Irrespective of whether you are a die-hard-devotee of enameled pans, all-time stainless steel fan, stuck to cast iron, or you are a copper-cookware-forever devotee, there is one thing that remains for sure; at times water and soap cannot deliver required results. At times it is just daunting to remove stubborn stains on cookware including; layer of food, discolored pans, and many others. Despite the challenge, there is still a solution to these hard-to-crack problems.
Some of the Materials used for Making Safe Cookware
Here are some of the safe materials used in making cookware:
- Stainless steel-these cookware sets are made using an alloy of carbon steel and some other metals such as nickel and chromium. Some food items may tarnish stainless cookware and become difficult to remove using normal washing.
- Cast iron-this material has been in use for centuries. It is one of the best materials for making cookware since it forms a nonstick surface when well-seasoned. Cast iron cookware sets may get stains from food items as well and require some additional skill to remove them and not usual cleaning.
- Enamel Coated Steel or Cast Iron-cookware made of this material is naturally nonstick and non-porous. Enamel sets of high quality are generally safe and non-reactive with most types of cooking. These items also require special cleaning when stains cannot be removed using normal washing.
- Copper-copper is one of the materials used for making cookware due to its property as a great conductor of heat. When food items and stains are hard to remove from cookware made with this material you need to use special methods to remove them.
Tips for Cleaning your Cookware
- Clean Burnt Stains from Enameled Cookware: To clean stained enameled cookware you use baking soda and a wooden spoon. This method is one of the simplest and it takes little effort to remove the stains. It involves boiling water then mixing it with a few tablespoons of baking soda. Once that is done, you stir the mixture and allow it to simmer. Once that is done use the wooden spoon to remove the burnt bits from the cookware. You should never bring any metal close to the enamel surface.
- Cleaning Stainless Steel Cookware: Stainless steel tends to acquire some brown spots after prolonged use. Some other parts of the cooking appliances also get discolored with time and all these are difficult to remove using normal washing. You can use one of the quickest and cheapest ways of getting rid of stains. You can use Bar Keepers Friend in conjunction with a little elbow grease.
- Using Boiling Water and Vinegar on Stainless Steel: You can use boiling water and vinegar to remove burnt-on stains from cookware made of stainless steel. You simply fill the affected pot or pan with water and let it boil on the cooking appliance for some time. If the stubborn stains fail to loosen, try once more and add white vinegar to the water.
- Reviving Tarnished Copper Cookware: You can use water and salt to revive your tarnished copper cookware. You simply add salt to a halved lemon then use it to scrub the surface of the pan or pot. If your cookware is more delicate, take a bowl and squeeze the lemon into the bowl and prepare a less-coarse paste by mixing it with salt. You can then use it to scrub the delicate surface.
- Cleaning cast iron Cookware: The best way to clean stained cast iron is to use a mixture of kosher salt and water. You simply take some warm water and a soft sponge (never use the steel wool and dish soap). For better results clean the pan while it is still warm. In cases where there food has stuck on the pan, make a paste using coarse salt and warm water and then use a stiff brush to brush it off. Once you are done with cleaning dry the pan completely and use a thin layer of vegetable oil as a coating on the cast iron pan.
Follow these 5 smart Tricks for cleaning your cookware and you shall never be disappointed.
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