If your kitchen is filled with pots and pans that have seen better days, you're not alone. For many of us, our cabinets are filled to the brim with pans that have baked-on stains, dents or cleaning residue. Though your pans may not look like they're in the best shape, that doesn't necessarily mean it's time to throw them out.
If you have a collection of stainless steel pots and find yourself asking, “How long do stainless steel pots last?” the Bob's Red Mill team is here to help. This article will cover everything from the average lifespan to how to clean stainless steel pots properly. Let's get started!
Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
Stainless steel cookware is great for many reasons. When taken care of, a stainless steel pot and stainless steel pan can last for decades. One of the most popular types of cookware, when purchasing stainless steel cookware, it is important that you buy pots and pans of good quality. Quality stainless steel will not only last longer, but will also allow you to create delicious meals with ease.
Stainless steel alone is not a great conductor of heat. Because of this, most stainless steel cookware is not 100% stainless steel. Instead, it's commonly combined with more heat conductive materials like copper and aluminum that help it transfer heat better and cook food thoroughly. This type of stainless steel is known as stainless steel clad and is the most common choice when choosing kitchenware.
Why is stainless steel so popular? Stainless steel is a non-reactive material, which means, unlike copper, it doesn't affect the taste of the food cooked in it. This non-reactivity also stops food from sticking to it, making it easier to clean. That being said, when food is burnt onto the surface, to prevent the pan from being harmed, it requires proper cleaning to remove.
Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Cookware
If your stainless steel cookware looks like it may be reaching the end of its lifespan, we encourage you to give it a good cleaning first. More often than not, food, stains and burn marks accumulate on your stainless steel pots and pans because you're not cleaning them properly. Luckily, with a bit of research, learning how to care for your cookware correctly is easy.
Soak
When cleaning stainless steel cookware, the first attempt is to soak it in warm water for some time. This type of cleaning is usually enough to remove food left over from cooking. If this initial soaking doesn't work to remove leftover residue and stains that remain on your stainless steel cookware, the next step is to try mixing a little bit of warm white vinegar with water to remove stubborn stains.
Scrub
Once all that leftover stain and burnt food have softened, it is time to scrub it. Pour in a dash of your dishwashing soap or stainless steel cleaner and grab your non abrasive sponge or any type of soft sponge and start scrubbing. Just remember to not use any abrasive cloth or sponges like steel wool to avoid scratches on your stainless cookware.
Vinegar Solution
For a burnt stain, cleaning your cookware requires a little more effort. We recommend mixing a white vinegar solution, baking soda and water to properly clean burnt food and remove water spots from your stainless steel pots and pans. If you do not have vinegar, lemon juice is also an effective substitute. When applied to your cookware with heat, the burn stains should be removed easily, along with any rust that may have accumulated.
Rinse
Before starting this step, make sure that your stainless steel has cooled down completely to avoid warping your pan. Rinse the soapy water along with other burnt food solids and grease. Dry your pan with a microfiber cloth or any soft dry cloth.
When Stainless Steel Cookware Is Scratched
If you've tried all of the above cleaning methods and your stainless steel cookware is still scratched, stained, dented, or rusted beyond repair. Then you'll want to replace it. This is especially so if your pots and pans have been scratched to where the material beneath is showing.
Preventing Burn Marks on Stainless Steel Cookware
We've all been there. We're in the kitchen, and the moment we take our eyes off of the food cooking, we return to our recipe stuck to the bottom of the pan. Food that is stuck to the bottom of a pan is neither fun nor tasty. Plus, it leaves us with a burnt-on mess that's hard to clean up. Thankfully, by taking note of just a few simple tips, you can prevent your pot from scorching and food being stuck to it.
Have a Well-Oiled Pan
To ensure that food doesn't stick to the bottom of your pan, be sure to use enough cooking oil. Searing, sauteing and heating all require an adequate amount of oil to cook properly. Additionally, when cooking grains like wild and brown rice, an adequate amount of water must be mixed in to prevent the grains from soaking up all of the water before they're fully cooked.
Practice Consistent Stirring
Another way to prevent your food from scorching on the bottom of the pan is by moving it around frequently. Consistent stirring will help ensure that your recipe is evenly cooked and will keep food off the bottom of the pan for long periods.
Mistakes to Avoid When Caring for Stainless Steel Cookware
Now that we've talked about how you should care for your stainless steel pots and pans, let's cover some of the things you should refrain from doing to keep your cookware in top shape.
Stick to Hand Washing Your Pans
One of the perks of stainless steel cookware is that most are dishwasher safe. This being so, if you use your cookware daily, excessive dishwashing could quickly wear down your pots and pans. Instead of relying on the dishwasher, keep your pans in top shape and clean them by hand when possible. Handwashing is much more gentle and will prevent your cookware from coming in contact with the high-temperature water that many dishwashers use. While boiling water is efficient when killing germs, too much of it may damage the surface of your pots and pans, as well as loosen up the handles.
Let Your Pans Cool off Completely
Just like exposing your pan to too hot water can damage the surface, exposing it to cold water when it's still warm can cause your cookware to warp or crack. This drastic temperature change will shock your pan, resulting in cracks and steam production, which could ultimately burn your hands. To keep your pan from warping, allow your stainless steel cookware to cool off completely before beginning the dishwashing cycle or washing them by hand.
Remove Calcium Buildup Regularly
Hard water and frequent washing can cause white chalk-like spots to appear on your pots and pans. If you're wondering what this buildup is, it's likely due to calcium. This calcium buildup causes your quality cookware to look worn and old. Additionally, it may also encourage bacteria growth, eventually allowing that bacteria to enter your food. To keep your cookware bacteria-free and brand new, you must remove this buildup regularly. Luckily, removing calcium from your pans is easy. Simply create a boiling solution of water and vinegar and add it to your pan. Once your pan is entirely cooled, wash and dry it as you usually would.
Keep Your Cookware from Overheating
Stainless steel cookware with stains never looks great in a kitchen. If there are stains on your cookware that you've tried to remove and couldn't, the chances are your pan has overheated. To get these stains out for good, use vinegar and a dish brush to scrub at the stains gently. If you don't have vinegar on hand, use your pan for cooking something acidic like tomato sauce which may help improve the discoloration.
Preheat Your Pan Before Cooking with It
If your stainless steel cookware constantly has food burnt on to it, it could be related to the pan's temperature. Food is more likely to stick to cold surfaces. To prevent your recipes from sticking to the bottom of the pan, we recommend preheating your pans before cooking in them. This will create a temperature barrier between your pan and the food, resulting in an evenly cooked meal that isn't stuck to the bottom of your pan.
Use the Right Cleaner
To effectively clean stainless steel cookware, we recommend using mild dish soap and water along with a soft brush. This will prevent damage to the pan while still making sure that all bacteria and food are removed. If regular dish soap isn't working, several cleaners are designed specifically for stainless steel pots and pans. Investing in a cleaner designed for your cookware will help remove hard-to-clean stains and leave your pots and pans looking brand new.
Stainless steel pots and pans top the list of commonly used cookware materials. Not only is stainless steel easy to cook with, but it's also reasonably simple to take care of. By following the tips listed above and caring for your cookware correctly, your stainless steel pots and pans can last for decades. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you excellent kitchen success!
Do you have a unique way you care for your stainless steel pots and pans? We'd love to hear more about it. Let us know your tips for stainless steel cookware in the comments below!
