White stains and stainless steel cookware
I know this question has been asked before in some form or another, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer. I've looked on SA, chowhound, martha stewart, about.com, etc., and answers seem to vary. Answers that I've seen vary from using vinegar to washing using special stainless steel soaps (which I'm not very keen on using) to only using soft sponges and hot water.
The one thing I always do is wash my stainless steel with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. If there's burned food stuck on the cookware, I scrape it off with a wood pot scraper (lightly, of course). And I always dry with a soft cloth immediately after washing. Yet I still get stains!
I'd like to get a general consensus on how to prevent those white and rainbow colored stains as well as minimizing corrosion.
Best Answer
These are just mineral (calcium) stains from your water source. They will not affect the stainless steel.
The quickest way to clean stainless steel from burnt on oil, food, and water stains is to use a polyprop/ester scouring pad (e.g. 3M's branded as Scotch-Brite).
Use a little liquid dish wash soap, a poly scourer pad, and a generous serve of elbow grease. It's cheaper than going to the gym :-)
Stainless steel is a hardy material, and does not need delicate handling.
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Quick Answer about "White stains and stainless steel cookware"
You can use any vinegar variety, although distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and white wine vinegar will work best. Bring the pot to a boil and let the residue dissolve in the solution. The acidity of the vinegar will help to remove the chalky white stains from the cooking surface of your pan or pot.Why do my stainless steel pans have white spots?
Problem: Chalky White Spots Solution: The unsightly spots on a gleaming pan are typically caused by a buildup of the calcium found in water. Remove them by boiling a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Let it cool completely, then wash and dry the pan as usual.How do you get white residue off stainless steel pans?
If your tap water has a high calcium content (hard water), you'll probably notice chalky white residue on the cookware. To remove this residue, fill the pot or pan with one part vinegar to three parts water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then take it off the heat and let it cool to the touch.Why are my stainless steel pots discolored?
Overheating or allowing cookware to boil dry can cause yellow, brown, dark purple, blue or rainbow tints on the stainless steel surface. Although harmless, these tints can spoil the appearance of the pan. To remove this discoloration, use a products like Barkeepers Friend\xae and a non abrasive cleaning pad.Why does stainless steel get cloudy?
Particles of the sink surface may loosen and attach themselves to the surface of the utensil when it's soaking in water in the sink. These embedded particles disintegrate and give a cloudy or rusty appearance to the surface of the utensil. The best solution is to avoid prolonged soaking of steel utensils.Chalky Residue On Your Stainless Steel Cookware?
More answers regarding white stains and stainless steel cookware
Answer 2
For the rainbow colored stains and white stains, try a drop or two of lemon juice, its mildly acidic and as far as I know doesnt damage stainless steel.
http://www.cheftalk.com/t/63052/does-citrus-juice-damage-stainless-steel
Answer 3
I used Colgate or any brand toothpaste and a cotton ball scrubbed, then scrubbed with the rough side of a soapy sponge BINGO it did the trick..nice and clean!!!
Answer 4
I dont't know how to prevent those white stains but i've taken my stainless steel pots through the wringer and baking soda, tiny bit of dish soap and a soft sponge always gets them sparkling clean.
Answer 5
I can't say much more than Lagostina USA does themselves on this subject. They don't exactly mention the rainbow effect, which I find is caused by higher heats on the pan. I have a shaker of the Lagostina SS cleaner and use it sometimes to clean the pans up. I don't suspect that I'll have to do that as much now that I have switched to using an induction hob. (Once I learn what settings to use!)
Answer 6
I learned a trick from my mother many many years ago to clean stuck or burnt on food from stainless steel. When done cooking or burning immediately pour about two cups of hot, not cold, water into the pan and allow to simmer a minute or two. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula and the food will come off. Some burned food may take a little longer to come off but letting the water simmer a little longer usually does the trick, then clean as usual. Be careful of the steam when pouring the water into the hot pan.
Answer 7
Cooking with a high-quality piece of stainless steel cookware can be a little... unnerving. There are also scale-removing products on the market (like http://www.thejuzz.com/Stainless-Steel-Cookware/), but you'd want to check to be sure they won't damage your cookware before using them.
Answer 8
? USE ?EASY-OFF? Oven Cleaner! ?
It will NOT hurt your Stainless Steel Pots & Pans or Ceramics. I was using it to clean baked on splatters from the oven door glass. I had a huge can and a small useless ? window and I read the label while ? waiting for the promised magic to happen. ?
It reads: "Ideal for cleaning ovens / oven doors, barbecue grills, broilers / broiler pans, and stainless steel surfaces!"
I first tried my neglected Old Stainless Pot and 2 Stainless baking pans. Whoa!! ?? The Solid Hard Brown/Black Crud just wiped off easily from the Window, Old Pot & Both Pans with a Sponge & Water!
? So, the Window and Old Pot needed another squirt of EASY-OFF to get the last 10% of the crud, sooooo I also squirted some EASY-OFF Foam on my very New Cuisinart Professional Series Stainless Steel Skillet across the base to get some blackened burnt on drips and inside to get a few burnt lines from burnt food that I didn't muscle off yet.
?? Behold! The Old Pot, the Window, and New Skillet are Crud Free! EVEN THE CLOUDY SPOTS on the Old Pot & New Skillet are Gone! The Old Pot looks Great and the New Skillet has its Brand New SHINE ?
? EASY-OFF Did It and there's absolutely no harm to the Stainless at all!
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