Have We Determined How To Unblacken Aluminum?

[panthera]

Stefan,

For the US version of English language dialogue, it was too harsh. But, thanks.

It's not really opinion, though - my opinion is that Angelika Merkel is a better Chancellor than Helmut Kohl.

(Nicht, dass ich jemals meine Stimme für die CDU/CSU abgeben wird).

 

But this is simply fact driven: The aluminium causes dementia stuff just has no basis in fact. Fresh water fish have other problems (largely driven by their very complex pressure gradient systems to keep the right degree of salinity in their bodies) which have nothing to do with high-order mammalian brains.

[this post was last edited: 6/22/2017-08:51]

 

[mrboilwash]

I suppose that was one of those "nuances" in a language only a native speaker or someone who lived in that country for a long time can detect and that`s exactly what gets me into trouble so often.
But again no offense taken because I wouldn`t have noticed anyway.

I regret we haven`t met for a beer as you suggested when you were still living in Munich.
Wasn`t in the mood for any new friends back then. Sorry.

One more thing. I liked your old Samatha so much better. I know when you look closely she`s only resting her head on her hand, but still our lesbian friends might misunderstand the gesture ;-) [this post was last edited: 6/22/2017-10:54]

 

[panthera]

Hi Stefan,

It is a shame we missed each other - I had just finished restoring a table-top AEG clothes tumbler with electronic sensing from the early '80s! Can't even find it in their catalogues.

Anyway, the lesbians can just live with it - the symbol means 'witch's honour' and was a cue to Bewitched fans that I meant what I said on Dirty Laundry.

Might change it, though - I have a couple of Endorra pics which are great.

Hugs

Keven

 

[norgeway]

I use aluminum

And stainless, as well as cast iron...My aluminum looks as good as new because I clean it WITH a BRILLO pad EVERY TIME and wash and dry the outside with soap and water, but yes, cream of tartar will take off the darkened layer, so will boiling a solution of borax, but if you really want it to look good inside, cook rhubarb in it..LOL

 

[lordkenmore]

An interesting article about worries about aluminum and Alzheimer's.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...726998-ae75-11e2-98ef-d1072ed3cc27_story.html

 

[lordkenmore]

As for me, I have only one aluminum pan in service, and it's anodized, not plain aluminum. I cringe a bit at the thought of plain aluminum, but that may just be paranoia that got programmed in during some "aluminum pans may cause Alzheimer's!" scare in the 80s. But I probably cringe less than I did then. I think there were times when I actively promoted the suggestion that perhaps my mother should get rid of her Club aluminum. (Although for the most part, looking back, those pans weren't probably used enough leech much. They were used all the time, but it was mostly fast cooking/low acid foods.) But I still cringe enough that I don't have any interest in buying vintage aluminum pans to actually use. Too bad, because I do see Club pans from time to time, and they often have fun colors, and probably are pretty decent pans. Certainly better than rock bottom stainless steel, I'm betting.

 

Past this, though, I think my preference is getting stuff that is dishwasher safe. I don't have a dishwasher (sob), but when the day comes when i live someplace with a dishwasher, I want as many things to go through as possible. If I handwash it had better be something worth the pain. Such as a really high quality pan that gets used when I'm ambitious in the kitchen. A really good knife. Or maybe something that's fun vintage that gets used "sometimes" when I'm in the mood. Otherwise, I want stuff day to day to be able to go into a dishwasher and survive with no drama.

 

[askolover]

The only aluminum pot I have is my grandmother's old Mirromatic pressure cooker and I only cook things on a steamer rack in it so the aluminum alzheimer's issue is not an issue.  It has been through the dishwasher so many times it ain't even funny.

 

[vacerator]

My aunts cooked

with Magnaware aluminum from the 1950's. They both got the alkheimers as they would say. Their husbands died before they got it from other ailments.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Dishwasher Detergent and Aluminium

I have found that it varies depending on the detergent.

Old style metasilicate dishwasher powder detergent with its chlorine bleach (Finish and Sun) caused aluminium pots and pans to turn grey and rough to the touch.

Newer biological formulations with enzymes and oxygen bleach seem to still cause roughness of the surface, but the metal turns whiter and/or shinier.

I suppose some of the answer will be to do with pH levels.
I remember my mum stewed rhubarb in an aluminium pot. The pot came out looking brand new. Down to the acid, I suspect.

The old chlorine detergents were strongly alkaline, thus causing the greyness. The newer bio-oxy formulations probably cause the wash solution to become more acidic, hence the shiny/white.