Do you have stubborn stains or burnt particles on your pans? Here is a guide on how to clean stainless steel pans and prevent it from happening again!
Oh dear, this is embarrassing to admit…yes, I did this horrible thing to my pan. My punishment involved scrubbing until my fingers were raw and flaky (use gloves!), but I promise you, the results were life-changing. I want to share with you some of my helpful tips for how to clean stainless steel pans.
Before we start, I want to tell you how my beautiful All-Clad stainless steel pan got this way, so you don’t make the same mistake. I had pan-seared salmon and wanted to keep the skin crispy by roasting it in the oven at high heat (525°F) while it was still in the pan.
Tip: Do NOT put your pans in the oven at temperatures above 500°F / 260°C!
I made the rookie mistake of not reading the pans use instructions first (doh!). The result was the fat and proteins burned and stuck to the walls of the pan, and it was horrific. This is what to do to clean those stubborn stains, residue, or burnt particles on the pan… because we’re only human, and it happens to all of us.
The tools you need:
Cookware Cleanser & Polish
Non-Scratch Scouring Pads
Heavy Duty Dish Soap
Durable Dishwashing Gloves
To get rid of stuck-on food, discoloration, and stains from using too high a heat
- First, immerse the pan in warm water.
- Use Bar Keeper’s Friend with water to form a paste. Apply paste using a soft cloth.
- Rub in a circular motion from the center outward. Do not let the paste sit longer than 1 minute in the pan.
- Wash in hot, soapy water, dry immediately.
Cleaning SUPER stubborn burnt residue
If food is burnt to the pan and soaking doesn’t loosen it try:
- Add water to a depth of one inch in the pan.
- Add a tablespoon of dishwashing soap, bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Let the liquid cool in the pan, then drain and rinse.
- Loosen the residue with a nylon sponge or plastic spatula, repeat if necessary.
- You can use the Bar Keeper’s Friend as described above to clean further and shine the pan.
Daily cleaning and maintenance
- Immediately after each use, fill the pan with hot water and liquid dish detergent and let stand until lukewarm. Use a sponge or soft cloth to remove the remaining food particles. Rinse thoroughly and dry right away to prevent water spots.
- You can wash your pans in the dishwasher as long as it does not have burnt particles or stubborn residue on them.
- To keep pans from becoming scratched do NOT use steel wool or steel scouring pads. Nylon scrubbing pads are safe to use.
How to prevent sticking, burning, and discoloration
A preheated pan and lower flames are the keys to stick-free stainless steel cooking! Stainless steel pans are highly conductive and are designed to be efficient, so they do not need high heats to cook food.
- Start by pre-heating your pan on low heat for one or two minutes before adding foods. Tap the upper edge of your pan to test the heat. If it’s too hot, remove from the burner for a couple of minutes.
- Pour 2-3 teaspoons of cold oil in your preheated pan-or enough to cover the bottom of the cooking surface. Add food, making sure that there’s an even sizzling sound when your food touches the pan. This indicates that your food is cooking on contact and creating a natural barrier to prevent sticking.
- Allow food to cook without disturbing until the correct doneness is achieved. The natural sugars in your food caramelize on the prepared surface, developing great flavors and lifting your food off of the cooking surface naturally.
- If the sound that food makes on initial contact with the pan is more of a crackle than a sizzle, your heat is too high, and sticking may occur.
- Use low to medium heat for frying, braising, sautéeing and simmering.
Discoloration of pans may be caused by
- Overheating the pans resulting in brown or blue stains
- Food films that are not removed and reheated
- Large amounts of iron content in your water may cause your pot to look rusty.
I hope these tips help you with your stainless steel cooking journey!
More Resources:
James M Altes says
right… there are thousands of articles that run to bar keeper’s friend, and here we have yet another one… what if it doesn’t work? I’m just doomed then?
*sigh*
I broiled my 12″ d3 skillet at 525 degrees in the oven to roast some chicken and there is a ton of residue burned to the underside of my pan… it looks awful and nothing seems to work.
Tom Chekouras says
I discovered Bar Keepers Friend Superior Cookware Cleaner and Polish. It’s a product that actually works — does a great job. The grit is finer than regular BKF, so it doesn’t scratch at all – even the exterior mirror finish sides of my All-Clad pans. I use it after I wash out the pans (or soak them for an hour if they are really gunked up from searing). The results are as close to ‘like new’ as you can get.
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for the tip, Tom!
Elizabeth says
You advise that pans be placed in hot water directly after use, but I just wanted to note that cooling pans too quickly can lead to warping and you’ll end up with pans that are not flat on the bottom. This is irreversible and can really ruin the pan. It’s best to let pans completely cool before placing them in water. Even what we think of as very hot water directly after cooking is probably too cool.
Jessica Gavin says
Great insight Elizabeth, very helpful recommendation!
Keith says
I have been cleaning my stainless pans, roasting pans etc with Bar Keepers Friend for years and it keeps them in great shape, like new.
One trick I have discovered recently is to use a nylon dish brush (I use the OXO dish brushes that dispense dish soap, but I just use them soapless for my Bar Keepers Friend pan cleaning). It takes far less effort and time and is easier on your hands than using paper towel which I did previously.
