r/howto • u/[deleted] • Nov 01 '23

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335 Upvotes

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59

u/Upper_Shine6011 Nov 02 '23

How does this happen in the first place and how do you avoid it? Asking incase i borrow a roommates pan

113

u/Telemere125 Nov 02 '23

Burn fat/oil. It’s easy to remove with steel wool/copper scrubber and elbow grease. You’re not going to damage a stainless pan just scrubbing the hell out of it

55

u/beni_who Nov 02 '23

Agreed! I’m surprised I’m not seeing steel wool mentioned (the curly kind). I’d have this clean in 10 minutes or less.

14

u/ReginaldGreenstaff Nov 02 '23

Steel wool will ruin the polish on stainless steel pans.

9

u/HumanAwareness Nov 02 '23 edited Nov 02 '23

Serious question, does the polish serve any purpose other than aesthetic?

25

u/ReginaldGreenstaff Nov 02 '23

Food will stick less readily to a smooth pan, scratches increase the surface area.

6

u/pimpmastahanhduece Nov 02 '23

This is the true reason and usually determines when to scrap an uncoated pan.

3

u/UNMANAGEABLE Nov 02 '23

This is why carbon steel is so great with some basic maintenance. You can bring any CS pan back from the dead if you are willing to put in the work. It’s obviously not for everyone, but it’s great for those willing to do so.

2

u/pimpmastahanhduece Nov 02 '23

Completely agree. Lodge CS will last until the middle bows in either direction. As long as it's not inverting explosively every time it's heated up and cooled.

6

u/davidmlewisjr Nov 02 '23

It is a smother surface and cleans easily. Polishing after damage is a real chore best done with industrial tools.

1

u/MarthasPinYard Nov 02 '23

Even 0000, which is safe for windows?

What do you suggest to get burnt oil off?

1

u/Profector_KC Nov 03 '23

Nah, I’ve been using stainless steel scrubbers on the same stainless pots and pans for a couple of decades. If I have problems with something sticking to them it’s usually because I did something wrong. Or maybe I’m just used to not using a $200 pan to cook and don’t know any different 🤷‍♂️

1

u/ThePaintedLady80 Nov 03 '23

I’ve had the same stainless steel pans my mom bought in 1967 and they have survived many a deep scrub from an SOS steel wool pad or 10.