Hand-Washing Stainless Steel Pans: Good Or Bad?

Stainless steel pans are a kitchen staple, but they require careful cleaning to keep them in good condition. While some types are dishwasher-safe, hand-washing is recommended to maintain quality and avoid damage. Before cleaning, it's important to let the pan cool down to avoid warping. To clean, scrub the pan with hot soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge, avoiding harsh cleaners and steel wool, which can damage the surface. For stuck-on food, fill the pan with soapy water, boil, and scrape with a wooden utensil. For tough stains, a paste of baking soda and water can be applied before scrubbing. To remove water spots and discolouration, a solution of vinegar and water can be boiled in the pan, followed by rinsing and drying.

Why hand wash stainless steel pans?

While many types of stainless steel pans are marketed as dishwasher-safe, hand-washing is the best way to clean and care for them. Here are some reasons why you should hand wash your stainless steel pans:

Prevent Warping

When a hot stainless steel pan is immersed in cold water, the temperature shock can cause permanent warping. Therefore, it is important to always let the pan cool down before washing it. Hand-washing allows you to control the water temperature and avoid sudden changes that could damage your pan.

Avoid Abrasive Cleaners

Harsh cleaning solutions like bleach, ammonia, or oven cleaner can scratch and damage the finish of your stainless steel pans. By hand-washing, you can choose gentler, non-abrasive cleaners that are safe for your pans.

Protect the Non-Stick Surface

Hand-washing allows you to use soft sponges or cloths, which are less likely to scratch the surface of your pan. A scratched pan may lose its non-stick properties, making it more difficult to cook with and clean.

Maintain Quality and Avoid Damage

Hand-washing is gentler on your pans and helps maintain their quality over time. It also gives you greater control over the cleaning process, reducing the risk of damage caused by harsh detergents or high temperatures in a dishwasher.

Prevent Corrosion

The mix of abrasive detergents and humid environment in a dishwasher can corrode the metal of your stainless steel pans. Hand-washing with mild soap and warm water helps prevent this issue.

Remove Tough Stains

For tough, burnt-on stains, hand-washing gives you the flexibility to use a variety of techniques, such as boiling water and vinegar or baking soda solutions, to effectively remove stains and restore the shine to your pans.

How to hand wash stainless steel pans

Before You Start

Before you begin, always check the manufacturer's instructions for specific washing advice. While most stainless steel pans can be cleaned in a dishwasher, hand-washing is the best way to maintain quality and avoid damage.

Everyday Cleaning

For everyday cleaning, use hot, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. Avoid harsh cleaners like bleach or ammonia, and don't use steel wool pads or other abrasive sponges as these can scratch the material.

Stuck-On Food

If there are stuck-on food bits, fill the pan with enough soapy water to cover the residue, bring it to a boil, and scrape with a wooden spoon or spatula. Allow the pan to cool, then wash as usual.

Burnt Food or Oil

For tougher messes, including burnt food or oil, you can use baking soda. Add a few spoonfuls to your scorched pan, along with enough water to cover the burnt areas. Bring this to a boil and simmer until most of the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat and wait until the pan is cool enough to handle. Scrub away buildup with a non-abrasive sponge and wash in hot, soapy water.

Discoloration

If you notice some rainbow-coloured discoloration on the surface of your pan, this is likely due to overheating and can be easily removed. Splash some vinegar into the pan and wipe the area with a soft sponge before rinsing and drying thoroughly.

Water Spots

To prevent water spots, dry your pans immediately after washing. If spots do appear, dampen the surface, rub it with a moist sponge sprinkled with baking soda, and rinse as usual.

Chalky White Spots

To remove chalky white spots, which are often caused by calcium buildup in the water, bring a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water to a boil in the pan. Let it cool, then wash and dry as normal.

General Buildup

For general buildup, fill the pan with hot soapy water and let it sit for a few hours before scrubbing with a non-abrasive sponge.

White, Chalky Residue

If you notice a cloudy-looking substance on your pan after cleaning, this is likely due to hard water, which contains heavy amounts of calcium. To remove this, fill your pan with one part vinegar to three parts water and let it come to a boil before turning off the heat and letting it cool. Wash the pan as usual, then dry with a clean towel to prevent more hard water stains from forming.

