Cleaning pots & pans

[Mycroft]

Just moving aboard our new-to-us sailboat and we're wondering what the best thing for cleaning pots and pans is. We've always used SOS pads, but I've read some stories that SOS pads aren't good for on boats. Is this restriction only for cleaning out on deck? Is it ok to use SOS pads in the galley?

Thanks!

[rebel heart]

For our stainless stuff 70% of the time we just use a standard dish scrub brush (bristles) with whatever dish soap. The other 30% of the time I snip a piece off a 3m scrub pad and use baking soda. That will get just about anything off.

[roverhi]

TEFLON!!!!!

[Mycroft]

I forgot to mention that one of our favorite dishes is old fashion pop corn popped in coconut oil. I wouldn't want to risk using Teflon for that. If SOS pads are verbotten, we'll definitely try the 3M scrubbies and baking soda RH. Thanks!

[bobconnie]

No teflon on our boats, just stainless and cast iron. We use brushs and dish soap, mostly Dawn. I do have some stainless steel wool I will use when I goof up and burn something!! LOL But have never used SOS pads on my boats ! tried once and learned a lesson!" no sos pads for a forgetful sailor !" Thats me for sure ! so no sos for us !!

[john540]

Scrubbing rock salt on a hot stainless pan gets tough stains out

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by roverhi

TEFLON!!!!!

Come on man, unless you're cooking eggs (and even then...) non stick is for college kids and guys who can't cook a peanut butter sandwich. Good SS *is* non stick.

[Kenomac]

We cook using teflon fry pans and stainless pots, and clean up with 3m sponge pads and dish soap.

[Auspicious]

+1 on 3M or Scotchbrite pads for regular cleaning. I have bronze wool for the really ugly stuff.

[ElGatoGordo]

I love my RachelRay nonstick. Wipe with a paper towel, wash with soap. Zero scrubbing ever. To each his own.

[roverhi]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Come on man, unless you're cooking eggs (and even then...) non stick is for college kids and guys who can't cook a peanut butter sandwich. Good SS *is* non stick.

I'm a few years out of college and everything I've tried to cook in the one non non-stick SS pan that we own requires at least a couple of minutes, if I'm lucky, of scrubbing with a scotch brite pad to get the crud off. I've tried throwing that pan away but it's the only smallish frying pan we've got and wife is too Pake to throw away an otherwise good looking pan.

Never tried cooking a peanut butter sandwich but it sounds like a great way to screw up a PB&J. Don't know what making pop corn with palm oil would have to do with using, or not using a non-stick pan. Had a roomate that made popcorn with bacon grease. Great flavor but even i, at that young age, realized that it may not have been the healthiest snack food.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

For our stainless stuff 70% of the time we just use a standard dish scrub brush (bristles) with whatever dish soap. The other 30% of the time I snip a piece off a 3m scrub pad and use baking soda. That will get just about anything off.

+1

If you have forgotten about a pot on the stove and the bottom is a blackened baked on mess, just scrape out the contents, add a cup of water and about a quarter of a cup of baking soda (= bicarbonate of soda) and gently simmer. The black just lifts straight off without any elbow grease (I haven't needed to use that trick in a while ).

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mycroft.

[Auspicious]

I use the Farberware stainless steel pots I bought out of college thirty years ago. They have been supplemented by only a few pieces: a Circulon non-stick omelet pan, a Swiss Diamond 14" saute pan, a Kuhn Rikon 5 l pressure cooker, and the 16 qt pressure canner my mother bought in 1957. It all just works.

The Swiss Diamond does get more use than everything else put together.

[Greggegner]

We have a SS pressure cooker, but the pan, small skillet (doubles as lid for pan) and large skillet come from QVC. They don't have handle that make storage difficult and they are Teflon. Cleaning is dish soap and and a green scrubbie.