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Food Safety Basics
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Stainless steel is a great material for resisting stains but as many of us know, it can occasionally dull or show oily fingerprints (depending on the finish you purchased) over time. There are some tips and everyday items that can improve the look of stainless steel but before we get into how to clean and care for your stainless appliances, we’ll discuss how its made, what its made from and what it’s generally used for.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron which contains more than 15% chromium. Stainless steel is known for its hardness, making it ideal for utensils, tableware, sinks, countertops, and appliances. During the steel making process, some of the chromium in the alloy is used to form the hard oxide coating on the surface. If this coating is removed in any way, through corrosion or wear, the steel will rust like any other regular steel.
Care and cleaning are relatively simple, below are some of the everyday kitchen items you can use to improve the look of your stainless steel products.
Olive Oil - If you have streaks on your stainless steel sink or appliance, use a bit of olive oil to remove them.
Vinegar - To clean or polish stainless steel, simply moisten a cloth with undiluted white or cider vinegar and wipe clean. Vinegar can also be used to remove heat stains on stainless steel cutlery.
Club Soda - Heat stains can also be removed by rubbing club soda on them.
Stainless Steel Sinks/Appliances
For sinks, to cut down and avoid scratches from flatware and serving utensils, use a perforated rubber or plastic mat in the bottom of the sink. Wash with a solution of dishwashing liquid and water or a solution of baking soda and water. Rinse and polish dry with a paper towel or soft cloth.
Never use scouring powders or steel wool as these products will easily scratch stainless steel surfaces. You can increase the shine of the sink or appliance by polishing with a cloth dipped in vinegar, or in ammonia, or dampen the surface and a sponge; sprinkle a little baking soda on a sponge and rub gently; rinse. Then polish dry with a paper towel.
A few more helpful tips to remember, always wipe the appliance in the same direction as the grain of the stainless. Be sure to remove any excess water from your sponge or cloth and do not over sud your cleaning tool. With stainless less is more.
Stainless Steel Flatware
Always wash stainless steel flatware by hand or in the dishwasher. If the flatware cannot be washed right away, you should rinse off any acidic or salty food that is left behind. If these food particles are left on the cutlery they may cause stains or dull over time.
Avoid loading stainless steel flatware in the same basket as silverware. Stainless is a harder material and can easily bang and damage it. Lastly, try to avoid spilling dishwasher detergent on wet flatware as this will result in dark spots.
The quicker you can dry cutlery, the better it will wear over time. Leaving stainless steel cutlery to air dry can cause drying marks. If you do notice dark spots or discolouration natural cleaning solutions like the ones we mentioned above can be used to remove such stains. Buff cutlery in a circular motion with a soft damp cloth lightly dampened with cider or undiluted white vinegar. If using soda water, rinse the cutlery in the liquid and dry immediately with a dry non-abrasive cloth.
Stainless Steel Cookware
When cooking in stainless steel pots and pans avoid overheating or letting the pans boil dry. This can cause discolouration and ruin the longevity of the steel. Hot spots can form in pure stainless steel pans, so be sure to continuously stir the food to avoid a burned product. To avoid hot spots, purchase a pot with a copper bottom or one with layered aluminum or copper inside the pan.
If spots or discolouration does occur, create a mixture of half-water and half-vinegar and add a teaspoon of salt once the water has boiled. If you are dealing with burnt on food, use soap instead. For tough stains boil the mixture for 10 minutes and let it soak. Rinse and scrub the food particles off and be sure to dry the pan completely before storing.
Click here for a more in-depth guide on How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware