How To Clean Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Do stainless steel mixing bowls require more maintenance than glass, ceramic, or plastic? Do you need special scrubbers to keep them in tip-top shape? What are the best stainless mixing bowls? If you have questions on stainless steel mixing bowls, you've come to the right place.

Cleaning stainless steel mixing bowls is just as easy as cleaning the rest of your dishes. There are three ways to clean your stainless steel bowls:

• Basic Wash
• Dishwasher
• Sanitization 

Never use abrasive cleaners or scrubbing tools, and always dry any excess moisture off your bowls before storing them.

While keeping your stainless steel mixing bowls clean isn't too difficult, you'll want to keep them clean and shiny for as long as possible. Keep reading to learn more about how to keep your stainless steel bowls glistening.

Methods For Cleaning Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Basic Wash 

A basic wash is performed in the same way as you would hand-wash any other dish in your cabinet. When performing a basic wash on your stainless steel mixing bowl, you need to avoid using any type of abrasive tools. Using steel wool or anything similar could scratch the protective layer on the bowl, allowing a prime opportunity for rust to set in.

Follow these easy steps for the best basic wash:

1. Fill your sink or washtub with warm, soapy water.
2. Put your bowls in the sink, if there is stuck-on food you can allow the bowls to soak for a few minutes.
3. Use a microfiber or cotton cloth to gently clean your bowls.
4. Rinse, dry completely, and put away.

AmazonBasics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

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Dishwasher

When you wash your stainless steel bowls in the dishwasher, you can treat them the same as the rest of your dishwasher-safe cookware. Try to avoid using powder or pod type soaps when washing your bowls. These are more abrasive than gel, and may slowly start to scuff up your bowls, wearing away at the protective layer.

Simply follow these easy steps for a successful cleaning in the dishwasher:

1. Load your dishwasher as you normally would.
2. Allow the dishwasher to run its full cycle.
3. Use a soft, dry cloth to thoroughly remove any remaining moisture from the bowls before storing them.

Seventh Generation Gel Dishwasher Detergent

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Sanitization

Sanitizing your dishes is an important step in food preparation. This will help to keep your mixing bowls bacteria-free and safe to use. Since the hot water method requires water at dangerously high temperatures, the bleach method is a little easier and safer. Use scent-free, regular bleach for disinfecting your dishes. Some dishwashers do have a sanitizing cycle as well, which is another very effective way to sanitize your bowls.

To Sanitize with Bleach:

1. Wash your bowls using the basic clean method.
2. Fill your sink or washtub with a mixture of cool water and bleach, 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
3. Allow the bowls to soak for 10 minutes.
4. Rinse the bowls well in cool water.
5. Perform a basic wash, or run bowls through the dishwasher, as described above.

To Sanitize with Hot Water:

1. Fill your sink with hot water, at least 170° F.
2. Soak the bowls for at least 30 seconds, making sure they are fully submerged.
3. Remove the bowls carefully wearing gloves, remove excess moisture, and store.

Clorox Regular Disinfecting Bleach

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What Should You Not Use On Stainless Steel?

While stainless steel is a pretty tough material, there are a few cleaning materials that you should never use on stainless steel. These materials include:

• Steel wool
• Scouring pads
• Abrasive detergents
• Undiluted bleach

Using any of these harsh cleaning tools can damage the protective layer on your stainless steel bowls. Once the protective layer gets a deep scratch or begins to wear down, rust can begin to form. The small grooves caused by scratches in the protective layer can also be a haven for bacteria, leading to a more frequent need to sanitize.

It is also extremely important to keep your steel mixing bowls dry. Never let water sit on them for extended periods of time as this will surely lead to rust.

Do You Need To Clean Your Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls After Every Use?

Yes, you do need to clean your bowls after every use, otherwise, you are inviting bacteria growth and potential

illness. Most of the time a basic wash or a run through the dishwasher should be enough. If you use the bowl for raw meat, raw eggs, or dairy, you may want to sanitize the bowl. If the bowl has not been used for a long time and has collected a layer of dust, sanitize it before using it.

What Are The Best Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls? 

Stainless steel mixing bowls are a kitchen staple. If you don't have any yet, now is your time to add some to your kitchen. We compiled a list of some of the best stainless steel mixing bowls that you can find on Amazon. Check them out:

Avacraft Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

There's no questioning the convenience of these Avacraft Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls. The silicone base on the bottom provides an incredible non-slip feature that grips well and prevents spills. They also have a silicone handle to hang onto while stirring and a spout to make pouring mess-free. Each bowl comes with a lid for food storage. The bowls are refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher safe.

Click here to see more on Amazon.

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

This set includes 6 nested stainless steel mixing bowls. They're easy to clean, save space, and very lightweight. The bottom of each bowl clearly lists its capacity. With 6 different size bowls, you're sure to always have the capacity that you need.

Click here to see more on Amazon.

OXO Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

These OXO Good Grips stainless steel mixing bowls look totally sleek. The set of 3 bowls perfectly nest into each other, making storage easy. The bottom of each bowl has a non-skid surface that makes them stable. The bowls are dishwasher safe and insulate heat to keep your hands safe.

Click here to see more on Amazon.

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

These Cuisinart stainless steel mixing bowls are crafted from durable stainless steel. They come with lids for added convenience. The bowls are dishwasher, refrigerator, and even freezer safe.

Click here to see more on Amazon.

How Do You Make Stainless Steel Look New Again?

To remove hard water stains, or to bring the shine back to your old mixing bowls, try using distilled white vinegar. Use a clean microfiber cloth and pure vinegar to scrub away any hard water residue. After using the vinegar, rinse the bowls well and then perform a basic wash. Don't forget to dry your bowls well before putting them back in storage.

Distilled White Vinegar

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How Do You Remove Rust From A Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl?

Once rust begins setting in on your mixing bowls, it's a sure sign that the protective layer on the steel has been breached. At this point, you will need to remove the rust using abrasive cleaners. Over time, this will result in further damage to the protective layer and more rust. At this point it is best to invest in a new set of mixing bowls; however, if you want to get a few more uses out of your current set, read the steps below on how to remove rust.

To Remove Rust:

1. Mix baking soda and distilled white vinegar into a paste-like consistency.
2. Spread the paste over any area showing rust.
3. Allow the paste to sit for at least one hour. If the rust is stubborn, you can leave it for as long as three hours.
4. Use a non-scratch scrubbing pad to gently scrub the bowl, concentrating on rusty areas.
5. Rinse with warm water and perform a basic wash.

This process will likely need to be repeated a least once a month to keep to rust at bay. Once you start using this method, the rust will start to spread as well, resulting in even more maintenance.

Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scouring Pads

Click here to see more on Amazon. 

In Closing

Stainless steel mixing bowls are extremely convenient, and now you know that they're not too hard to care for. Investing in a good set of stainless steel bowls can help you succeed in the kitchen. They can be useful for food prep, storage, and even measuring. Remember to have fun while you're mixing up a fantastic meal in your new stainless steel bowls!

Now that you know how to keep your stainless steel bowls sparkling, you may be interested in reading our post "How Long Do Kitchen Knives Last?"

Mixing bowls are taken care of, now our post "What Types of Pot is Best For Boiling Water?" can help you choose your next set of pots.