All clad frying pan

[joesfolk]

I saw a large All-Clad frying pan, maybe 12 inches or larger at a Salvation Army store today. It had some kind of coating on it which I presumed was non-stick. The pan needed cleaning. Now my usual method for cleaning stainless steel is to put it in a plastic bag and add a little ammonia. The pans almost wipe clean in the morning. But if that is a non-stick coating the ammonia may make it peel off. So I am wondering if I should buy the pan. It only costs 12.99. Does anyone own an all-clad like this? Is it a non-stick coating or something else? I think even if it is non-stick and the ammonia makes it come off I could end up with a pretty good stainless pan that is not non-stick. What do you think?

[4meandthem]

if the coating is not scratched I would jump on it.
You can't even get a crummy one for 12.99


I would just soak and wash with soap and hot water.

[Robo410]

go for it

[Selkie]

I don't believe your ammonia will hurt a non-stick coating. I'd go for it.

[GB]

For that price I would get it in a second. The worst that happens is you are out $13. The best is that you get an All Clad pan for an insane steal.

[luvs]

i, too, would get that. that's a great deal.

[joesfolk]

Man did I get a deal. I decided to take your advice and went to buy the pan. When I got to the store I discovered that I was mistaken about the price. They only wanted 10.99. So I took the pan up to the register and they charged me 5.50 plus tax. It seems they were having a blue tag special! I got the pan home, washed it and fried an egg. It worked just fine even though the surface of the interior of the pan is a little bunged up. So now I am going to put it in a bag with ammonia to clean the stainless steel and pray that the non-stick coating doesn't come off. I love second hand stores. I got a $160.00 pan for less than $6.00!!

[joesfolk]

Just an update. The ammonia treatment cleaned that pan like a dream. No scrubbing just wiped it off and rinsed and dried it. It's almost like a new pan. What a bargain.

[GB]

That is awesome! You don't see a deal like that everyday.

[mudbug]

and where is this wonderful SA store with the great deals?

[joesfolk]

I got this in Grand Rapids, Mi. But I have found that in order to find the great deals you have to go often. That is true of any second hand store.And personally I don't think they knew what they had. Either that or they didn't know how easy it is to clean stainless steel.

[marylpn]

Hello, what a great deal on your pan. I just purchased a 10 pc set of AC stainless steel which should arrive today. I have never used stainless steel cookware before so I am a little nervous about the cleaning of it. I have read much about BKF, but this is the first time I read about ammonia for cleaning. How do you use it? Would appreciate any advice from all on best way to care for my all clad. Thanks, Mary

[Andy M.]

Originally Posted by marylpn

Hello, what a great deal on your pan. I just purchased a 10 pc set of AC stainless steel which should arrive today. I have never used stainless steel cookware before so I am a little nervous about the cleaning of it. I have read much about BKF, but this is the first time I read about ammonia for cleaning. How do you use it? Would appreciate any advice from all on best way to care for my all clad. Thanks, Mary

Mary, welcome to DC.

Ammonia cleaning is for heavy duty caked on crud perhaps from never being cleaned properly or from badly burned on food. It's not necessary for everyday cleaning. Soap and water and occasional BKF will do the trick.

[marylpn]

Thanks Andy,
This is such a great site!
I have always used non-stick cookware so this is going to be a different experience for me and I want to get it right! I love the beauty of SS, and hope to keep it looking nice.
Happy New Year! Mary

[LindaZ]

I am so jealous - I never find anything good in second hand stores. My last All Clad cost me over $300.00 - it's the electric skillet, which I love and it does clean up nicely, even without the non stick coating. Great find!

[joesfolk]

Andy is right. Ammonia cleaning is for bad crud. Everyday cleaning does not require ammonia. I have a very old pan that my dh uses to make popcorn. This pan is something of a legacy from his father and he refuses to get rid of it. But after 50 years of making popcorn it was disgusting. I refused to even have it sit out on my stove. (Dh feels that cleaning it will ruin it.) At one time I took it to the truck mechanics at work and asked them if they could clean the outside of the pan so that I could stand to have it in the house. They tried steaming it like they do truck engines but that did nothing. Then they spent two hours using a sander on it and it did come out nicely clean. But it only took a couple of more years for it to be disqusting again. I decided to take a chance and try to clean it as I do grill grates. I put it in a large leakproof plastic bag with a couple of cups of ammonia and sealed it well. I left it in the bag overnight. In the morning I took it to the sink and the crud just wiped off with one finger. It was amazing. Now I clean all badly grimed pans with it. However, pans that have coatings on them can be destroyed using this method. The ammonia can just lift the coating right off as it does the grime. But I got lucky and it did not take the coating off my all clad pan. My general theory is if the pan is so bad that it needs to be thrown away I might as well try the ammonia procedure. I have been able to save several of my brothers pans this way. Oh, and just so you know, I leave the bag with the amonia and the pan it it outside on the deck overnight. Then I open it out there in the morning and take the pan out. Be careful because those ammonia fumes can be powerful. Ater the fumes have dissipated somewhat I pour the ammonia down the drain.

[marylpn]

Thanks for the information! After reading many posts I think I will stock up on BKF ;-)
As you can see from my posts, a little nervous about ruining my AC. Never used SS before and I have read so many different do's and don'ts that it's driving me crazy! So if you guys don't mind "dumb" questions, I will look to you for your expertise!
Thanks, Mary