How do you care for stainless steel pots/pans?

[lauriem33]

I just replaced all my disgusting scratched toxic t-fal and assorted non-stick cookware with stainless steel and so far I love it. But I need to know specifics of how to take care of it because a few of the pieces get this rainbow like sheen in the bottom and some spotty looking things (noticed the spots especially after boiling anything in them). I think it's a reaction of some sort to the water and/or food but is there any way to remove it back to it's nice shiny self? Thanks.
PS. I never knew grilled cheese could be so good as it is in a stainless pan.

[Virginia Mom]

maybe this will work ....

Hmmm Does Lemon Juice and Baking Soda sound familar to anyone? My brain isn't quite awake.....but I think that might be the winning combo...what does the rest of the audience say?

[Meiri]

I don't worry about water stains, which is what the white spots/lines most likely are.

If something sticks, I soak the pan with hot water. Maybe boil water in it to really loosen the stuff up. Then I scrub it like usual.

If you've got copper bottom stuff, salt and vinegar will restore the color and shine. Ketch-up works too. What you're needing is the acidity. My understanding is that the salt helps keep the vinegar on for long enough to change the tarnish back and is also abrasive. Ketch-up is easier. Leave it on for a good while, until the ketch-up changes color, then wash it off.

[Sharlla]

But I need to know specifics of how to take care of it because a few of the pieces get this rainbow like sheen in the bottom and some spotty looking things (noticed the spots especially after boiling anything in them).

Me too, ugg, my pretty pots and pans aren't so pretty before. And I wanted to get a pot rack to display them. They say only use medium heat on mine but you can't get anything to boil that low. I'm heartbroken

[lauriem33]

What about that weird rainbow looking sheen the inside bottom gets to it? I know it's clean, but I hate the way it looks, yk?

[nikirj]

The sheen happens when you heat rapidly with nothing in it or with little in it. You can also get the rainbow by putting something really hot into the pot/pan. The times I've managed to do this to my pots/pans it hasn't been permanent, but I've watched for it. We definitely use high heat, a lot, and we sear things sometimes too. I'm not really sure how I got rid of the rainbows. I know for the seared bits of gunk and blackish spots, baking soda works real well (soak for a bit if it doesn't work at first - use enough to make a paste if they're real bad).

[Boobs]

I didn't expect the learning curve to be so steep! It's just cookware.
It's been one cooking disaster after another since I bought it.

So should I just not use cooking spray at all? How do you make pancakes without it? And eggs?

I'm very frustrated so far, but still happy to not be eating off cancerware.

[MizLiz]

The rainbow sheen disappears with use and subsequent washing. It's really common for this to happen in the early using days of a good quality ss pot or pan. Try coarse salt and a half of a lemon to scrub it with - this shines it up nicely. I also use those yucky SOS pads once in awhile to shine up the outside of the pots :. I love having my $$ pots looking brand new.

[lauriem33]

Originally Posted by Boobs

I didn't expect the learning curve to be so steep!

So should I just not use cooking spray at all? How do you make pancakes without it? And eggs?

I agree about the learning curve! It's quite a change from put the pan on high and wait for it to boil, lol. I have not tried cooking spray yet but I think hubby did for egg whites and I don't recall any complaints.

I use plenty of real butter for my fried eggs and they turned out great. BUT I also seared a batch to the bottom of one of my pans as well, so I've learned the key is not to turn the heat up too high. I just can't get used to thinking level 3 is going to be hot enough for my food, but it is.

As far as the rainbows and other weirdness, I think I read somewhere now that a product called Barkeepers Friend will take care of everything related to cleaning stainless steel. Bon Ami is another recommended one. Tonight I boiled a bit of vinegar, enough to cover the bottom of the pan, then let it cool and washed normally and it worked really well for all but one of my pans. Totally restored them to normal, but the house was smelly for a while. HTH someone!

[kbridi]

I just got some SS pans and they were getting that rainbow sheen on the bottom from boiling water, even on low heat. Then, after cooking pasta sauce in the one pan tonight, the sheen was gone!

So maybe cooking something acidic or with tomato will get rid of it. I'm going to try it in the others that have the sheen.