Le Creuset’s Stainless Steel cookware is everything a home cook needs it to be, combining expert European craftsmanship and elegant design with high performance materials. In fact, all of Le Creuset’s stainless steel collection features a proprietary blend of metals and a three-layer construction, delivering superior heat retention and even heat conduction.
But how exactly can you make the most of Le Creuset’s stainless steel collection?
Stainless steel is ultimately the cookware collection you can lean on to perfect any cooking technique – from a deep sear, to a quick sauté, or a shallow fry. Beloved by both home cooks and professional chefs for its superior heat properties, stainless steel is easy to master and care for. Of course, before getting started, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with how to clean, care for, and use your stainless steel cookware.
How to Clean Stainless Steel Cookware
From what you’ll need to four easy-to-follow steps, here is everything you need to know about how to clean your stainless steel cookware, ensuring its shine and durability for years to come.
Materials
- Non-abrasive scrubber such as our Nylon Brush
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Microfiber towel
Stainless Steel Care and Use Steps
Caring for your stainless steel cookware is a relatively straightforward process, where a little work can ultimately go a long way. From waiting for your stainless steel pan to cool off, avoiding thermal shock, to wiping it completely dry before storing, your stainless steel cookware will thank you for following these simple steps.
1. Rinse off excess food with warm water
The first step when cleaning your stainless steel cookware sets is to rinse off excess food with warm water. This should ultimately help loosen the food particles from the stainless steel surface, making subsequent cleaning a breeze. Keep in mind, however, that you should always let your stainless steel pots and pans cool off before subjecting them to water, otherwise, they could undergo thermal shock, compromising the stainless steel surface.
2. Soak the pan in warm, soapy water
Next, it is essential to soak your stainless steel cookware sets in warm, soapy water, helping loosen tough stains and stuck-on residents. The soap, in turn, penetrates stubborn food particles, simplifying the cleaning process. Additionally, this step eliminates the need of having to excessively scrub your stainless steel cookware, potentially damaging it.
3. Wash with a non-abrasive scrubber and warm, soapy water
When cleaning stainless steel cookware sets, it is imperative not to use metallic pads or harsh cleaning agents as they can damage the surface. Instead, a non-abrasive scrubber along with warm, soapy water is typically recommended. In certain instances, a proprietary stainless steel cookware cleaner can be used to remove hard water lime scale and other marks. Please note that while all of our stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe, handwashing is ideal.
4. Wipe dry immediately with a microfiber cloth to prevent spotting
Storing your stainless steel pots and pans is the final step, but can prove to be equally as important as the first three. Be sure to wipe your stainless steel cookware sets completely dry with a microfiber cloth or paper towel before storing them away. Remember, never store pans while they are still damp – this can eventually lead to rusting. Once completely dry, store your stainless steel pots and pans in an airy cupboard away from steam.
How to Remove Stubborn / Burnt Food Residue
Stubborn food residue could threaten to compromise the integrity of your stainless steel cookware over time, especially if it is burnt on. Contrary to popular belief, stuck-on messes can be removed so long as these six steps are followed.
It happens – you took your eye off the stovetop for one minute and ended up burning some ingredients. But there is no need to panic, even the toughest messes can be handled. Begin by sprinkling the surface of your stainless steel pot and pan generously with baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes to penetrate the residue before proceeding to the next step.
Next, fill up your stainless steel cookware with enough water to cover the stubborn food residue. Along with the baking soda, this should loosen any stuck-on food particles, maintaining the integrity of your stainless steel surface. Indeed, excessive scrubbing can damage the triple-layer construction of your stainless steel pots and pans.
Once the pot has been filled with enough water and baking soda, bring your stainless steel cookware to a boil and allow it to simmer for a few minutes. This step is crucial at loosening stubborn food residues, ensuring seamless removal.
Once complete, pour the remaining water before gently scrubbing any remaining stuck-on food. Keep in mind that only a soft, non-abrasive pad could be used. Additionally, be sure to dispose of the water safely. In other words, avoid pouring it directly into the drain as it may contain greasy residues.
