Stainless/copper bottom pots and pans

[teacups]

I bought a really nice set of pots and pans a few years back to hang from my pot rack... for looks only. Well, the actual items I use for cooking are falling apart and are junk... and it dawned on me how stupid it is to have nice ones to show and trash for cooking! BUT... I know there is a special way to clean these stainless steel items that have copper bottoms. I just dont know what it is, and of course did not keep the paperwork since they were never going to be used. Anyone know how to clean these? Dishwasher? No dishwasher? Am I supposed to do something to the bottoms? Seems if I scrub them they'll be all scratched up. I feel more than slightly silly...

 

[ChristmasElf]

Place the pans upside down on the counter. Using a pastry brush or a paint brush "paint" ketchup on the copper bottoms of the pans. Be generous and use a lot of ketchup. After about an hour, rinse the ketchup off and your pans will look brand new!!!

 

[lovemygoofy]

My stainless steel can be washed in the dishwasher but I understand some sets can't be placed in the dishwasher. When I cook something that sticks a bit in the pan after I'm done, I just place it in some water for soaking with no scrubbing. It rinses out just fine.

To keep my stainless steel set all shiny I wash it up every so often with the bar keep stuff I read about on here. I found a bottle of it at walmart.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

To keep my stainless steel set all shiny I wash it up every so often with the bar keep stuff I read about on here.

That is what I use. Also Revereware sells a nice cleaner.

 

[teacups]

That is what I use. Also Revereware sells a nice cleaner.

Forgive me my DUH-ness... do you use this stuff to shine it, then wash it off? Only use it on the outside? Can you use them for cooking while the stuff is on, or do you wash it off after it does it's thing? (who would have thought owning pots and pans could make you feel so dumb?)

 

[mdrob214]

Buy some Bar Keeper's Friend. It comes in a squirt bottle or in a powder. I use it on my SS/Copper pans that hang in my pot rack and have been asked why I never use those pans! I use them every day and have for over 2 years. I love that stuff! It's cheap and I keep a soft cloth-like sponge that I use just for that. Rinse and dry and hang 'em back up!

ETA: I use it both in an out. Also, I discovered it's great for cleaning the glass stove top, too. And cheaper than stove top cleaners

 

[Disney Doll]

They sell copper cleaner in most grocery stores. It's usually near the cleansers and sponges.

Usually you just put it on, let it sit a bit and wipe it off.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Forgive me my DUH-ness... do you use this stuff to shine it, then wash it off? Only use it on the outside? Can you use them for cooking while the stuff is on, or do you wash it off after it does it's thing? (who would have thought owning pots and pans could make you feel so dumb?)

You use a soft cloth to clean, and polish, and then wash it off. You can use it, inside, and out

 

[weregoingtodw]

We have great copper-bottomed stainless steel pots & pans that we use as our "backup" set (we also have a wonderful set of stainless steel, but we entertain quite a bit and sometimes end up using both sets).

Both of our sets are dishwasher-safe. That was something I knew that I needed going into it, and we've had great luck with them both. The copper-bottomed set is almost 8 years old and the stainless set about 5. Both look great. I clean the bottoms of the copper-bottomed set with the powdered copper cleaner that you get in the dish liquid section at the grocery store (can't remember the brand name right off and I'm too lazy to walk into the other room ). As for cleaning the insides, nothing works like Dawn Power Dissolve to get off baked-on food. I love the stuff.

 

[solferino]

Place the pans upside down on the counter. Using a pastry brush or a paint brush "paint" ketchup on the copper bottoms of the pans. Be generous and use a lot of ketchup. After about an hour, rinse the ketchup off and your pans will look brand new!!!

spaghetti sauce works too

 

[laurie31]

My Revereware is over 15 years old and still looks great. It is heavily used every day. I don't put it in the dishwasher solely because it would take up too much room; I prefer to wash my pots and pans by hand, and fill the dishwasher with the dishes and glasses.

I don't do anything special to them at all. I just wash them with Dawn

I don't use a scouring pad on the copper part, but there's no need - if there's stuff that needs scoured, it's on the inside.

I do shine them from time to time, with the ketchup method or some copper polish, but not very often

Enjoy your nice pots! You can't take them with you, after all!

 

[teacups]

Enjoy your nice pots! You can't take them with you, after all!

Well, I have a double boiler kind of thing that COULD make a nice urn...

 

[teacups]

Thanks for all the advice! I think I can actually cook in them and clean them now!

 

[laurie31]

Well, I have a double boiler kind of thing that COULD make a nice urn...

ROTFL!!!!

Gosh, just hope no one mistakes you for soup starter in there!