How to Clean Your nonstick pans? It is not a tough task; nevertheless, it is essential if you own nonstick cookware. While it is always a great idea to shop for some fancy cookware, its maintenance is all the more important. Likewise, the nonstick cookware appears to be slick, sophisticated, and attractive; but wait till you get the very first scratch accidentally on that fine surface. It is a real spoil-deal, as the entire idea of the nonstick for cooking and serving goes down the drains. After all, how on earth are you going to place them in front of your guests next time they come over for a meal? This is why the user must invest some amount of time, energy, and money on the proper care and cleaning of the nonstick cookware after you purchase them. We at ATB are here to help you with a few dos and don’ts of using nonstick cookware and how best to maintain them. So, let’s get started.
Before we get into the real deal, there are a few aspects of constructing the basic nonstick cookware that one needs to know of. The various parts of nonstick cookware comprise of the following parts:
The Base of the Cookware
This is perhaps one of the most important parts of the nonstick cookware as it comes directly in contact with the heat source.
The Main Body
This could be Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Cast Iron, or even Copper. It is important to select the right material type as it directly affects the product’s performance.
The Lid
The Lid of the nonstick cookware plays a great role in ensuring that the heat is retained within the vessel. This helps in maintaining the right temperature within and also keeping the food warm for a longer duration of time. The Lid, in this case, can either be made of glass or any other relevant material to help the user with the ease of checking on the cooking process time and again.
The Handles
This is yet another important feature of the nonstick cookware you might be using. The handles need to be comfortable to grip on and also easy to clean when required. Also, if you are into oven-cooking, you must make sure that the handle is compatible with your oven as well.
The Coating of the Cookware
This is the ‘star’ of the entire show, as it is the coating that clearly distinguishes the nonstick cookware from the regular one. The coating is generally made from PTFE or Polytetraflouroehtlylene, also popularly known as Teflon. This is a synthetic chemical that is manufactured from a combination of Fluorine and Carbon atoms. Since the year 2013, Teflon has been declared ‘safe’ to use as these are being manufactured PFOA-free.
Now that we know about all the major parts of the nonstick cookware, let us know about how to clean nonstick pans:
1. Say No to the Dishwasher
This might come as a major disappointment to quite a few, but your precious nonstick cookware cannot be simply popped into the dishwasher. This requires you to offer your own ‘personal touch,’ which implies getting the dish wash done the traditional way in the sink using special scrubs and soaps.
2. Do It Now
If you thought you could leave the dishes’ dirty’ overnight, you better think again. It is advised to clean up the nonstick cookware immediately with some soap and hot water. This is because the leftovers will only enhance the rate of corrosion of the protective TEFLON coating overnight. So, no matter how late into the night it takes, get your precious nonstick into the sink after use and clean them up well. This will ensure its longevity as well.
3. Go Gentle
This is a precious piece of cookware, and it requires some special care. So, the best way to clean your nonstick pans is to be extra gentle on them. For this, you need to get rid of the metal scrubbers you normally use to clean your regular vessels. This is because the harsh scrubber might scrub right off the surface of the nonstick cookware, thus stripping the product of its ‘star feature.’ Likewise, make sure to stir and flip your food using the special Silicone Spatula as it will be gentle on the surface of the cookware and not scratch it.
4. The Baking Soda
One of the best ways on how do you get stains out of nonstick pans is to use baking soda. This is one of the most gentle alternatives to regular soap and dish wash liquids. To acquire a toothpaste-like consistency, you can mix Olive Oil and Baking Soda for best results. Apply this over the suborn stain and leave for about 15 minutes. Now gently scrub away the stains using warm water as required.
5. Oil It Up
Oiling is one of the best ways to treat your nonstick cookware. For this, you can use any oil you find favourable, like Sunflower, Olive, or Vegetable oils. This requires the user to oil up the cookware before and after cooking with a tiny amount and ‘brushing’ it away for best results. Use the Silicone Brush for this as well, and be sure to store your vessels away from the other ‘regular crowd’ of other vessels.
What To and Not To
Now that we have understood how to best clean your nonstick cookware, let us take a look at some of the dos and don ts of the maintenance:
The Flame: First things first, you need to know that high temperatures can damage the cookware’s surface and release toxic fumes as a result. It is recommended to oil the surface of your cookware before you start cooking for the best results.
The Spatula: As mentioned earlier, the Silicone Spatula goes a long way in ensuring your nonstick is well-maintained. Other alternatives also include Nylon and Wooden Spatula that offer the right care for the delicate surface of the nonstick cookware.
The Abrupt Temperature Changes: Another major mistake we often make when using nonstick cookware is sudden temperature changes. It is advised not to turn up the flames suddenly while cooking as it can rupture the coating in the long term. Likewise, never plunge your nonstick cookware while hot into cold water.
No Storage: While it might sound tempting, but it is advised to never store food in your nonstick cookware. This is mainly because the acidity from the food might ‘react’ with the coating of the pan, thus, causing it to damage in the long term.
Proper Storage: Your nonstick cookware is special; hence it requires a special place for proper storage as a result. Be sure not to stack up against your nonstick cookware with the other vessels, as the surface can scratch easily. This will spoil the appearance and also render it useless over time.
Coat with Oils: If you wish for your nonstick cookware to survive for long-term use, be sure to oil up the surface before and after use. For this, you can use any cooking oil in a tiny amount and coat up the entire surface both inside and outside.
How to Clean Your Nonstick Pans: The Conclusion
So these were a few tips on cleaning nonstick pans and their proper maintenance. It is advised for the users to ensure that they offer special treatment to their special nonstick cookware. The Non-stick cookware looks good and is also healthy cooking alternatives as it allows the user to utilize a very little amount of oil for cooking. However, to make sure they continue to offer you the very best in cooking options, it is required to follow the do’s and don’ts accordingly.