Almost every kitchen has aluminum cookware. Despite its not very presentable appearance, it is very convenient and easy to use. Food in it rarely burns, and after use it is easy to clean.
The disadvantages of aluminum utensils can be considered that it is not recommended to store ready-made foods or dishes in it, and it also quickly loses its luster and can darken over time and “acquire” soot and spots of a different nature. In addition, the dishes made of this metal are quite soft and easily deformed, so scratches may appear on them if they are cleaned incorrectly or roughly.
Should knowb! Aluminum is active chemical metals, therefore, due to its oxidation and interaction with an acidic and alkaline environment, it is impossible to leave ready-to-eat products for storage in aluminum dishes.
You can quickly wash aluminum dishes and easily clean the surface from dirt by following simple rules:
Important! When cleaning such dishes, do not use abrasive products, knives or metal brushes. Because they can scratch metal surface and destroy the oxide film.
Since the use of active chemicals for cleaning aluminum dishes is not recommended, then you should turn to folk methods:
Instead of vinegar for the solution, ammonia can also be used. The solution in this case is made as follows: for 50 ml of water, you need to take 10 ml of ammonia and mix everything. The surface is treated in the same way.
You can return the aluminum pan using a paste consisting of white clay and chalk:
To clean the pan from blackening from the inside, it is necessary to boil a solution of water and 2 tbsp. l. table vinegar for 15 minutes. Then the pan must be rinsed in clean water.
Whey will also help to cope with the blackening of dishes. To do this, moisten a flannel cloth in the serum and wipe the dark spots on the surface.
Advice! In order to descale an aluminum kettle, some people use Coca-Cola. The drink is a good substitute for a solution of vinegar or citric acid.
Small aluminum items such as spoons or forks are cleaned in the same way as other utensils. Cutlery is convenient to clean all together. For example, put spoons and forks into a saucepan and boil. After that, wait until the devices cool down and rinse them in running water and wipe dry with a soft towel.
In spite of a large number of modern means for washing and cleaning dishes, you can always use the old proven methods and give new life to their old aluminum saucepans.
Aluminum pans, despite the abundance of new, more practical and less whimsical materials, are still very popular. Experienced housewives know how to properly handle them and how to clean aluminum utensils at home if something is burnt in it or it is covered with a greasy coating.
For young housewives, who are accustomed to washing almost all kitchen utensils in the dishwasher, cleaning aluminum dishes can be a real problem.
You should not say goodbye to pots, pans and ladles that were inherited from your mother or grandmother just because you do not know how to remove carbon and fat from them. It's actually very simple. And unlike Teflon or ceramic dishes, aluminum can be cleaned with the simplest tools at hand.
So, what is aluminum and what are its features? The answers to these questions will come in handy when it comes to choosing a cleaner for this material.
As for the faithful kitchen assistant of modern housewives - dishwasher, then in this case it will have to be forgotten. Firstly, aluminum plates and spoons in it may not be washed properly. Secondly, drops and streaks of water will remain on them. And, thirdly, aluminum will darken and fade from such treatment - simply no one wants to eat from such a plate because of its untidy and not appetizing appearance.
So how then can you clean such dishes, what means to choose? The most sparing purchased or professional. It all depends on how dirty the dishes are and what goal you need to achieve. To give shine, eliminate soot and grease, daily care are used different ways and funds.
There are many more subtleties and tricks on how to care for aluminum cookware so that it lasts a long time and at the same time is clean and shiny. For example, if you don't want soft metal to warp, always let the cookware cool completely before washing and cleaning.
And after cleaning, aluminum plates, pots and pans should be rinsed first in warm water, and then in cold water, and then wiped dry with a towel.
How to clean grease from aluminum cookware? This must be done if pots and pans are used regularly, otherwise the fat will harden, turn into soot, and then you will have to make a lot of effort to return the utensils to cleanliness and shine. For everyday washing, the following methods and means are suitable:
Aluminum is a rather capricious material, but it is worth remembering the kitchens of our grandmothers. They used mainly such dishes, and they always shone even without expensive means. It would be a pity to lose such an experience, because even today everyone in the house has at least one saucepan or bowl made of aluminum.
Every household has items made of aluminum. Over time, oxidative processes make you think that aluminum has turned black, than to wash off such a scourge and not damage the household item itself. To do this, you should follow certain rules that will help you achieve excellent results in a matter of minutes.
Aluminum is a fairly soft and pliable material, which is why particularly aggressive cleaning methods should be avoided.
What caused the darkening of aluminum also depends on how to clean the pollution. Therefore, to eliminate plaque, you need to be patient and use several proven methods.
