Why do my stainless steel pans look so bad out of the dishwasher?
Stainless steel utensils look very nice when they are new. But, as they become old, the original look and shine of the metal is lost. We need to maintain these utensils in order to keep them looking new forever. Cleaning them with a good organic cleaner would do the need full. These kinds of cleaners do not harm the metal and thus the quality of the metal is not harmed and the metal remains clean all through.
I have All Clad stainless pans. Often, after browning residue is washed off (by hand or by machine) I see white splotches. It’s odd because the surface feels smooth and clean. I’ve used different types of detergent and various wash cycles, but hand-washing with an abrasive is what works. (Bon Ami is gentler than Barkeeper’s Friend, if you want an alternative.) All I can tell you is that it’s normal. I’ve talked with several friends and relatives who also have stainless-steel pans, and they all experience the same thing. None of us knows how to prevent the blotches. Even using more fat when browning doesn’t seem to make a difference. Now that I’ve had my pans for a long time, it doesn’t bother me. If I don’t scrub off the smudges for a while, they don’t affect cooking or the taste of the food, and they don’t become harder to remove. By the way, I live in a soft-water area.
