Why do pans get brown on the bottom

Electric or gas, it doesn't matter, the bottoms will always brown as minute amounts of food will spill & get burnt on the bottom. Also food previously cooked & burned onto hotplates will also stain pans. I don't bother to "scrape" mine afterwards, just was normally with a non-stick scourer/sponge to get off oils & most burnt particles & let drain.

This is little off the beaten path, but try a solvent gun cleaner (not oil).

I recently (last week) caused a catastrophic burn on one of my skillets when I let it get entirely too hot before throwing a steak on it. After a few hundred cubic feet of smoke, a smoke alarm that sounded more like an air-raid siren, and a stubborn decision to let my steak cook anyway I was left with an interior that was about 100x worse than your picture. (The steak turned out perfect).

I tried the standard google recommendations of lemon juice, vinegar, and oven cleaner. They barely put a dent in it.

On a whim I grabbed a can of Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber® Solvent / Degreaser, and decided to give it a try.

Wow! A thorough spraying, a steel wool pad, and a surprisingly little amount of elbow grease later the gunk was, I'd say, 99% gone. I still have a slight lightish brown tinge to my previously shiny surface, but I think that's as good as it's going to get.

Your profile says you live in Virginia, so there's at least a slight chance you have some of this. If not, you should be able to find some at a Wal-Mart.

Needless to say, wash it thoroughly after you've cleaned it.

Update

My pan was All-Clad stainless steel. Guns are steel, and typically devoid of any aluminum parts. If your pan is aluminum I wouldn't suggest trying this, because I don't know what would happen.

Another update

I didn't think this answer would end up getting many up votes. Since it has, I want to stress that you shouldn't just use any arbitrary gun cleaning product you have laying around. You should make sure that it's strictly a solvent/degreaser. If it indicates that it "protects" in any fashion, then avoid it. A great many solutions include an oil based protectant. This is most certainly not edible. You don't want anything that leaves behind a residue. This stuff very clearly strips everything off the metal and evaporates very rapidly. Regardless, wash your pan very thoroughly afterwards.

The brown marks are an indication of scorching which is caused through cooking.

If black deposits form on your non-stick coating this is likely to have resulted from prolonged exposure of the non-stick surface to high heat during cooking with fats and oils, which can break down. This can create carbonised oil and fat films. These factors will accelerate the loss of the non-stick performance. If this happens then empty any loose food, make a paste out of equal parts baking soda and water. Rub in a circular motion with a non-metallic soft scourer, or perhaps a soft brush. If the baking soda mixture starts turning brown, you are on the right track. Rinse well with cool water and dry.

For more stubborn stains and dried or burnt food, bring to boil three parts water with one part detergent or white vinegar in the Neoflam pan for five minutes, set aside for a period to cool and allow these deposits to soften then rub with a soft brush. Discard solution, rinse and dry.

Sometimes it is too late and the baked on grease cannot be removed.

The exterior surface of your Neoflam can stain if grease is allowed to burn on to it. This can be very difficult to remove, if at all. Making a paste of baking soda and water and then applying it to the stain and rubbing will dull it and sometimes remove it completely.

If you’ve ever used and then cleaned stainless steel cookware, you’ll realise that sometimes you end up with a discolored or stained pan. Here I look at why this happens (when they’re said to be “stainless”) and what you can do about it to bring back the shine.

Why do pans get brown on the bottom

What this covers: Stainless steel pan care — How to clean stainless steel pans when they discolor and why they discolor in the first place (if you’re thinking how do I avoid my stainless steel discoloring).

Why this topic? You have stainless steel pans and you want to keep them performing and looking their best. Removing discoloration restores your stainless steel pans to look like new.

If you’re looking for answers to why my stainless steel pan is stained, and what to do about it, this topic is for you.

How do you keep stainless steel pans from staining?

X Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the pans, especially, stay away from chlorine type cleaning agents.

X Avoid putting stainless steel cookware in the dishwasher unless using a mild dishwasher detergent and a low heat setting. The dishwasher is a known culprit of causing certain stainless steel discoloration.

X Don’t leave stainless steel pots or pans on high heat while they are empty for too long. Heating can discolor the pans (as I explain below).

X Avoid overheating oil in them. This can leave a caramel-brown tarnish that’s hard to remove.

Make sure to clean them properly before their next use.

These might answer your ‘why did my stainless steel pan change color’. But if you’re wanting more and curious to know ‘is it normal for stainless steel pans to discolor?’ read on…

What else can stain stainless steel? What causes discoloration on stainless steel pans besides the above?

Stainless steel pans may discolor for a number of reasons. What can cause your stainless steel pan to discolor are foodstuffs with coloring, like turmeric.