How to remove burnt food from stainless steel pans

To remove burnt food from stainless steel pans, you can try a few different methods. Here are the steps you can follow:

Using Heat and Dish Soap

• After cooking, return the pan to the stove and turn on the heat.
• When a drop of water sizzles in the pan, pour in about one cup of water. Caution: This will create steam and may cause bubbling, so be careful to avoid burns.
• Using a wooden spoon or spatula, scrape away the burnt food. The heat and steam should help loosen it.
• Turn off the heat, remove the pan from the stove, and let it cool down.
• Add a squirt of dish soap to the pan and use a long-handled brush to remove any remaining food bits.
• Rinse the pan with warm water and dry it off completely before storing it.

Boiling Water and Baking Soda

• For tougher messes, including burnt food, add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to your pan and enough water to cover the burnt areas.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until most of the water has evaporated.
• Turn off the heat and wait until the pan is cool enough to handle.
• Scrub away the burnt-on food with a non-abrasive sponge and wash in hot, soapy water.

Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

• Sprinkle baking soda all over the burnt areas of the pan.
• Use a sponge to scour the inside of the pan and remove as much of the burnt food as possible.
• Add a small amount of vinegar to the pan; the mixture should foam up.
• Scrub the pan thoroughly, then rinse and dry it.

Using Bar Keeper's Friend

• Make a paste with Bar Keeper's Friend powder and a small amount of water.
• Using a damp sponge, scrub the paste in a circular motion around the entire pan, not just the burnt areas.
• Rinse and dry the pan thoroughly.

General Tips:

• Always check the manufacturer's instructions for specific washing instructions.
• Avoid using harsh cleaners like bleach or oven cleaner, and do not use abrasive tools like steel wool, as these can damage the pan's surface.
• For everyday cleanup, scrub your stainless-steel pan with hot soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge.
• To prevent food from sticking, preheat your pan before adding oil, and wait until the oil is hot before adding food.
• Always allow the pan to cool completely before washing it to avoid warping.

How to remove white, chalky residue from stainless steel pans

To remove white, chalky residue from your stainless steel pans, follow these steps:

• Create a mixture of vinegar and water, using one part vinegar and three parts water.
• Bring this mixture to a boil in the affected pan.
• Let the pan cool down.
• Wash the pan with soap and water as you normally would.

This method will remove the chalky buildup caused by hard water.

To prevent water spots in the first place, be sure to dry your cookware immediately after washing.

How to remove discoloration from stainless steel pans

Discolouration on stainless steel pans is typically caused by overheating the pan. Luckily, this can be easily removed with some common household ingredients and a bit of elbow grease. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to remove discolouration from your stainless steel pans:

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Before you begin, check the manufacturer's instructions for specific washing tips. Always let the pan cool down completely before cleaning it. Submerging a hot pan in cold water can cause warping and disfiguration.

Step 2: Treat the Discolouration

To remove the discolouration, you can use either vinegar or tomato sauce. Vinegar is the more commonly recommended option and is known to be effective in ridding the pan of unsightly discolouration. Simply splash some vinegar into the pan and wipe the area with a soft, non-abrasive sponge before rinsing and drying the pan fully.

Alternatively, you can use tomato sauce. Fill the pan with tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes until the discoloured areas are completely submerged. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for about 10 minutes, adding water if necessary. Then, empty the pan and rinse it clean. You can also leave the tomato sauce in the pan overnight without simmering.

Step 3: Additional Cleaning (Optional)

For tougher messes or burnt-on food, you may need to do some additional cleaning. Fill the pan with hot soapy water and let it sit for a few hours. Then, scrub the pan with a non-abrasive sponge. For more stubborn stains, you can fill the pan with enough soapy water to cover the residue, bring it to a boil, and scrape with a wooden spoon or spatula. Allow the pan to cool, then wash as usual.

Step 4: Prevent Future Discolouration

To prevent discolouration and keep your stainless steel pans in good condition, it is important to dry them immediately after washing. Remember also to avoid using cold water on a hot pan and to always let the pan cool down before washing.

Frequently asked questions