How to Fix Those Unpleasant Scratches on Your Expensive Cookware

By Emilia On: September 2, 2019 In Tips Comments off

Cookware is one of the most important items in any kitchen. Without it, you will not be able to prepare the meals you love and that’s why people go out of their way to buy good quality cookware for their kitchens.

You will pay a little bit more for such cooking appliances but what you get in return is years of dedicated service and an enhanced cooking experience.

As you use your cookware, chances are they will develop some scratches on them. The use of metal utensils on your cookware and poor cleaning habits are some of the activities that will leave ugly scratch marks on your expensive cookware.

When left unattended to, those scratch marks will develop into full-blown dents that will make your cookware unusable.

You are, therefore, advised to fix those scratches as soon as you notice them and in this article, we will highlight how to fix unpleasant scratches on stainless steel and non-stick pans.

How to fix scratches on stainless steel cookware

Stainless steel is a good material for making cookware and other kitchen appliances. It does not rust easily and this makes it a great choice for kitchen utensils that are always in contact with water.

Stainless steel has an attractive modern look and as such, its cookware adds pomp and color to any kitchen.

Stainless steel, however, is not immune to scratches on its surface. When metal utensils like spatulas are used with it, they leave ugly scratch marks on the surface. When these scratches accumulate, they make the cookware quite unsightly.

If you ever find yourself in this predicament, here is what you need to do to eliminate the ugly scratch marks.

Removing light scratch marks

The items that you will need;

A scotch-brite pad.
Stainless steel lubricant.
Water
A piece of clean cloth.

The procedure to remove light scratches on your stainless steel cookware:

Get a scotch-brite pad with a shallow scrub depth for the light scratches.
Rub the pad over the scratches on the cookware surface as you follow the grain of the material. It is important to follow the grain since rubbing against the material’s grain will cause even more scratches that will ruin the appearance of your cookware.
Apply the stainless steel lubricant on the surface should they prove tough to remove.
Use the clean piece of cloth to clean the area after clearing the scratches.
Wash the pan with water and hang it to dry.

Removing deeper scratches on the cookware

The items you will need;

Sandpaper with different gradients.
Stainless steel lubricant.
Water
A piece of cloth.

For the deeper scratches, you will need a harsher scrubber like sandpaper to fix the scratches.

To start, you will use sandpaper with a coarse texture to even the surface.

Apply the stainless steel lubricant to the sandpaper and gently scrub the spot with the scratch marks. As explained above, you should follow the grain when scrubbing so as not to leave other unsightly scratch marks on the surface of the cookware.

Use long and even strokes for the best scrubbing results.

Switch to sandpaper with a fine texture to smoothen the finish. Sand the surface of your cookware using long and even strokes until all the scratches disappear.

Rinse the cookware with water and wipe it dry with a clean piece of cloth.

How to fix scratches on non-stick pans

Scratches will develop on your non-stick cookware when you use metal utensils to prepare food.

The scratches will expose the non-stick coating that will get into the food that you are cooking.

This form of contamination can have serious health hazards and that is why you need to fix the scratches as soon as they develop on your non-stick cookware.

Here is how to go about that;

The items you will need,

Non-stick cookware repair spray.
Water and dishwashing soap.
Kitchen towel.

Wash the affected cookware to remove the food particles that are stuck to the surface. Dry the pan with a kitchen towel or a dry piece of cloth.

Spray the non-stick cookware repair spray evenly on the surface of the cookware.

Let the pan settle for 30 minutes as you pre-heat the oven to 500 F. Place the treated pan in the oven for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the pan cool off inside the oven. This will allow the non-stick treatment to bake properly.

Wash the pan with soap and water and dry it with a piece of cloth or kitchen towel. You may find some nice designed towels on sites like Spoonflower. These could also double as kitchen decor when needed.

The scratches on your cookware will have been removed and you will now be able to safely use it to prepare meals in your kitchen.

Conclusion

Scratch marks on your cookware are very unsightly.

They can also have serious health repercussions when they develop on your non-stick cookware since they will expose the non-stick coating that will get into your food and contaminate it.

The tips highlighted above will help you fix those unpleasant scratches on your expensive cookware.

Author
Recent Posts

Emilia

Cooking up a storm in the kitchen and making a mess wherever I go. I bake things, I write things, I do things. Raised in the countryside and a farm girl at heart, my passion is my food and my food is my passion.