Uh, Oh.. What do I do now? Stainless Pans

[whirlcool]

I have a problem I hope someone here can assist me with. Every night while I am home I have a nice cup of Green Tea. I find it very relaxing.
What I did two nights ago was use one of our Cuisinart pots to heat the water. You know, the nice ultra shiny stainless ones. Well, I was browsing automatic.washer and forgot about the water that was heating. I went into the kitchen to find the pot totally empty, all the water had boiled away quite some time earlier. Needless to say the pot is no longer shiny and the interior is covered with black specs that nothing will take off and the exterior of the pot is rather a strange color, kinda scorched.
To make matters worse, guess what I did last night? I did the same thing to another Cuisinart pot. Same thing, pot is in same condition. I am now banned from the kitchen and if I want my tea, my wife will make it for me and if it's too late and she goes to bed, tough.
To say I feel like a dumb-a** is an understatement. Are these pans trashed or can something be done to restore them back to what they looked like before I overheated them? If not it looks like I will be going out pot shopping this weekend.

 

[appnut]

Allen, I don't have a clue about the pans. But, this is a fine example of why I nuke hot water for tea and cocoa in the winter time, just in case I get distracted or something.

 

[DADoES]

Or something.

Sounds like mineral deposits and/or some kind of chemical/heat related reaction.

Apparently, stainless steel, isn't. Eeeeek!

I've heard it suggested that aluminum canners stained from mineral deposits can be cleaned by boiling with 1 TBSP cream of tartar per quart of water. Wonder if that'd work on SS?

Bar Keeper's Friend? That worked very well for stains on my stainless steel 'fridge and DishDrawer.

But sounds like this is beyond all that.

 

[brettsomers]

or try mothers metal polish, in the automotive section, or try superfine steel wool, followed by the mothers.

 

[maytagbear]

Get a dedicated

teakettle, with a loud whistle?

Revere whistles are good, as is the whistle on the Chantal kettle.

You may have to grit your teeth and go to BB & B or Linens n' Things and replace the pans. Not that the current ones probably couldn't be rehabilitated, but to get back into the good graces of your goodlady wife.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Alternate thought:

Why don't you look into getting an Electric Water Heating Kettle. I've seen some of my Friends and they turn off after the Water is heated and it keeps the Water Hot for quite a while as well.

At least with an Electric Water Kettle that turns off, you won't have to worry about getting distracted and forgetting about the Kettle being on the Stove, heating your Water.

Good Luck, hope that this helps you with an alternate decision for heating your Water for your Tea.

Peace, enjoy your Tea and some Crumpets with it, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[mixfinder]

Turn it Down

Testicular cooking often leads to less than satisfactory results. Mom always said to cook everything on medium and then you have a 50/50 chance of getting back to the stove before it's burned.
You have overheated the pans and if they are blueish you're just screwed. I have the same pans. I spray them routinely with Mr Muscle inside and out and let them set a bit before using SOS. Metal Polish or Rubbing Compound are your best choice to restore the pans.
Kelly

 

[frigilux]

Allen--- As Kelly says, if the pans have turned bluish, they're permanently scarred. I strongly suggest this plan of action: Reservations at a fantastic restaurant and a throughtfully-selected piece of jewelry. This is your best bet for regaining kitchen privileges. Good luck and don't feel bad; most of us have fried a pan or two at some point in our lives. It happens.

 

[gadgetgary]

Nuke hot water?

I never do that....IMHO....it changes the taste.

Why does nuked water 'foam' when you add the teabag?

 

[appnut]

Gary, I've noticed the "foam" aspect before, but just overlook it. My approach is simply because it's safer for me, takes less time than on my rangetop, and is more energy efficient.

Kelly, I love your responses, they lift me up. It's going to be such an honor to meet you some day.

 

[flair_range]

Chrome Polish

The blue and possibly gold discoloration on scorched stainless steel is the same as the blue and gold stains on chrome motorcycle exhaust pipes. I have removed blue discoloration from the bottoms of stainless steel pots with Scotch-Brite pads (both the green and the red pads). I have used Semichrome to polish stainless steel polish and it might remove blue from stainless steel. Most motorcycle shops carry products that are supposed to remove blue from chrome.

I Googled for a chrome blue remover and the first link that I went to was a review for a product called "Blue Job Chrome Polish" which the reviewer said was effective in his test. I have no idea whether this review is legit or not. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/blue-job/blue-job-chrome-polish.htm

Blue Job's site is at http://bluejob.shop-utopia.com/ I found it on Amazon for cheaper than they sell it on the web site.

 

[jamiel]

Nuked water foams b/c you're generally heating it in a smooth-sided (i.e. ceramic) mug which doesn't have porosities to coalesce the trapped air into bubbles. The teabag (clearly porous/textured) creates a way for that trapped air to coalesce and thus, foam.

 

[gadgetgary]

Jamie

Thank you for clarifying.

I still think that nuked water(or nuked reheated coffee) has a different taste.

I will stick with the traditional methods.

 

[washertalk]

Would it be too much to simply buy her a new pan(s) (that matches) and keep this (these) pans for your use.
And possibly install a hot water dispenser on your sink.

I have the occasional cup of tea or cocoa. A mug full of water from an R.O. system in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes seems to work fine. )

 

[petek]

An electric tea kettle is the answer as mentioned OR an Instant Hot hot water dispenser installed on the kitchen sink. They're ok for green tea which shouldn't be boiled but for black teas they really should be steeped in water that is still boiling. Actually there's another little appliance common in Japan and you can buy them over here. Electric water pots, which look like a large plug in Thermos. They will hold about a half gallon of water at the ready and hot, or push the button for a quick boil, then push another button to dispense the water. They cost about $100 at Asian food/gadget stores whereas an electric kettle can be had for less than $20

 

[toggleswitch]

I would try oven cleaner with LYE for scorching, and burnt food. Not sure how to get rid of the purple "over-heat" flag...That comes and goes on my pots and pans.

 

[jaxsunst]

They have come out with Green Tea discs for my beloved Tassimo, I recommend that.

 

[washerboy]

S.O.S or Brillo pads!!

I have a set of stainless steel cookware..I love!!! have had the same thing happen..oops..more than once...give em a scurb with S.O.S or Brillo pads...they also work well when your teenager tries to help by putting aluminum (sp) in the dish washer...brings the shine right back. Happy scrubbing!!!

 

[cleanteamofny]

Boys............, boys sit down and learn something!!!

There is one product that will make you SS shine like new and it is found in the dishwashing section of your grocery store and it is called.....

Johnny stop chewing that gum and Diane stop braiding Tisha hair.

David since you sitting staight and raising your hands what is the answer?

It's "Cameo Aluminum and Stainless Steel Cleaner" Ms. Crabbyapplebottombee.

That is right David......, so students go out and get yourself a bottle and make those pots and pans shine like new!