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What marks can appear on my stainless steel pot or pan and how do I treat them?
A stainless steel pot is a must-have kitchen utensil, used by cooks around the world. They are used daily and they can sometimes suffer a little.
Some of you have written to us to share your questions about the various small stains that can occasionally appear in yourgood pans orperfect pans. We understand your frustration; we'd all like our pans to stay as shiny as the first day! But rest assured, with our tips, you'll be able to help them quickly regain their shine. And between you and me, it's by developing a patina over time that they'll become truly beautiful. But for that, we'll let you make up your own mind.
Finally, none of these stains affect your pan's heating or cooking performance.
Here is a list of the most common small stains that can appear on your pans:
![Cleaning the various stains on my stainless steel pan]()
White stains on the cooking surface of your pot or pan:
The white stains you may notice after performing the water drop test or after cooking are most often limescale from the water or your food that has heated up.
These small stains are easily removed with lemon juice or white vinegar. Simply scrub your pan with the soft side of a sponge using a mixture of water, lemon juice, and/or white vinegar.
![Cleaning the various marks on my stainless steel pan]()
Rainbow stains:
These small blue or rainbow stains generally come from starch or mineral salts contained in certain foods, particularly starchy foods and vegetables.
To remove them, you can pour white household vinegar into the bottom of your pan. Leave it on for 2 minutes, then rub lightly with a sponge, and finally, rinse with fresh water.
![Cleaning the various marks on my stainless steel pan]()
Black marks and burnt residue stuck to the bottom or edges of your pan
Black stains are usually burnt grease. The 3-ply technology allows our pans to heat up very quickly, which is why you should try to cook on low/medium heat as much as possible.
To remove these stains, the easiest way is to use a mixture of water, white vinegar, and baking soda, which you heat. Heating the mixture will help the stains come off more easily. Once hot, you can scrape the bottom of your pan with a wooden spoon or a copper scraper, and the black stains will disappear. This maintenance method is explained in our user guide that comes with the pans (page 10), and we have also produced a presentation video, the link to which is: How to clean and restore a stainless steel pan?
![Clean the various marks on my stainless steel pan]()
Brown or russet stains on the inside of your pan:
These stains often come from solidified or overheated fat. To remove them, you can use the water/white vinegar/baking soda mixture shown for burnt-on grease stains. You can then scrub with a copper scraper and the stains should disappear.
Or again, you can use our 100% natural silverstone-based product, the Super Cleaner, while scrubbing with your copper scraper.
![Clean the various marks on my stainless steel pan]()
Brown or reddish stains inside your pan:
These stains often come from solidified or overheated fat. To remove them, you can use the water/white vinegar/baking soda mixture shown for burnt fat stains. You can then scrub with a copper scraper, and the stains should disappear.
Or, again, you can useour 100% natural silverstone-based product, Le Super Nettoyant, while scrubbing with your copper scraper.
Bleach should be avoided!
As a reminder, bleach should not be used for maintaining your stainless steel utensils, as it is too harsh and toxic.
In conclusion, we have reached the end of all these tasks. Stainless steel is an ultra-resistant material that will last a lifetime, with a little polish from time to time to revive your beautiful pans.
Frequently asked questions about stainless steel maintenance:
How do I maintain the shine of a stainless steel pot or pan?
To restore your stainless steel pot or pan to its original shine, here are some tips:
- Apply a little oil mixed with rubbing alcohol to a soft cloth. Then rub it over the entire surface of your pan after cleaning. This tip also works on your pan lid! Then, wipe the surface with a simple paper towel. Your stainless steel pan will easily regain its shine!
- Alternatively, you can also mix sparkling water with two tablespoons of clay stone, then spread the resulting paste on your stainless steel pan with a soft cloth. Then wipe dry.
Natural, easy-to-use solutions, perfect for restoring shine to your stainless steel cookware!
What products should you use to clean stainless steel cookware?
To summarize, and depending on the situation (burnt pot or pan or stubborn stains), here are the products that can be used to clean and care for this material:
- Lemon juice
- White vinegar or rubbing alcohol (yes, the same products used to clean your kettles or coffee makers!)
- Silverstone
- Citric acid
- Baking soda
- Silverstone clay
Clean the various marks on my stainless steel pan
The stainless steel saucepan is a must-have kitchen utensil, just like traditional stainless steel pans. Used by cooks around the world for decades. In our article, we explain the different marks that can appear during your cooking and the best home remedies to eliminate them. In any case, don't worry, it's normal for your pans to mark a little as they react to heat and different foods.
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By Victor Desport
13/10/2023
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