Why call them stainless then?

Why is stainless steel ‘stainless’?

Stainless steel is called that because it doesn’t rust or discolor (ClearScience).

Hmm, doesn’t discolor? you mind be wondering. The meaning here is that quality stainless steel does not rust or discolor from rusting. It is an alloy with chromium, which inhibits iron oxidation (aka rusting). It also doesn’t tarnish.

What comes to mind for me is the silverware of old. Compared to it, stainless steel knives and forks do not stain, in that they do not tarnish. The darkening of the silverware meant extra upkeep with routine polishing to remove the discoloration from the silver reacting with chemicals in the environment and food.

Thank goodness for premium stainless steel!

See: My Stainless Steel Buyers Guide (inc. Nickel-Free Options)

Fun fact: Did you know that at one stage in history it was called “unstainable steel”.

But most of us know that stainless steel cookware does discolor, at least in the sense that it changes the look of the surface finish. So, what can stain stainless steel, and why? And how do we avoid discoloring and keep the pans looking like new? 

Just a side note: Stain, to me, suggests coloration that has soaked into (impregnated) the surface, whereas what you mostly see with stainless steel is superficial (no unsafe rusty pan concerns with these).

Here I use ‘stain’ and ‘discoloration’ interchangeably.

Types of stainless steel pan discoloration

There are many advantages of stainless steel cookware as I mention when I compared stainless steel to other types of cookware. The concerns with stainless steel staining and discoloring include:

  • Black residue
  • White residue on pots and pans of stainless steel
  • Tumeric stains
  • Caramel-brown stains – burnt sticky oil residue
  • Heat tint

How to remove stains from stainless steel pans

I wrote about how ceramic nonstick surfaces can stain. The following covers surface staining and how to remove discoloration from stainless steel pans.

Why do pans get brown on the bottom

Why do pans get brown on the bottom

Why do pans get brown on the bottom

Discoloration of stainless steel due to heat — use vinegar or lemon

What causes blue stains on stainless steel? Heat effects on stainless steel leave a bluish rainbow-like tint.

What causes the rainbow-like stainless steel discoloration? The chromium in the stainless steel alloy mixes with air to forms a protective layer on the pan. When affect by high heated, this oxidized layer thickens to produce a bluish rainbow coloration.

Why do pans get brown on the bottom
Stainless steel discoloration – temperature cause – heat tint on stainless steel saucepan

It won’t affect your pan’s performance.

You can easily remove it using vinegar, lemon juice, or a commercial stainless steel cleaner.

How to clean stainless steel pans with vinegar

To remove heat discoloration from stainless steel, try using vinegar.

  1. Dilute some white vinegar and splash it into the pan.
  2. Rub it into and around the affected area of the pan with a non abrasive cloth or sponge to clean the pan.
  3. Rinse and dry the pan completely for a restored look.

Why do pans get brown on the bottom
Restored after cleaning with vinegar – Source: Made In

Lemon juice: A substitute for vinegar is lemon. Because it has a similar acidic cleaning power to vinegar, it’s useful also.

For how to clean stainless steel pans with a stainless steel cleaner, like Bar Keeper’s friend, see below.

White residue on pots and pans — use vinegar

I’ve had this white spots on stainless steel pan problem after I’ve used the dishwasher to clean the cookware.

It’s a fairly common problem with stainless steel. In most cases it’s caused by calcium deposits, which can come from ordinary tap water in some places or in my case, dishwasher tablets.

To remove these cloudy stains: Dilute vinegar, one part to three parts water and bring it to boil in the pan, then let it cool. Wash and dry as usual.

How to get sticky oil off pans — removing that caramel-brown discoloration

The caramel-brown effect is from overheating of oil or fat that get’s burned onto the pan. It can also form from cooking food without pre-heating and oiling the pan first. I wrote about this in my article on how to avoid food sticking to stainless steel.

You probably need a good non abrasive scourer if you want to know how to clean a stainless steel frying pan with sticky oil build-up. To remove the problem, try vinegar mixed with baking soda or salt – see the methods using baking soda below.

Here’s how to avoid it: Always add the oil or fat to an already-heated (but not overheated) stainless steel pan. Heat the pan over low-to-medium heat for a few minutes, then add your oil or fat, and then your food.

See also: How To Rescue A Burnt Pot

How do you remove turmeric stains from stainless steel?

For how to clean a stainless steel pan with turmeric stains — baking soda should do the trick to remove the yellow stains. Baking soda is ideal for absorbing stains and coloration.

Directions for using baking soda is simple:

Just sprinkle some on a sponge and rub the affected area. Let stand for a couple of hours before washing and then dry as usual. If the stain is stubborn you may need to repeat or leave the pan sit longer with the paste of baking soda applied.

