Have you just bought a new stainless steel kitchen utensil and want to know how to look after it to ensure it lasts as long as possible? Even though our stainless steel frying pans, saucepans and other utensils are guaranteed to be of the highest quality, it's still essential to look after them. This will extend their life and keep your stainless steel utensils looking as good as new. Follow our guide to caring for your stainless steel cookware.

Need to maintain your pans? Find out about our cleaning products!

Strengthen your stainless steel pans before using them for the first time

Before using your new stainless steel kitchen pan for the first time, we recommend that you first wash it in hot soapy water, rinse it well and then dry it before pouring in about 1cm of white vinegar. Leave to stand at room temperature for 1 hour, then drain off the vinegar before rinsing and wiping your stainless steel cookware. Your pan is now ready to use!

A second method involves cleaning your pan and covering the inside base with food grade sodium bicarbonate (also known as bicarbonate of soda), then pouring in 1cm of white vinegar. A white foam will be created which will help your pan to reinforce its protective layer. Leave to stand for about an hour at room temperature, then rinse and dry.

You can repeat these operations if your stainless steel pan has been overheated, or if it has been heavily cleaned with a green abrasive pad, it will further reinforce the natural protection of your pans.

Look after your stainless steel pans after use

After using your stainless steel utensils, it is essential to clean them thoroughly and remove any residue or burn marks. First of all, we advise you not to overheat your cookware, especially if it has a non-stick coating, as this may reduce its effectiveness.

To clean, simply deglaze your kitchen pans and wipe gently with washing-up liquid or CRISTEL®'s special stainless steel cleaner. You can also put your pans in the dishwasher.

Finally, avoid products and sponges that are too abrasive, as they can damage your stainless steel utensils.

If you follow our advice on how to reinforce and maintain the natural protection of your stainless steel pans, there's no doubt that they'll be with you for many years to come, for all your cooking sessions. We hope you enjoy cooking with CRISTEL®.