Q: We own a lot of Spring copper pots that we purchased in Austria. They are 12 years old and still look great, especially when they are polished. That's the problem. Do you have any suggestions on getting grease off? We clean them after each use, but grease does get baked in, and it's a nightmare to remove. We have traditionally used an industrial grease remover, then polish as usual. But we can't seem to find a good grease remover anymore, and, is there an easier way? We have tried many products that claim to work wonders but nothing happens. Please advise.

 

article continues below ↓

A: Rub the baked-on grease spots with lemon halves dipped in salt. If you clean copper pots this way after each use, there's usually no need for a store-bought copper cleaner. Another old trick to clean copper pots and pans is to sprinkle salt on the dirty areas and then scrub with a vinegar-soaked rag. The job is made even easier if you run hot water over the bottom of the pan first. The heat seems to help the salt and vinegar do their job. Keep in mind that copper is sensitive to air, and oxidizes (tarnishes) faster in moist air.

Stainless Steel Pots

Q: I love my pots with stainless steel interiors, but they tend to build up a film that no amount of scrubbing can remove. I've tried boiling and then soaking with baking soda, vinegar, dish soap (separately) to no avail. Any other suggestions?

A: Have you tried popping them in the dishwasher? Stainless steel pots may be washed in the dishwasher. The heat and dishwasher detergent may remove that film. If washed by hand, however, rinse well and polish dry at once with a soft dish towel to avoid spots, streaks and possibly that film buildup you've noticed.

Please keep in mind that some foods (highly acidic, salty) should be immediately washed off the surface of stainless steel or they may corrode it. Avoid abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel — it'll destroy the look you bought the stainless steel for. Cooked-on food or grease can be removed from stainless steel by gently scrubbing with a paste of baking soda and water and a soft rag or nylon scrubber. Commercial stainless steel cleaner is available.