Stainless steel pots and pans are a popular choice in many kitchens because the material is both super durable and attractive enough to be display-worthy. But a battered cookware set can be a bummer for people who like their pans to literally shine.
Stainless steel cookware is quite easy to care for, but there are some best practices to know about and some things to avoid to keep your pots and pans looking their best and lasting a long time. To break down the proper way to use, clean and store stainless steel cookware, we tapped experts Wendy Dyer, the director of strategic marketing at All-Clad, and Daniel Kamhi, a co-founder of Sardel, who explained the do’s and don’ts of caring for stainless steel cookware.
Everything you need to clean a stainless steel pan
Stainless steel pans are durable and easy to care for, making cleaning and storing them relatively easy — especially when compared to more temperamental cookware like nonstick or cast-iron pans.
Still, there are recommended methods for caring for stainless steel pans (like opting to wash them by hand rather than in the dishwasher) and troubleshooting methods to ensure your cookware stays in the best condition as long as possible. Here are the products you need to care for stainless steel pots and pans.
“Warm water, gentle dish soap and a soft sponge [are] typically all you need,” Kamhi says. ”And while most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher-safe, we prefer to wash our stainless steel pots and pans by hand.”
“Soft sponges, kitchen scrub brushes with soft bristles and microfiber cloths all work great to clean stainless steel cookware,” Kamhi says.
When it comes to the sponges and dishcloths, there are several good options — and some to avoid. “I prefer a sponge with a nylon scouring pad on the back to help remove sticky food and grease,” Dyer says.
Microfiber scrub sponges are an alternative to nylon scrub sponges that provide scouring power without scratching the stainless steel.
“We like Oxo kitchen scrub brushes,” Kamhi says, “but other brands make similarly effective products. We just recommend avoiding hard, abrasive cleaning tools, like steel wool, because these tools aren’t necessary to get the job done and run the risk of scratching your cookware.”
“To help remove any stubborn cooked-on or burned food,” Dyer says, “follow up with a nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser like Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser."
If your cookware has discoloration from overheating or clouding from hard water, those stains can be removed using distilled white vinegar. “To remove blue or rainbow spots, wipe the pan with a sponge or soft cloth and a splash of white vinegar,” Dyer says. “It’s also common for cloudy hard-water spots to form over years of use. To remove them, create a 1:1 white vinegar to water solution and gently clean the surface with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.”
It’s technically not a cleaning product, but a cookware organizer can help protect stainless steel surfaces while in storage. Stacking pots and pans directly inside one another can cause scratches and other damage to the cooking surface.
If your kitchen doesn’t have the space for a cookware organizer, felt and silicone protectors are another way to ensure your pans don’t get damaged while not in use.
Step-by-step instructions for cleaning stainless steel pots and pans
Step 1: Allow the pan to cool before washing to prevent thermal shock.
Step 2: Use a mild dish soap and a nonabrasive sponge to wash the pan by hand in warm water. While most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher-safe, the experts we spoke to agree that hand-washing is best.
Step 3: Dry thoroughly with a soft dishcloth to remove water, which can leave spots behind if left to dry on the pan.
Step 4: Store properly.
Tips for caring for stainless steel cookware
Dyer and Kamhi provided the following tips and tricks for troubleshooting common problems with stainless steel cookware.
- Avoid bleach, steel wool and other abrasive household cleaners, as they can scratch and damage the finish of your cookware.
- While most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher-safe, it is best to wash stainless steel pots and pans by hand.
- Do not wash stainless steel pots and pans until they’ve cooled enough to touch. Submerging the hot pan in water can cause thermal shock, which can warp and damage the stainless steel.
- To remove stuck- or burned-on food (when soaking the pan in soapy water isn’t doing the trick), simmer some water and a small amount of dish soap on the stovetop. Then use a wooden spoon to loosen burned, sticky or cooked-on food particles from the surface.
- Stainless steel cookware can become discolored from overheating. To remove blue or rainbow spots, wipe the pan with a sponge or soft cloth and a splash of white vinegar, then rinse thoroughly and dry.
- It’s common for cloudy hard-water spots to form over years of use. To remove them, create a 1:1 white vinegar to water solution and gently clean the surface with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth, then rinse thoroughly and dry.