When you work in the kitchen or in a food preparation environment, there are many options for the types of surfaces you can work with and on. One of the most preferred surfaces used by chefs and in kitchens around the world is stainless steel, because of the quality it provides. Here is some information about stainless steel supplies and how to get the most from its use.

Benefits of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel takes the durable properties of steel and combines them with approximately 10 to 11 percent chromium. When this metal is created and formed into kitchen surfaces, tools, and appliances, it is exposed to the air and forms film of chromium oxide on its surface.

The chromium oxide coating on your stainless steel takes the place of a non-stick coating, such as Teflon, to make your kitchen surfaces smooth. It is not best to use non-stick coatings that can become scratched and peel off over time while using them, as the non-stick coatings can combine with your food and are harmful when you ingest it. The chromium oxide is a non-toxic coating, which also protects the steel from air and moisture so it does rust. Then, if the surface of your stainless steel is scratched, over time, the scratches will blend together to give the surface its own unique luster.

Stainless steel is resistant to moisture corrosion, which is especially important for your kitchen as you will be working with a lot of wet substances and you don't want surfaces to rust. This makes your stainless steel safe to use for food preparation. It also will not stain and it is easy to clean, as it is a non-porous surface so you can easily polish it to restore its natural shine. You can also use stainless steel to prepare and cook acidic foods without worrying about the acids staining the surfaces.

The combination of steel and chromium is great for removing the smell of onions from your hands. After cutting an onion, place the surface of your hands onto the stainless steel surface. The metals will neutralize the onion's oils and odor on your hands to remove the smell.

Then, stainless steel is durable to withstand high temperatures and not burn or warp when you are cooking foods over a direct flame. Make sure you don't pour cold water into your hot stainless steel pain or bowl, as this can warp the material.

How to Properly Care For and Disinfect Stainless Steel 

When you use stainless steel surfaces, tools, and appliances, their surfaces can receive scratches that can make the surface appear slightly dull. You can remove these blemishes and polish them from the surface by using a copper or metal cleaning product with a soft rag. Apply the product onto the surface of the stainless steel and rub it in with the cloth, buffing away the scratches. You can also use a stainless steel cleaning solution to clean and restore the shine to your kitchen surfaces. Be sure you never use an abrasive cleaning pad or steel wool to clean the surfaces of your tools and appliances, as this can cause permanent scratches in its surface.

When you cook with stainless steel cookware, be sure to allow it to fully cool down from heat before you immerse it into water. Placing a hot stainless steel pain into a sink of water can warp and bend the metals permanently. This can cause your cooking pan or pot warped and bulged so it will no longer sit level on a cooking surface.

When you need to disinfect stainless steel from bacteria and potential microbes or viruses, don't use chloride bleach, as it can corrode the surface. Spray isopropyl alcohol over the surface to be cleaned and let it sit for 20 minutes. Wipe the surface with a cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol and dry the surface with a soft, clean cloth.

Use this information to help you choose and care for your stainless steel kitchen surfaces.