In terms of cookware types, stainless steel is a common choice for commercial kitchens because it is durable and does not react with acidic foods such as ketchup. Although stainless steel is touted as non-corrosive, it can still pit or rust if not properly cleaned and cared for. Follow our guide to clean your commercial stainless steel POTS and pans to keep them in top condition.

Tips for cleaning stainless steel POTS

The key to maintaining stainless steel cookware is to avoid scratches, scrapes and chloride deposits caused by cleaning agents, hard water or salt. Please follow these cleaning tips:

Use the right tools - always use a non-abrasive or "stainless steel approved scrubber". Stay away from mechanical abrasive scrubbers, such as steel wool or wire scrubbers. When stainless steel is scratched, it is easily corroded.

Scrub along the grain - the polishing line of stainless steel looks similar to the grain line. Always scrub parallel to the polishing line.

Avoid chlorides - Exposure to chlorides can cause pits in stainless steel over time, leaving the surface prone to rust and corrosion. Chlorides are found in salts, hard water and chlorinated cleaners.

How to remove burnt food from stainless steel POTS

For the daily cleaning of stainless steel cookware, dishwashing liquid is fine. But what if the pot is burned by burnt food? Follow these steps to remove burnt food from stainless steel POTS and pans.

Use commercial cleaners

Use a gentle but effective commercial cleaner before trying anything else. These cleaners are designed to clean without scratching or damaging stainless steel surfaces. If you are removing burnt food or burnt marks, a powder formula works best. In these order:

Moisten: Moisten the pan to ensure that the burnt food is soaked.

Add the cleaner: Sprinkle the cleaner on the bottom of the pan to form a paste.

Scrubbing: Scrub the paste onto the burnt food with a non-abrasive scrubber or soft cloth.

Rinse: Rinse the pan with clean water.

Repeat: If burn marks are still present, repeat these steps.

Note: For stubborn burn marks and carbon deposits, you may need to use a more powerful cleaner.

Remove burnt food with boiling water

Boiling water is an easy cleaning solution when you don't have any commercial cleaners on hand. The heat of the water helps loosen the remaining food in the pot, making it easier to remove. When using the boiling water method, follow these steps:

Scrubbing: First wipe off as much food as possible with a non-abrasive scrubber.

Add soap: Fill a pot or saucepan with water and a little dish soap.

Submerge food: For this method to work, you must make sure that the food stuck to it is completely submerge.

Boil: Bring water to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.

Remove the pot from the burner and allow it to cool.

Scrape the food: The food should be loose enough to scrape with a spatula.

Repeat: If this method does not work, repeat the process or try one of the following techniques.

Remove burnt food with vinegar and baking soda

For this method, you need two common cleaning ingredients: vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar is an effective solution for cleaning food because it contains acetic acid, which helps break down hard food particles.

Add water: Fill the bottom of a pot or pan with enough water to cover any food stuck to it.

Boil: Once the pot or pan is filled with water, add 1 cup of vinegar and bring the water to a boil.

Remove from heat: Once boiling, remove from heat and add 2 TBSP. Baking soda.

Mix: Briefly mix and empty the pan.

Scrubbing: Use a non-abrasive sponge or scrubber to remove any remaining food particles from the pan.

How to clean a burnt stainless steel pot

Burnt food or carbon buildup from repeated heating can turn into stubborn burn marks that are more difficult to remove. Removing burn marks on the inside and outside of the cooking pot requires more effort.

Use baking soda to remove burn marks

Your kitchen most likely has everything you need to remove burn marks with baking soda. For this method, first make sure the pot is completely dry. Turn the pan over and sprinkle the baking soda evenly over the bottom of the pan. Use a dry cloth to rub baking soda into the burn marks. If you wish, you can add a small amount of water to the baking soda to make a paste. Once satisfied, rinse off the excess baking soda and let dry.

Remove burn marks with baking soda and dish soap

If you have mild dish soap on hand, simply use dish soap and baking soda to make a paste. Apply the paste to any affected areas and leave it on for a few hours. When ready, simply wash and dry thoroughly as usual.

Remove burnt oil with soda water

If you're wondering how to remove burning oil from a stainless steel pan, soda may be a surprising answer. Due to the acidity of cola, this method also works well for sticky substances such as caramel. Below, we've listed a series of steps to help you remove burning oil from stainless steel POTS and pans using soda water:

Add Cola: Pour enough cola into the pan to cover the charred area.

Let the soda boil: Bring the soda to a slow boil.

Remove from heat: After boiling, remove from heat and scrape off burnt oil or other burnt material with a spatula.

How to clean discolored stainless steel pot

Even though it's called stainless steel, your stainless steel cookware can get stained over time. Here are some simple ways to restore the shine to stainless steel cookware.

Remove discoloration with vinegar

Vinegar is an effective ingredient that eliminates unsightly discoloration in POTS that is usually caused by overheating. Simply wash the pot with vinegar and rinse with water to remove discoloration.

In addition, vinegar can be used to remove white calcium deposit stains from POTS. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water, then bring to a boil in the affected pot or saucepan. Allow the mixture to cool, empty the pan, and clean as usual.

Remove discoloration with tomato sauce

If you happen to have ketchup in your kitchen, try using it to remove discoloration on stainless steel POTS and pans. The acidity of tomatoes can effectively eliminate discoloration. Follow these steps to repair discoloration on stainless steel cookware using tomato products:

Add tomato sauce: Pour tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes into a pot or pan until the affected area is completely submerged.

Simmer: Gently cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, adding water if necessary.

Empty the pan: Remove the sauce and rinse the pan. You can also leave the tomato sauce in the pan overnight without boiling it.

General care of stainless steel pot

Once your favorite pan is refreshed, follow these general care tips:

Dry the POTS immediately after cleaning to prevent water stains.

To remove water spots, wet the pan and wipe with a damp sponge and baking soda.

Avoid cleaning methods that recommend using salt. Repeated cleaning with salt or salt water can cause pitting of stainless steel.

Cold food is more likely to stick to the pan. Bring meats and refrigerated foods to room temperature before adding them to the pan.

Avoid using cold water on hot pans, as this can cause deformation and distortion.

Steel wool and other harsh detergents or cleaners may scratch stainless steel surfaces.