How to Care for Pots and Pans

Try this advice for caring for your kitchen tools and you'll maximize their useful life. Check with the manufacturer's instructions for tips about the best way to clean their product. They are general guidelines that may be useful.

It is best to clean or soak cookware immediately after with it. Otherwise, food can harden and stick, rendering it harder to completely clean. Generally wash cookware with warm soapy water (except surefire) along with a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad. For baked on food, try soaking in fabric softener until food comes off easily. Then wash with warm soap and water and rinse.

Never mix ammonia or vinegar with household cleaners, or your will make noxious fumes.

Steel Cookware

Clean with warm soap and water and also a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad. For stuck-on food mix 1/4 cup ammonia with 1 quart hot water and let soak for a few hours. Or here is another powdered cleaner like Bar Keeper's Friend. Create a paste from the powdered cleaner with trouble, then work with a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad and scrub at stains until there're gone. wash with warm water and soap and rinse.

Non-stick Cookware

Clean with warm soap and water and also a sponge or plastic cleaning pad, just like a Dobie pad. For stuck-on food create a paste of equal parts bicarbonate of soda and hot water, then use a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad and scrub at stains until they are gone. Wash with warm soapy water and rinse. Never use metallic or abrasive brushes, scouring pads or cleansers as it will scratch or corrode the finish.

Copper Cookware

Clean with warm water and soap and a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad. Tough stains or stuck-on food could be tackled that has a powdered cleaner like Bar Keeper's Friend. Produce a paste with the powdered cleaner with hot water, then make use of a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad and scrub at stains until these are gone. Rinse well. When copper actually starts to discolor, utilize a copper cleaner, like Radiance, to polish the outside of the pan. If needed, make a paste with 1/4 cup white vinegar and two tablespoons of course salt. Rub around the copper with a sponge or non-abrasive cleaning pad, wash with warm soapy water and rinse.

Aluminum Cookware

Wash with warm soapy water and a sponge or non-abrasive pad. For stains, boil one quart of water with 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or vinegar for 10-fifteen minutes. Polish aluminum by rubbing soapy wire wool very gently across the surface of the cookware. Move the wire wool in a back-and-forth motion, instead of circular motion to give the aluminum a uniform appearance. Wash with warm soap and water and rinse.

Cast Iron Cookware

Cookware is in its best when seasoned or cured, meaning it has a baked-on patina of oil which will help prevent rusting and give the cooking surface nonstick properties. To scrub without detaching the seasoning, work with a stiff brush, warm water (no soap or detergent). Loosen stuck food by pouring boiling water within the pan and let sit for a few moments. Scour off any rust spots with fine-gauge sandpaper or steel wood and re-season. After washing, dry the pan and lightly coat if we do oil while the pan continues to be warm.

Enamel Cookware

Wash with warm water and soap and also a sponge or soft abrasive pad. Allow enamel cookware to chill before putting any cool water thereon which often can damage the enamel. For stuck on food, allow the pan sit in warm soapy water.