21
votes
Why did my rum cake turn black?
This is an interesting question. Personally I would throw it out, the discoloration and resulting taste are the result of a chemical reaction with the pan.
The brownish discoloration is a sign that ...
- 13.8k
18
votes
Why did my rum cake turn black?
Aluminum cookware is "reactive", as opposed to "non-reactive" cookware like glass or stainless steel. When cooking acidic ingredients, a reaction occurs that can discolor food and sometimes leave a ...
- 73.8k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I know what kind of coating is on this pan?
Whitford is, in fact, a chemical company that makes nonstick coatings, so the label makes sense. Since 2016 they've been offering PTFE (Teflon) without PFOA, so that's most likely what the coating on ...
- 61.4k
6
votes
Why did my rum cake turn black?
It is unlikely but possible that it is unsafe to eat. This study of aluminum leaching from pans during cooking of acidic liquids (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1397396) showed a levels as high ...
- 154
5
votes
Seasoning old non-stick aluminum pan?
I tried seasoning an aluminium kawali and was pretty successful doing this.
I cleaned it very well and then layered it with a bit of oil (use peanut or canola) and then baked it outside on the bbq (or ...
- 51
4
votes
Accepted
What is this rust-like stain on my aluminum pot, and how do I clean it?
This will be from an electrochemical reaction between the can (mostly iron I think) and the water and possibly the aluminum (a better chemist than me would be able to tell you).
Aluminum has a ...
- 13.8k
4
votes
How do I know what kind of coating is on this pan?
I think this means that the Whitford company has a "house recipe" for a pan coating that is not teflon-based ("Sans PFOA" means without a helper chemical that was used in teflon ...
- 3,518
3
votes
Accepted
How to clean aluminum with lye "stains"
A weak acid solution should do it - you could use a dilute (white) vinegar solution for some time. How dilute, I don't know, but I would start with a 1:100 dilution, then incubate for an hour and see ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
Need help cleaning an old aluminum coffee pot
You can buy kitchen-safe aluminium cleaner & descaler - the white could easily be limescale.
If you look at 'home-style' cleaning guides, then everybody seems to have a different opinion - some ...
- 29.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Something dark gray coming off of sheet pan after scouring
It is oxidised aluminium (Al2O3). This is formed by oxidising with the oxygen in the air to form the aluminium oxide. Al2O3 forms a very thin (4 nm) impermeable layer on your Al, which prevents ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
Accepted
How to clean stains from anodized aluminum pans?
This looks like you are starting to getting a layer of polymerized oil on the pan, like the seasoning on a cast iron pan.
I wouldn't try removing it. The usual methods are either using a strong base ...
- 136k
3
votes
Durable loaf pans for quick breads?
You asked for 'durable'. What's wrong with 'proper' traditional pressed steel?
Sure they take a while to season in properly, but after that, they last a lifetime… or two… or three.
I'm still using ...
- 29.7k
3
votes
Do I need to season an old cast-aluminum pan?
Yes, cast aluminum should be seasoned. Here are some instructions from cookingforengineers.com:
How Do I Season It?
Wash the cookware with hot soapy water.
Dry it and then coat it thoroughly with ...
- 1,420
2
votes
What material wok did I get while thrifting today?
Mine was purchased a few days ago at HKD128 (discounted) at IKEA.
It's definitely not aluminum as magnets are attracted to it very strongly. It feels like steel but not sure if it's carbon steel.
It ...
- 21
2
votes
What material wok did I get while thrifting today?
IKEA cast iron skillet that sells for about $179. Going to look different because it’s not as heavy as a cast-iron frying pan. But it is indeed a cast-iron pot and you have to treat it the same way as ...
2
votes
What determines if the handle of a pan gets hot while in use?
The other consideration that I've see is ... how big a gas burner do you run it on? If the flames come up the side of the pan then they heat the handle from hot gas and not from conduction from the ...
- 156
2
votes
Can't make an omelette in my all-clad pan because of sticking
It also happens to me sometimes, what I suggest you do is spread oil uniformly on the pan and make sure you pour the egg in the middle of the pan. If the pan has oil on all sides it does not matter if ...
- 31
2
votes
Used Metal Knife on Aluminum Cake Pan, is it Ruined?
Steel (as used in knives) will always scratch aluminium, which is really quite a soft metal. Glass and even some plastics can mark it quite noticeably as can storing aluminium pans stacked together. ...
- 43.7k
2
votes
Should I have more than one dishwashing soap?
Aluminum cleaners typically contain mild/organic acids and sometimes also contain abrasives, to help remove oxidation. The black color may very well be aluminum oxide which is a cleaning abrasive (a ...
- 166
2
votes
Accepted
Thermal Properties of Seasoned vs Anodized Aluminum?
A surface insulating layer (whether deliberate anodising, natural oxidation, or seasoning) will only really affect the heat flow through that layer from the bulk metal into the food on top. It won't ...
- 43.7k
2
votes
Accepted
What could be the history of this pan?
That logo seems pretty clear: it's Club Aluminum Cookware. The unpainted finish, "hammered" brand, and wood handle suggest that it's from the early history of the company -- between 1923 ...
- 61.4k
2
votes
Can I use a metal spoon on aluminium pans?
On an aluminium pan, no, it's fine. It's only teflon, AFAIK, that is dangerous.
However, sticking to something like wooden spatulas will be better for your pan and make it last longer.
- 308
1
vote
Remove burned-in oil from aluminum pan
The ultimate way to remove burnt-on stuff from aluminium is a motorised wire brush. Solid brass is fairly aggressive but manageable (watch out for brass-plated steel, which is too hard). Sets are ...
- 43.7k
1
vote
Something dark gray coming off of sheet pan after scouring
Never use steel wool on an aluminum pans or put in the dishwasher. It damages the surface and as others have said, provides fresh O2 to form oxides. Use scrubby sponges or brushes after soaking if ...
1
vote
Keeping an aluminium dish in a convection microwave
A combo oven acts no differently in each separate mode, than they would as single separate appliances. Metal in a microwave = light show and ruined oven. Metal in convection oven is perfectly ok. Just ...
- 59
1
vote
What squeezes out juice better, auger or press?
Personally I prefer a wooden reamer.
My preference is based on durability and ease of general long term maintenance. Also because it just kinda looks cool.
From a standpoint of maintenance and long-...
- 3,022
1
vote
Accepted
What squeezes out juice better, auger or press?
Looks like the top apparatus gets my vote:
takes care of breaking up the juice vesicles and the pressure of the top plunger helps squeeze it out.
I find so many unpopped juice vesicles in my Mexican ...
- 5,434
1
vote
Can't make an omelette in my all-clad pan because of sticking
Moving the vegetables around is going to disrupt the uniformity of the layer of oil on the pan, which you are going to need for something like an omelette in an aluminum pan. Or even just having the ...
- 3,634
1
vote
Accepted
Durable loaf pans for quick breads?
My favorite pans for baking are 100% pure aluminum.
You are right in that they need to be treated in order for the bread to not stick- you can grease and flour them, or as I do, line with parchment ...
- 111
1
vote
Durable loaf pans for quick breads?
I used to use "bakers secret" ("Grey non-stick silicone based coating" on a steel pan) but my sloth always caught up with me eventually (left too long in the sink they will rust) - once the coating is ...
- 15.7k
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