If you need to clean cooking utensils in which food has burned on, it is best to soak the kitchen utensil in warm water. After that, washing the product will be much easier. Remains of food will move away on their own under the influence of moisture, all that is required is to wash the pan with a soft sponge and dishwashing detergent.
Of the purchased products, it is better to give preference to special tools designed for processing glass and porcelain.
Such detergents perfectly perform cleaning functions, and also give additional shine.
If the oxidation has affected the aluminum thoroughly, then more severe renovation methods will be required. In this case, ordinary table salt, combined with clean water in a 1: 1 ratio, will help. Rub the resulting mixture on the damaged product and carefully go over the surface with a sponge.
Cream of tartar works very well with aluminum and can easily remove dark spots. To do this, in 5 liters of warm water, dissolve 3 tbsp. l. means and soak the product itself in the resulting solution, leave for 3 hours. After that, all the dirt will come off on its own, the hostess will only have to rinse and wipe the products dry.
Cream of tartar may not always be at hand, so vinegar or citric acid is suitable for these purposes. They need to be taken at the rate of 4 tbsp. l. acid per 1 liter of warm water and leave to cool completely. As a precaution, gloves should be used to prevent possible irritation on the hands.
For especially advanced cases you can make your own special tool. It will take 100 g of stationery glue, 5 liters of water and 1 tbsp. l. baking soda. All ingredients are combined and brought to a boil, after which aluminum is placed in the solution and left to cool. The product is rinsed well under running water and wiped dry. Instead of soda, you can take 100 g of grated laundry soap. It will help prevent the formation of possible scratches that may appear due to soda particles.
Ordinary white clay, as well as tooth powder, will help restore the former shine to aluminum. It is enough to use them as a cleaning agent. They work quite softly, but effectively.
Grandma's recipe for cleaning pots involves the use of a cabbage leaf. It contains enzymes that help remove darkening. In addition, you can treat the contaminated surface with cucumber or tomato brine, whey. They fill the pan with them for at least 24 hours, and under the influence of a weak acid, all black stains are removed, while the protective shell is not damaged.
Aluminum, due to its technical features, quickly covered with a dark coating (oxides) and soot. And if food is allowed to burn in such pans, then the burnt layer is subsequently very difficult to wash off. How to properly use aluminum cookware and how can you clean it at home to avoid possible problems?
There are several types of contaminants that form on the surface of aluminum:
Theoretically, all these contaminants can be easily removed with any abrasive - a metallized sponge, emery, sand or a metal brush. However, this should by no means be done. The metal is very soft, and under the influence of a hard abrasive, its surface is severely damaged.. A rough, scratched surface, in turn, will be more contaminated.
There are many ways to deal with dirt and tarnish on aluminum pans without the use of harsh abrasives, even when it comes to layers of soot that build up over several years. The most popular and effective options solutions and how to work with them.
Simple darkening on the surface of an aluminum pan can be easily removed with acids. Here are some easy options:
Of the methods given in this section, the simplest and most effective method of cleaning with vinegar can be considered. The concentration of acid in vinegar is higher than in other products, and it is constant. Therefore, the process will take less time, and the quality of cleaning will be higher.
Important! Do not use concentrated acids, in particular vinegar essence, to clean aluminum pans. This can cause severe damage to the dishes. Also, you can not leave any acids on the aluminum surface for a long time, as there is a risk of getting the opposite effect: the dishes will darken.
Soda has a mild abrasive and chemical effect on dirt. Good for removing light to medium soiling from aluminum pans. In addition, this method is very simple: a little soda is poured onto a highly moistened sponge, which is then wiped over the pan. Work should be done with gentle pressure. Then the dishes can be simply rinsed with water.
With a mixture of soda, salt and citric acid (1/1/1), you can clean the bottom of the dish from burnt food. The indicated ingredients are poured into the pan and filled with water so that the carbon level is blocked. Boil for 20 minutes, then drain and finish cleaning with a plastic sponge. This method is suitable for fresh, uncomplicated dirt.
Another tool for removing carbon deposits from aluminum is an aqueous solution of grated laundry soap and ammonia. The level of effectiveness is about the same as that of a mixture of soda with salt and citric acid.
Pour the mixture into a contaminated container, put on the stove and boil for 10-15 minutes. After pouring the liquid, and clean the pan with a plastic sponge. If the soot is strong, then you can leave the solution in the container for 1.5 - 2 hours, and then perform mechanical cleaning.
