To clean a pan with Bar Keepers Friend, you'll first want to wet the surface of the pan. Then, sprinkle on the Bar Keepers Friend powder and add a splash of water to create a paste. For a very tarnished or greasy pan, you may want to start scrubbing with steel wool. Once you've mostly cleared the surface of the pan, switch to your usual soft sponge or rag. Be sure to scrub with your faucet off, using just the moisture on the surface of the pan to turn the powder into a paste.

For tougher stains, you can make a paste with water and let it sit on the pan for about a minute before washing, rinsing, and drying. It's important to note that you shouldn't let the paste sit for longer than a minute.

If you've got particularly sensitive skin or are scrubbing a lot of pots, wear kitchen gloves to protect your skin as the paste is abrasive.

Use a soft cloth to apply the paste

To clean a pan with Bar Keepers Friend, you'll first need to wet the surface of the pan. Then, use a soft cloth to rub the Bar Keepers Friend powder cleanser into the surface. Add a small splash of water to the powder if you need to hydrate it and turn it into a paste.

For a very tarnished or greasy pan, you may want to start scrubbing with steel wool. Once you've mostly cleared the surface of the pan, switch to a soft cloth.

Make sure you don't let the paste sit for longer than a minute. Rinse the paste off with clean water and repeat as necessary.

For tougher stains, make a paste with water and Bar Keepers Friend and let it sit for a minute before washing, rinsing, and drying.

Let the paste sit for a minute

After applying the paste to the pan, it is important to let it sit for a minute. This allows the Bar Keepers Friend to activate and start breaking down the tough, burnt-on stains and discolouration. It is crucial that you do not let the paste sit for longer than a minute, as it may cause staining on your stainless steel pans.

While you wait, Bar Keepers Friend's powerful formula gets to work. The product contains 50% more grease-cutting detergents than other cleansers, so it can effectively remove burnt-on stains from metal skillets, as well as glass, ceramic dishes, stainless steel utensils, and enamel-coated cast iron. The active ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend is oxalic acid, which is naturally occurring in foods like spinach, rhubarb, tea, and cocoa products.

Once the minute is up, it's time to get scrubbing. Grab a soft cloth or sponge and rub the paste in a circular motion, working from the centre of the pan outwards. Rinse the pan with hot soapy water and repeat the process if necessary.

By letting the paste sit for a minute, you give the Bar Keepers Friend the time it needs to work its magic. This step is crucial to ensuring your pans come out sparkling clean without any unwanted stains or damage.

Rinse and repeat as needed

If you're using Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser, you'll want to rinse your pan with warm water and then repeat the cleaning process. This involves making a paste with Bar Keepers Friend and water, applying the paste to the pan with a soft cloth, letting it sit for a minute, and then rubbing the paste in a circular motion from the centre outward. Finally, wash the pan in hot soapy water and rinse it thoroughly.

If your pan is particularly dirty or burnt, you may need to repeat this process a few times to get it completely clean. It's important to be gentle and not to let the paste sit on the pan for too long, as this could damage the surface.

The same process can be applied to the bottom of your pans. Simply set the pan bottom-up in the sink, sprinkle the bottom with water, and then follow the same steps as above.

Remember, it may take a few attempts to get your pan looking brand new again, but with patience and persistence, Bar Keepers Friend can work wonders on even the most stubborn stains.

Frequently asked questions