I have also found Bar Keepers friend to be the best way to clean a ceramic (glass) cooktop, again with a dish brush.
AnneMarie says
I am beyond frustrated with my very first All Clad pan that I used for the FIRST time tonight. $145! I was SO excited about investing in such an expensive pan for the first time and it’s been a nightmare.
I followed cleaning instructions like the one on here – 20 min of scrubbing my new pan and it’s still awful. Inside AND out. I am ready to return it if this is what is going to happen EVERY stinking time I use it!
I have a ceramic cook-top and did not let the heat go past a 5 to grill my homemade corn tortillas. I had “pre seasoned” my pan and the first tortilla was fine – slipped right out but the 2nd stuck and was a mess and from then on it got worse. The oil started to brown the entire interior of the pan and the parts where the tortilla stuck were not black.
I scrubbed w a cloth my BKF paste but only some improvement…am SO frustrated. Am boiling water w dish soap now but is this going to be the deal each time I use the dang pan??? What the heck?
HELP!!!
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Anna Marie- Oh no! I had a similar experience the first time I used my stainless steel pans. One mistake I made was cooking on the stove or placing in the oven at too high of a heat for too long, and got bad staining on my pans. I’ve found that the pan is very efficient at heating so you only need to use low to medium heat. Heat the pan first, then add the fat. Once the fat is warmed then add the food and don’t move it until it naturally releases. You have to give it time to cook the surface and create a crust to help prevent sticking. It’s a little bit of practice but I know you got this!
Andrew says
Great article thanks. I was able to remove stains with just one boiling from a Stainless All Clad French Skillet. All Clad claims it’s good for searing which requires very high heat and I normally use a Cast Iron pan. I’m still experimenting if this pan is capable of doing what my CI pans do and not be ruined.
Leticia Martinez says
Can you use distilled vinegar on these pans?
Sasha says
Absolutely yes! AC SS is beyond durable! I keep mine showroom shiny at all times with Barkeepers or All-Clad cleaner for daily use and for heavy duty mistakes I use Easy-Off over cleaner (making sure to wash with hot soapy water & rinse with vinegar, then dry)!
Pat Goldberg says
I have use bar keeper since the day I bought my all cald pans, my question is the outside of the pans are brownish and blueish from the heat, how to get them clean. Scrubbing with Bar Keeper just is not working. Any other suggestions?
Reginald Kintner says
Where did you purchase All Cald pans? Never have seen or heard of that brand before. Maybe you purchased some kind of counterfeit, knockoff bootleg cookware made with cheap materials and sold to you as All Clad pans. If thats the case I would try and hunt down the purveyor of the bootleg items and get the money back at the store or hunt them down and set fire to the automobile where the cookware was stored when you purchased it.
Mary Poole says
A friend used a hard scrubbing pad on my new pan!! It has a few scratches. Will this affect its cooking properties?
Jessica Gavin says
Hi Mary- Sorry to hear! I think if it’s not too deep, just some slight scratches on the surface you should be okay 🙂
Brenda says
Thanks so much! My pans were discolored on the bottoms and some on the sides, I guess from my water.
The Barkeepers Friend worked it’s magic.
I appreciate the tips!
Jessica Gavin says
I’m so happy that I could help you restore your pans Brenda!
Jamie says
I am a rookie buyer! I wanted to know HOW to clean these pots before buying? Thanks so much for the instruction. I’ve wanted to get away from the non stick coatings.
Jessica Gavin says
Great job Jamie! You are so welcome 🙂
Sue Ringsdorf says
Jessica, you just SAVED my All-Clad pan!! I burned it BAD, so I used your directions for stubborn residue. After about five boils, I finally got it all off. Man, I didn’t think it was gonna happen. So THANK YOU!
Jessica Gavin says
Whoo hoo Sue! So happy that the tips worked, those pans are pricey! Great job 🙂
donQuixote says
Hi,I have brushed stainless steel cookware (spirit j.a.Henckels) and using the barkeepers friend on one of the dishes made it look like polished stainless steel! Is there a better way to clean brushed stainless steel cookware with burnt stains on the exterior? thanks.
Sasha says
EASY OFF! No scrubbing, just spray let it sit for about 30 minutes, rinse and wash with hot soapy water! My AC has no stains, no scratches, and no swirls whatesoever! The look showroom read at all times and I use them EVERYDAY!
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for your feedback Sasha, I’m going to try that myself 🙂
Miranda says
I was so grateful to find this. I bought a new set of cookware and a when a friend came for a visit and burned my brand new 11-inch saute pan on it’s first use, I was so sad! I read this and bought the new liquid form of Barkeeper’s Friend and it cleaned it right up! Thank you 🙂
Jessica Gavin says
It’s a stainless steel pan reviver! You are so welcome 🙂
Barbara says
Thank you very much, the boiled detergent worked!
Jessica Gavin says
That’s fantastic to hear Barbara! I’m happy that you found a method to effectively clean your stainless steel pans 🙂
Justin @ SaltPepperSkillet says
Great tips! All too often my stainless all-clad pans look like your first photo and the only thing to save the day is trusty Bar Keepers Friend. Thanks!