Most effective method for cleaning aluminum pans - boiling in water with the addition of silicate glue, soda ash and laundry soap. This mixture will cope even with many years of soot, against which even metal brushes are powerless. It is very important that the metal surface is not damaged in any way from such cleaning.
Ingredients for 10 liters of water:
Pour water into any dish of suitable volume, add glue, grated soap and soda there. Place over high heat and stir until the soap chips have dissolved. Lower the pots intended for cleaning into the solution and, after boiling, reduce the heat to a minimum. Close the container with a lid. The duration of boiling depends on how heavily soiled the dishes are, but on average - from an hour to two. After the time has elapsed, turn off the stove, pull out the pans and finish cleaning mechanically: using a plastic or synthetic sponge.
There is an opinion that soda should not be used to clean aluminum pans. This is only partly true and only applies to nickel-plated cookware, which is irreversibly destroyed by any abrasive.”
The first thing to talk about is the preparation of new aluminum pans for operation. It consists in creating a protective film on the surface of the dishes. It's very simple:
A few rules regarding the operation of aluminum pans:
If we are talking about the means of industrial production, then you should choose those whose PH is neutral. Usually in their name there are the words "liquid / gel for cleaning metals." They have complex chemical formula, due to which they cope with strong pollution. Rinse off such products should be very carefully. As for soda-containing products, they should not be used daily.
It should be noted that soda, both simple and calcined, gradually destroys the protective oxide film on the aluminum surface. This is not critical, provided that cleaning with the use of these substances is not daily, and the procedure for restoring the protective film is carried out at least once. The process is the same as for preparing a new pot for use: roasting the pot with vegetable oil and salt.
Aluminum pans cannot be washed in dishwashers. Inside them, conditions are formed that contribute to the destruction of the oxide film, which is applied to the aluminum surface to protect it. In the absence of an oxide film, the metal first begins to darken, and in the process of further operation it gradually collapses. Metal particles can get into food, which is not very useful for the human body.
Aluminum cookware is versatile and easy to use. But so that its operation does not cause problems, you must strictly follow the rules for working with it.
Each of us has gone camping at least once in our lives. Tents, campfire, Fresh air, songs by the fire, pleasant company, food cooked on the fire - in a word, paradise. But no matter how sad it may be, but after cooking, the dishes must be washed. And if it takes place in nature, cooking often takes place in aluminum utensils, on which an unpleasant soot forms. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to clean aluminum pans at home. In this article, we will teach you how to do this, as well as give recommendations for caring for them.
Aluminum cookware is a favorite of many housewives because it is lightweight, heats up quickly, and lasts a long time. But despite this, aluminum is a rather soft metal, which is why a product made from it requires more delicate handling than utensils made from another metal.
Thus, in order to clean aluminum at the base of dishes, it is strictly forbidden to do the following:
Even despite the large number of contraindications, you can easily clean aluminum pans at home with the help of tools that are available in absolutely any home.
Important! Do not be overly zealous when cleaning the inner surface of the pan, which is made of such an alloy. The thing is that during the interaction with products, oxides are formed, which prevent all harmful aluminum salts from getting into food. That is why this dish should be cleaned from the inside only in exceptional cases, for example, when the jam is very burnt.
Cleaned to a shine from all traces of scale, grease, as well as the remnants of burnt food, dishes are the pride of every housewife. In order for the kitchen not to turn into “Fedorino Gora”, you must know the basic methods for caring for aluminum utensils, as well as some little secrets.
Many commonly available detergents for aluminum dishes are not suitable, but you can wash a basin or a pan at home:
Important! If the resulting soot is thick and dense, sprinkle a large amount of tooth powder on it, and then leave it overnight. In the morning, use a wooden spatula to scrape off any leftovers and then wash the pot in soapy water.
Caring for dishes made of aluminum with improvised means requires a lot of effort from the hostess. Therefore, in order to avoid difficulties, as well as save time, follow certain recommendations and rules:
The problem with aluminum forks and spoons is solved in the same way as unpleasant moments with large utensils. It hardly makes sense to tell separately how to clean aluminum forks and spoons.
It is very convenient to reanimate small appliances at the same time as other aluminum utensils. It is enough to put them in a pot or pan with a homemade cleanser, then rinse, and then wipe thoroughly dry with a soft towel.
Important! An aluminum kettle, the bottom of which has a thick layer of scale due to lime water, is well cleaned with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Again, you can use citric acid instead of vinegar. If you are a fan of experiments, you can try using the well-known Coca-Cola drink.
With proper care and proper use, your aluminum cookware will serve you faithfully for years to come. And you will be pleased that the cooking process will take a minimum of time and effort.