Black residue on stainless steel

What is that black stuff on stainless steel? The black residue could be what’s left after the manufacturing.

According to authoritative accounts, it is residue from the manufacturer’s “polishing” procedure. Give it a clean with baking soda or try Bar Keeper’s Friend, which is designed for cleaning stainless steel pans.

See also: Black Residue on Cast Iron Skillet…Is it Harmful?

How to clean the bottom of stainless steel pans

The bottom of stainless steel pans can get black with burnt on discoloration. The reason this happens is because when washing and drying them by hand the bases are often neglected and a film of oil accumulates so that the next time you use them for cooking it gets burnt on and the bottoms become grimey.

Why do pans get brown on the bottom
Cleaning stainless steel pans

It can be tricky to remove. You can try scrubbing with baking soda or Bar Keepers Friend.

One product recommended for cleaning away the tough grime on the bottom of pans, is steel wool. You can get pre-soaped ones, which are convenient. Also, look for ones that don’t tend to rust. It’s the one thing I dislike about steel wool. However, I found, Brillo, which has this anti-rust formula

What is the best natural cleaner for stainless steel?

The best natural cleaning products for stainless steel include baking soda, vinegar, salt, and lemon. The best cleaner for stainless steel among the natural products is the one you can readily put your hands and that works. Here’s how to clean discolored stainless steel pots with baking soda and with salt.

How to clean discolored stainless steel pots with baking soda or salt

Bicarbonate soda (aka baking soda) will work in removing most discoloration and residue left on stainless steel pans. (It’s also a beaut deodorizer).

Using a soft cloth, dab it in baking soda and then rub with vigor on the affected area. Rinse and wipe dry to polish. If you don’t have baking soda, substitute salt, which is also a good universal cleaner.

For the sticky oil residue that’s hard to come off, try

  1. Add vinegar to the pan to cover the problem area
  2. Leave for a couple of hours (the residue should soften or appear lighter)
  3. Tip out the vinegar mixture
  4. Sprinkle baking soda or salt over the affected area and rub to loosen and remove the residue
  5. Wash as normal and dry properly before storing

Where to buy Proper cleaners For Stainless Steel

You can buy stainless steel cleaners from companies that sell stainless steel cookware.

And then there’s the online shops like Amazon where you can buy a commercial stainless steel cookware cleaner…

Bottom Line: How do I remove stains from stainless steel?

How do you restore discolored stainless steel cookware? Removing stains from your stainless steel frying pan (or what really is about restoring discolored stainless steel) is easily fixed. It just depends on the type of discoloration and the cause. Once you know the cause, it’s a matter of following the steps.

How to clean stainless steel frying pan? Most times you can just use a pantry product: for example, baking soda, salt, or vinegar (or a lemon). But, a commercial product such as Bar Keeper’s Friend will give you confidence in being able to remove discoloration as well as stubborn burned-on residue on stainless steel.

FAQs

Is discolored stainless steel safe?

Discolored stainless steel cookware is in general safe to use. The problem of stains and discoloration of stainless steel concerns the look of the product or its performance more than anything else.

Does vinegar damage stainless steel?

This is a good question. Vinegar is acidic so can react with metal products. But, as long as you’re using good quality food grade stainless steel cookware, vinegar should not react with the material and damage the stainless steel.

What should you not use on stainless steel?

Don’t use abrasive cleaners or scourers or you risk leaving fine scratches in the surface. With cooking vessels or other food containers of stainless steel always avoid using harsh cleaners. It’s not recommended to use bleach.

Info Sources

  1. Moneypenny, J. H. G. (1921). “Unstainable Steel”. Mining and Scientific Press. Retrieved 17 February 2013.

How do you get the brown off the bottom of a pan?

Use baking soda for most pan types. Spread the paste along the bottom of your pan and let it sit for ten to twenty minutes. Then, use a nonabrasive scrubber, toothbrush, or sponge to scrub away the baking soda—ideally removing the caked-on grease with it.

What is the brown stuff on pans?

Brown or black spots are normally a layer of carbonization which causes food to stick to the pan during cooking.

How do I get the black off the bottom of my pots and pans?

Sprinkle the bottom of the pan liberally with baking soda and let the pan cool. Using a wet scouring sponge or nylon brush, scrub the pot bottom vigorously. Wash and dry as normal once all stains and scorched bits have been removed.

Why are my pots turning brown?

Plant tips can turn brown when they're exposed to too much fertilizer and too many salts build up in the soil. When this happens to potted plants, tips turn brown from a condition known as fertilizer burn or tip burn.