Stainless Steel Pan Discoloration Rainbow

A friend burned one quite badly and it is now discolored.

Stainless steel pan discoloration rainbow.

Bar keepers friend a little water and some elbow grease can help you get that pan looking as good as new. In the pan case the thin film causing the interference and the related coloured fringes is formed by metal oxides already present in the pan. I tried baking soda and salt baking soda salt and vinegar and ajax. Cooked on medium to medium low heat cleaned and hand dried after cooking.

Stainless steel is a metal alloy that is used for cookware and appliances because it is durable rust resistant and not prone to discoloration under normal wear. How to restore discolored stainless steel cookware. This is caused by minerals or salts in the food and water. Is is possible to restore it by removing the discoloration.

You can avoid this by using a low to medium heat setting when cooking. Why did my new stainless steel pan turn rainbow colored in spots with a white film. Got a new stainless steel cookware set and have followed all the directions. A discussion started in 2004 but continuing through 2020.

Actually these oxides are exactly what makes the steel of the pan stainless and resistant to corrosion. This discoloration is easily removed by using a non abrasive stainless steel cleaner which will help to retain the original brightness and assist with the removal of stubborn marks. The phenomenon can be amplified if the pan has been overheated for instance while sauting to dryness. Basically when stainless steel is heated to high temperatures the oxidized layer can thicken causing a rainbow tint.

There is nothing stuck to the pan just a rainbow look with some white filmyness on the pan. Don t toss that pan just yet. Learn how to remove the bluish hue or discoloration that occurs sometime when cooking with stainless steel cookware and restore it s finish. Vinegar helps rid the pan of blue streaks created when the pan is washed in a dishwasher.

However when stainless steel is used in high heat settings a rainbow discoloration can appear on the pan. When chromium and air mix a protective layer is formed on your pan. Bluish or rainbow discoloration is common on stainless steel cookware including instant pot inner pot. Use a stainless steel polish to remove stuck on stains such as food tar and surface scratches from the surface of stainless steel.

Cleaning stainless steel pans with baking soda brings them back to the shine they had when you first purchased them. Mix the baking soda with a small amount of water to make a paste and clean with a damp cloth. Rainbow discoloration aka heat tint aka rainbow stain rainbow discoloration otherwise known as heat tint is the ugly rainbow pattern that develops inside the pan or stainless cooktops and sinks due to excessive heat or too rapid heating. These cleaners are sold at most home supply or hardware stores and contain tiny abrasives that lightly scratch the surface of the stainless steel which removes the contaminants from the surface and leaves the metal shiny.

Why does this happen.