Barkeeper's Friend: Stainless Freaks! You need this!
Written: Mar 13 '06 (Updated Dec 15 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Highly effective, gentle, easy to use
Cons: Some say it's hard to find. Doesn't do grease.
The Bottom Line: A must have product for stainless steel users. Keeps your stainless looking new.
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| rudixeno's Full Review: Servaas Laboratories Barkeeper's Friend Cleanser 1... |
If you cook with stainless steel (and I cook with almost nothing else) Barkeeper's Friend is a must have product.
My choice in cookware is Tramontina Triply Clad Cookware. It was the subject of my very first review and how I got sucked into this place. Indistinguishable from All Clad in all respects with the exception that after you pay for it you can still afford to eat.
Anyone who cooks with stainless has on occasion discolored a pot. Maybe you left it on too high a heat setting or let the pot boil out while you were sucking down the dry white wine you were supposed to be cooking with. No matter, we've all been there.
Now some people (Mrs. Xeno comes to mind) really have no problem allowing their pots to remain discolored. "It adds character to them". But it drives me crazy. I like my cookware to look like surgical instruments, shiny and gleaming with no spots and no stains. The same goes for my cutlery.
What's funny about this is that in all other respects I'm what you might refer to as......what's that technical term? Oh yeah, a pig! Walk into my workshop or lab or god forbid look into my aging Jeep Cherokee and you'd swear Dracula never did anything that bad! Totally oblivious to the mess and disorder.
But when it comes to my kitchen, a different story. This is where the good doctor operates and I demand perfection.
When I first started researching stainless I kept finding references to Bartender's Friend, Barkeeper's Friend, Bartender's Buddy on various cooking posts. I thought it was some closely held secret known primarily to Saloon Keeper's. Some magic potion.
Then one day while shopping for some cleaners for the house I saw a can of Barkeeper's Friend (BKF) sitting there on the shelf right next to the Comet and Bon Ami. A score I thought. So, for 2 bucks I picked up one of the many cans of this stuff I've since used.
Quickly reading the directions I put a little bit of water and sprinkled some BKF into a 3 Qt sauce pot that was very color of the rainbow and in a few swirls of a sponge and a rinse the pot was looking brand new again. Cool, I thought. Mrs. Xeno and I probably wouldn't have to meet with the counselor again.
Next I took an old Farberware stock pot that I have owned forever. The pot over the years had picked up all manner of stains from years of simmering acidic ingredients. I figured there was just no saving this one. The directions suggested adding a small amount of water to some BKF to make a paste. So, it's just what I did. A few minutes of working the paste around the pot with a little green plastic scrubby and what do you know, a spotless pot.
But Wait, There's More!
Have always wanted to say that! BKF is also a polish. So buffing for a few more moments with a dryish paper towel, this ancient relic actually gleamed. Good God, I love this stuff!
What's the Difference?
The difference between Barkeeper's Friend and say Comet or Ajax is two-fold. Barkeeper's Friend contains Oxalic Acid (don't be frightened). Being more than at home in a chemistry lab, I know that nothing removes rust quite so well as oxalic acid (phosphoric acid comes close).
Comet and Ajax contain a chlorine based bleach and depend on powerful abrasives to do their thing. They scratch.
BKF claims to contain no abrasives in it so it won't scratch your stainless. Now honestly, there has to be some abrasive component in order for it to work, but it's so fine it will leave no evidence.
The maker's of Barkeeper's Friend do say that you shouldn't leave the paste on a stubborn stain for more than a minute. The small amount of oxalic acid could in fact etch the metal of your pot. But, I've left it on for as long as five minutes without damaging the metal. But, better safe than sorry. Especially if you just paid $250 for the All Clad Jumbo 6Qt Cooker. (What the hell were you thinking?)
Use on Cutlery
If you use high carbon content stainless steel knives, you know the mfr usually recommends hand cleaning and drying. And, in the beginning it's what we all do, if for no other reason than to spare the Rosewood handles. But as we get lazier (or your spouse uses them) they find their way into the dishwasher. Now if we remembered to take them right out and hand towel them immediately, no problem. But who really does that? So you find your knives spotted or god forbid rusted (Yes Virginia, good knives will rust!) a sprinkle of BKF and a brisk rub with a sponge will save the day.
If you're addicted to stainless steel and haven't discovered Barkeeper's Friend, go to the market, part with about 2 bucks and try it. You'll be amazed at its gentle effectiveness.
What doesn't it do?
Ever turn your frying pan over and notice the bottom is caked with a thick coating of burned on grease and who knows what else? Of course you have. I have. I reached for the BKF. No sweat I thought. Well I thought wrong. BKF will not remove caked, baked and otherwise scorched crud from the bottom of your pans. Don't bother trying. It's not going to work. It's not a degreaser and its abrasives are too fine for the job.
For this task (the bottom of your pots only) if you prefer powdered cleaners, think ZUD!
To read about an incredible stainless best buy see:
Tramontina TriPly Stainless Cookware
Recommended:
Yes
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rudixeno
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Member: Rudi Xeno
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Reviews written: 195
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About Me:
"Nothing is to be more highly prized than the value of each day"
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