Hello Everyone,

 

This note is really a couple of tips that I have shared with friends and family for years. A friend came by yesterday and mentioned that she thought her cookware was beyond redemption as far as cleaning it was concerned. (I think a lot of people have had that idea and have replaced their pots and pans merely because over the years cooked on grease has accumulated in the creases, around the brads that secure the handles and the pans just look BAD.) Well, today I want to tell you that for some of you that is NOT necessary and it won't be necessary to rub your hands raw to make them presentable! These technique, I'm sorry to say, will not work on aluminum.

 

Lets start with copper or copper bottomed pots and pans. If you read my note on copper bowls you already know that you can keep them beautiful with salt and vinegar or lemon juice. That method can also be used on your pots and pans BUT if you have burned on grease or just the discoloration that is so often seen on copper salt and a mild acid is not going to do the trick! There are some nice powdered copper cleaners on the market today, but some times they are just not strong enough to do the job alone, so here is the tip, make a paste with the commercial cleaner and some vinegar or lemon juice, spread it on the pan and allow it to sit for a few minutes. After it has set for 5-10 minutes, use one of those nice sponge-scouring pads and gently scrub the pan. Wash thoroughly with hot soap and water. Towel dry immediately. You may need to do this several times before you get them up to the stage where you want to show them off, but if you make it a point to clean this way each time you use them you will be delighted with the results, and the very first time will remove enough to encourage you to continue with this process !

 

Now for stainless steel. There are some manufacturers who do not recommend this process on their cookware because it will remove the high shine of their product and that will happen, but what you will get in its place is a kind of soft "glow" that I find quite attractive and you will be able to clean places that are almost impossible to clean any other way of which I am aware. The magic ingredient ? Oven cleaner ! When you spray it on it can reach every "nook and cranny".  Depending on how bad the burned on grease, you can let it set for half an hour or even over night. Now get out that nice sponge-scouring pad, put some soap and hot water on it and scrub your pan, ( I do this every time I have even a little burned on grease as I hate really having to scrub pots and pans, but I really like hanging mine on my pot rack, soooo it has to be done and this is the easiest solution I have found.) after you have finished scrubbing, be sure to wash well with hot soapy water to get all residue.

 

Now here is the best tip of all. Not all, but a lot of the problem is caused by using too high a flame when you are cooking and this statement is true for all kinds of cookware. We sometimes are in such a hurry we don't think about how much more time we are going to have to spend cleaning up, so make it a habit in the future to use a moderate flame.

 

We all want our things to look nice and whether you have just purchased a new set of pans from Ernie or you have a set that belonged to your grandmother these methods of cleaning  will keep them looking great for years.

 

Until next time,

 

Helen

 

PS Over the years I have used very little aluminum and when I have used it ,I  have tried to protect it with something like parchment paper or foil as the only way I have found to clean it is to scrub and scrub. So maybe you have found something that works. If so, please let me know and I'll be delighted to give you credit for the information and pass it along.