Cocktail shaker - silver plate but black on the inside

Cocktail shaker - silver plate but black on the inside - Black girl at table with plate and cutlery near anonymous mother

I picked up a 1920s, silver-plated cocktail shaker from the op-shop. It is super fabulous. However, the inside is all black. Is it safe to make and serve cocktails from this shaker? What should I use to clean it?? Thanks xx irene

cocktails


Best Answer

Yes, it's safe.

Silver tarnishes easily, particularly in contact with sulfur-containing foods, particularly egg. The tarnish is not hazardous, and can be cleaned off with silver polish or with DIY chemistry like in Tetsujin's answer. Black tarnish doesn't form readily on its own, so if you're not planning on using eggs in your cocktails then cleaning off the existing tarnish will likely last you a while (it'll be bright silver initially, but will quickly tarnish to a dull greyish silver). However, it can also be ignored (which was apparently the approach taken by the previous owner).



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How do you clean the inside of a silver plate shaker?

Silver tarnishes easily, particularly in contact with sulfur-containing foods, particularly egg. The tarnish is not hazardous, and can be cleaned off with silver polish or with DIY chemistry like in Tetsujin's answer.

How do you clean a sterling silver cocktail shaker?

The best way to clean silver (or sliver plate) is to first wash it in hot-as-your-hands-can stand-it soapy water using just a soft cloth (a 12x12 piece of an old terry cloth towel is fine). Once it is thoroughly clean rinse it under the tap with even hotter water, then set it aside to drain.

How do you clean the inside of a cocktail shaker?

For best results, wash glassware by hand, using warm water and a gentle dish soap, perhaps with a soft cloth. Sanitize and allow each glass to air dry for a few minutes before polishing.


How to use a Bartisstria Cocktail Shaker Set



More answers regarding cocktail shaker - silver plate but black on the inside

Answer 2

Cheap & cheerful trick...

  1. Break your shaker down into its separate components.

  2. Use your washing-up bowl.

  3. Get 30cm or so of aluminium kitchen foil, & get it to sit in the bottom of the bowl. Doesn't matter of you have to crinkle it but don't screw it into a ball.

  4. Drop in your silver.

  5. Add half a packet or so of bicarbonate of soda.

  6. Fill with very hot water - from the kettle, ideally, just off the boil. Deeper than your shaker size Yup, it's going to be hot, be careful. Use gloves & a wooden spatula for manipulation. Give it a good stir.

  7. Push it round for a couple of seconds with the spatula until it stops fizzing.
    If it's particularly ornate, you might have to use a toothbrush, but you really shouldn't need to.

  8. Remove clean shaker, discard now black foil.
    Repeat if necessary.

It can smell a bit eggy & can taint the bowl, so if you've got a large 'glass' [pyrex etc] heat-resistant bowl that can stand boiling water [be very careful] that may be a better choice , but the washing up bowl can be bleached out if the smell lingers.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Monstera, Monstera, Max Vakhtbovych, Rachel Claire

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