{"id":21065,"date":"2021-03-08T06:29:59","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T06:29:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/?p=21065"},"modified":"2022-08-26T09:33:04","modified_gmt":"2022-08-26T09:33:04","slug":"how-to-clean-discolored-stainless-steel-pots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ceramiccookwarehub.com\/how-to-clean-discolored-stainless-steel-pots\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Your Stainless Pans Discolor (And What To Do)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever used and then cleaned stainless steel cookware, you’ll realise that sometimes you end up with a discolored or stained pan. Here I look at why this happens (when they’re said to be “stainless”) and what you can do about it to bring back the shine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \"All-Clad<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What this covers: Stainless steel pan care<\/strong> — How to clean stainless steel pans when they discolor and why they discolor in the first place (if you’re thinking how do I avoid my stainless steel discoloring).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this topic?<\/strong> You have stainless steel pans and you want to keep them performing and looking their best. Removing discoloration restores your stainless steel pans to look like new. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking for answers to why my stainless steel pan is stained<\/strong>, and what to do about it, this topic is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you keep stainless steel pans from staining?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

X<\/span><\/strong> Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the pans, especially, stay away from chlorine type cleaning agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

X<\/span><\/strong> Avoid putting stainless steel cookware in the dishwasher unless using a mild dishwasher detergent and a low heat setting. The dishwasher is a known culprit of causing certain stainless steel discoloration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

X<\/span><\/strong> Don’t leave stainless steel pots or pans on high heat while they are empty for too long. Heating can discolor the pans (as I explain below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

X<\/mark><\/strong> Avoid overheating oil in them. This can leave a caramel-brown tarnish that’s hard to remove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2714<\/span><\/strong> Make sure to clean them properly before their next use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These might answer your \u2018why did my stainless steel pan change color’. But if you’re wanting more and curious to know ‘is it normal for stainless steel pans to discolor?’ read on…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else can stain stainless steel? What causes discoloration on stainless steel pans besides the above?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stainless steel pans may discolor for a number of reasons. What can cause your stainless steel pan to discolor are foodstuffs with coloring, like turmeric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why call them stainless then? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is stainless steel \u2018stainless\u2019?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stainless steel is called that because it doesn\u2019t rust or discolor (ClearScience<\/a>). <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Hmm, doesn’t discolor? you mind be wondering. The meaning here is that quality stainless steel does not rust or discolor from rusting. It is an alloy with chromium, which inhibits iron oxidation (aka rusting). It also doesn’t tarnish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What comes to mind for me is the silverware of old. Compared to it, stainless steel knives<\/a> and forks do not stain, in that they do not tarnish. The darkening of the silverware meant extra upkeep with routine polishing to remove the discoloration from the silver reacting with chemicals in the environment and food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank goodness for premium stainless steel<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See: My Stainless Steel Buyers Guide (inc. Nickel-Free Options)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun fact:<\/strong> Did you know that at one stage in history it was called \u201cunstainable steel\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But most of us know that stainless steel cookware does discolor, at least in the sense that it changes the look of the surface finish. So, what can stain<\/em> stainless steel, and why? And how do we avoid discoloring and keep the pans looking like new? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a side note: Stain, to me, suggests coloration that has soaked into (impregnated) the surface, whereas what you mostly see with stainless steel is superficial (no unsafe rusty pan<\/a> concerns with these).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here I use ‘stain’ and ‘discoloration’ interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of stainless steel pan discoloration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many advantages of stainless steel cookware as I mention when I compared stainless steel to other types of cookware<\/a>. The concerns with stainless steel staining and discoloring include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n