Next, clean your stainless steel cookware thoroughly with warm soapy water, eliminating any remaining stuck-on messes. At this stage, stubborn food residue should come right off with the minimum of fuss. If this does not do the trick, consider a proprietary stainless steel cookware cleaner.
Last but certainly not least, wipe your stainless steel pots and pans completely dry with a microfiber towel or paper towel. Storing your stainless steel cookware sets appropriately (i.e. in an airy cupboard away from steam) will ultimately ensure their longevity and shine for years to come. Storing them while still damp can potentially lead to rusting.
Stainless Steel Cookware Tips
Now that you are familiar with how to clean your stainless steel cookware, it’s time to consider stainless steel cookware best practices and cooking tips. After all, with a little care, your Le Creuset stainless steel cookware can be passed on from one generation to the next.
While stainless steel pots and pans are excellent conductors of heat, they nonetheless require an element of patience. Indeed, food will stick to the surface of your pan should oil be added to it when cold. Taking the time to allow your stainless steel pan to appropriately preheat will ultimately create a stick-resistant surface, simplifying cooking and cleanup.
If you are unsure if your stainless steel cookware is ready to be used, conduct the water drop test. Simply introduce a droplet of water into the pan. If the droplet sizzles, your stainless steel pan is ready to be used.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not recommended to add salt to water before boiling, especially when preparing pasta dishes. Indeed, adding salt before the water reaches boiling point can damage the integrity of your stainless steel cookware, eventually leading to pitting.
Pitting not only affects the sleek appearance of your stainless steel cookware, but also has significant impacts on performance. In fact, these tiny bits of rust are, indeed, permanent. Fortunately, exhibiting a small amount of patience can go a long way at avoiding this.
As illustrated above, harsh cleaning agents should be avoided at all costs. These will eventually damage the surface of your stainless steel pots and pans, diminishing their performance and appearance. This also applies to types of cleaning utensils used as steel and wool brushes will leave little particles on your cookware, which eventually rust.
Additionally, these steel brushes will scratch the surface of your stainless steel cookware sets. Instead, be sure to have nylon and soft, non abrasive pads on hand, removing food residues without the fear of damaging your stainless steel collection.
Seasoning your stainless steel cookware steps is not required, however, it is nonetheless recommended. Seasoning ultimately serves as a protective layer for the pan and creates an easy-release cooking surface when cooking.
Best of all, seasoning your stainless steel pots and pans is easier than you think. Simply bake oil into the stainless steel surface and repeat as needed to build up the seasoning. This is particularly ideal when preparing dishes with more sensitive ingredients, avoiding food from sticking and making cleanup a breeze.
Finally, and we can’t stress this enough, never bleach your stainless steel cookware sets. Put simply, bleach contains harsh chemicals that, over time, react poorly with stainless steel and can eventually lead to corrosion, pitting, and discoloration. While bleach may give your stainless steel pots and pans an initial shine, they do more harm than good, potentially causing irreversible damage.
Instead, a proprietary stainless cookware cleaner is recommended, maintaining the integrity of both the inner and outer surfaces. Our stainless steel pots and pans are also dishwasher safe, however, as mentioned above, hand-washing is typically recommended.
Adding Stainless Steel to your Collection
Le Creuset’s stainless steel cookware is beloved by novice and expert home cooks alike. After all, these versatile pieces of cookwares open up the countless possibilities in the kitchen. Whether you need a deep sear, are trying to sauté a side of veggies, or get Sunday breakfast going, our eye-catching collection of stainless steel pans epitomize style and durability.
That being said, it’s also crucial to take proper care of your stainless steel cookware, ensuring it maintains its appearance and performance from one generation to the next. From having the right cleaning utensils on hand to drying it completely before storing, these simple steps go a long way in preserving your investment in home cooking. And be sure to consult our blog for recipes and ideas on how to make the most out of your stainless steel cookware!
