Taking Care of Your Stainless Steel Cookware
April 18, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Seattle
• 0 Comments
Taking Care of Your Stainless Steel Cookware
Whether you are a cooking enthusiasts, a professional chef or simply cooking for your family you know the importance of having a fully stocked kitchen. Not only do you need the right ingredients, but you also need the right tools to get the job done. In any type of basic cooking training lesson, you will learn that stainless steel is your new best friend when it comes to kitchen cookware. What you will also learn is that quality cooking equipment does not usually come at a discounted price. For this reason, it is important to take good care of your cookware! Here are some basics for stainless steel care. Fortunately, this is one hardy material that is not too difficult to care for but with proper maintenance, you will get your money’s worth!
Removing burnt, stuck-on foods without damaging the cookware
While the dishwasher saves us plenty of time when it comes to kitchen cleanup, many experts can't agree on the effect the dishwasher has on the stainless steel finish. It seems that the heated dry is generally the most damaging, so if stuck-on or burnt food doesn't want to let go, the dishwasher can be helpful, just remember to remove your stainless steel items and hand dry them. If you want to clean off the stuck-on food by hand, many experts recommend letting soapy water sit in the pot for up to an hour. If the stubborn food still won't come off then try boiling the soapy water on the stove top to loosen it fully.
Cleaners to avoid
Never use any abrasive material or cleaning product that can scratch the surface and hurt the finish of your stainless steel cookware. Any ammonia based or bleach based cleaners should be avoided as well. A surprising cleaner that you probably already have in your home is baking soda. Rub gently onto the surface with a non-abrasive sponge and the shine will return to your cookware.
Removing white spots and calcium deposits
If you have hard water, or water that is high in calcium, you way notice that white spots can appear on your cookware. These are easy to clean, simply hand wash with warm water and use a soft cloth to rub out the calcium deposit spots.
With these few tips for caring for your stainless steel cookware, you will have equipment that will last longer and look better. Knowing how to take care of your kitchen equipment may be the single most important part of your cooking training. While cooking for yourself and your family is fun, so is going out to eat every now and again! Living in Washington, gives you an advantage when it comes to the wonderful diversity of Seattle culinary arts. Nearly every cuisine you can imagine is right at your finger tips and if you wish to continue with your cooking training, a Seattle culinary arts program may be a great way to explore your passion.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Seattle offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Seattle, Washington area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Seattle for more information.
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