Tarnish disappears from stainless steel pans in seconds with 1 kitchen staple

Stainless steel is a hugely popular material for making a variety of cookware. You might have a stainless steel frying pan in your kitchen or perhaps a set of stainless steel saucepans for steaming vegetables and warming up soups.

No matter how you use your stainless steel, you may have noticed that over time, the surface can become tarnished. As the name suggests, the steel doesn't stain or rust in the same way that other metals might, but it doesn't mean it can't be marked at all.

Stainless steel pans are susceptible to a type of marking known as blue tarnish, which appears as rainbow-coloured circles on the surface of the pan, similar to the way an oil spill might create rainbow patterns.

This tarnish appears when the stainless steel pan is overheated, which is likely to happen if you use your pans regularly for cooking. It can be difficult to control the temperature of your pan and the food inside it.

But if your pans are discoloured and looking worse for wear, worry not. A woman on Instagram has shared an easy hack that can help you restore your pans to their shiny glory - using just one kitchen cupboard staple.

The woman, named Mandy, said all you need to wipe the tarnish away in seconds is some form of acid. This can be lemon juice, vinegar, or an acidic cleaning product, but she prefers to use distilled white vinegar - which you can buy from supermarkets for as little as 35p.

In her video, Mandy first demonstrated how easy the hack was by pouring a little vinegar onto a paper towel and wiping it over her tarnished pan. The section she cleaned immediately looked far shinier than the rest of the pan, proving the hack works.

She then explained to clean her pans, she normally tips a little vinegar into her pan and swishes it around so it coats the entire surface area. She then leaves it for a few seconds before tipping the excess vinegar away and rinsing out her pan.

After doing this, she showed off her pan once again and it was completely clear of any tarnish.

She wrote in her caption: "Stainless steel is really easy to overheat, which causes this tarnish to form. Honestly, most of us cook at too high a temperature because we're all in a hurry all the time. It's worth it to slow down while in the kitchen. Overheating your pan isn't good, especially if you're using a nonstick pan."

How to clean a stainless steel pan

Everyday cleaning:

Let the pan cool: Never plunge a hot pan into cold water, as it can warp the metal.

Wash with soap and water: Use warm water, a mild dish soap, and a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid steel wool or abrasive pads, which can scratch the surface.

Rinse and dry: Rinse thoroughly to remove soap residue and dry immediately with a soft towel to prevent water spots.

For stubborn stains or burnt food

Soak: Fill the pan with warm, soapy water and let it soak for 15-30 minutes.

Scrub gently: Use a nylon scrubber or non-abrasive sponge to remove stuck-on food.

Baking soda paste: For tough spots, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply to the stain, let sit for a few minutes, then scrub gently.

Boil method: For really stubborn residue, fill the pan with enough water to cover the burnt area, add a few tablespoons of baking soda, and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then scrape gently with a wooden spoon.