This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
Here’s how to clean stainless steel pans and restore that flawless original shine in less than 5 minutes!
Stainless steel skillets are my best friends in the kitchen! They’re ideal for searing steaks and scallops, creating that flavorful golden brown crust.
But sometimes, they gather up some caked-on burnt oil along the sides and whatnot. It’s super annoying to look at, so I wanted to restore the original shine.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans:
I tried different methods:
- Obviously, regular dish soap with sponge didn’t work.
- So I tried boiling water with baking soda in the skillet, like I do for cleaning my Dutch oven. No avail.
- And I don’t like boiling vinegar, so I skip that.
And that led me to Bar Keepers Friend. Soooo many people comment (mostly on Pinterest) on my Dutch oven cleaning post to use Bar Keepers Friend.
Well, I ordered it (the liquid version – LOVE IT!) and tried it on my stainless steel skillet.
And OMG, it worked magic!!! It took me less than 5 minutes to clean it spotless!!!
Ah, the satisfaction I get from this is ridiculous!!!
General Tips on Cooking with Stainless Steel Pans:
- Always preheat your skillet on medium heat before adding the oil
- Then add oil to the hot pan and heat the oil before adding the food. This way food won’t stick to the pan too much.
- When you’re searing steak (or scallop, for example), don’t force the food to unstick. It’ll usually unstick easily, once it’s fully seared.
- Don’t pour cold water into a hot pan to clean.
- If too much food stuck to the bottom, add a little water, bring it to a boil and then turn the stove off and let it soak for half hour or so. It’ll be much easier to clean.