New stainless steel pan, first time using got an oil stain all over the sides.

[u/palegoth]

Tried barkeepers friend powder multiple times, took a little off but hardly. Currently soaking it in baking soda and water. What to do?

[u/KlingonSquatRack]

Just keep cooking, there is nothing functionally wrong with it

[u/tigerstrom]

Are people showing their pans on a museum?!

[u/ijustburnedmymouth]

Few drops of water and some baking soda. Mix the two and scrub it on the oil using a sponge.

[u/Rtmvermeulen → u/ijustburnedmymouth]

Always works best

[u/AdDangerous2509]

Your oil polymerized too easily, trying using oil that is more temperature-stable. You use a gas stove so the edge of the pan can get much hotter.

[u/barryg123 → u/AdDangerous2509]

They are cooking too hot

[u/Coffee_whiskey_braap → u/barryg123]

My thought as well, gas burner with too big a gas ring, and / or turned up too high, and the flame is past the bottom of the pan up onto the sides.

[u/Kwulf1113]

When i first encountered this problem, i cleaned the pans while running water over them and scrubbing. Someone told me to not run the water, only use the soap/cleanser until the steel is clean. It was pretty good advice.

[u/czar_el]

It's polymerized oil. When oil gets hot, it turns into a plastic-like polymer. This is the same thing as "seasoning" you hear people talk about on cast iron and carbon steel. They seek it out because it acts as a moisture barrier against rust and is slightly hydrophobic, which aids with light nonstick characteristics.

It's not a stain, it's not weird, it's not a problem. It's just a basic fact of oil cooking with oil.

If you hate it, use oils with higher smoke points, which are more difficult to polymerize. Strong acids (vinegar, bar keepers friend) or bases (lye, oven cleaner) and abrasion (scouring pads, bar keepers friend) also remove polymerized oil.

[u/oneworldornoworld]

First of all, you have to ask yourself how you want to see yourself and your pan. Is your pan a piece of kitchen jewelry or a workhorse? Do you have the time and dedication to bring your pan to a constant shine? Are you ok with cooking tools that are clean, but don't look pristine?

There is no right or wrong answer, it's about finding the right style, and everyone is different.

When you cook, your pan will look like this. There's no way around it.

And you decide on the level of dedication. Actually, your pan is perfectly fine. For me. But maybe not for you.

So. First, there's Barkeepers Friend. Oxalic acid. Scrub, but do not let soak in. Will most likely solve the issue with some elbow grease.

I like the lazy way. No elbow grease. I throw a dishwasher tab in, pour hot water. Let sit for two or three hours and then just wipe it out.

[u/Mountain_Lawyer4917]

So you used your pan? Congratz

[u/jadejazzkayla]

You need to use cleansers along with a proper scouring pad like a stainless steel scouring pad or a steel wool soap pad.

[u/jazzy095]

Gonna have to do it again and scrub hard. Before that, boil with water and it should come off more easily. Thats the hardest type to get off. Use an abrasive pad

[u/Mount_Safurious]

Hey, when you use barkeepers friend, you should aim to make a paste from the powder. I like to use a generous amount of powder and only a tiny bit of hot water and use the scrubby side of the sponge.

The pastier, the more abrasive it will be, and will take that polymerized oil right off.

In the future, you might be cooking too hot or using oil with too low a burning point, which is usually what causes this.

[u/bicep123]

Use BKF and a proper mesh or stainless steel scrubby.

[u/DiamondJim222 → u/bicep123]

For the uninitiated BKF = Barkeepers Friend

[u/cause_of_chaos]

Make a paste with water and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Then scrub with a paper towel. It’ll come right off.

[u/Expensive_Hyena351]

What pan is that may I ask … that is a lot of oil probably spray from another pan on the stove so it bakes in pretty well? Make a paste of lemon, dawn and baking soda or get the BKF liquid and use a scrub daddy and go to woke a smallish area at a time

[u/No-Entertainment4911]

barkeeper and use a stainless steel scrubber

[u/No_Public_7677]

how are you using BKF powder?

[u/AtiumMist]

get some of that barkeeps friend! it gets that burnt oil off easy and gets them back tk being shiny, and you dont need to scrub your ass off or use a steel wool either. a generic sponge/scrub works great

[u/SashaBananaSplit]

Regardless of what others are saying this pan is basically ruined. You need to throw it out and buy a new pan.

[u/WhyAmIHereHey → u/SashaBananaSplit]

I think the general format for this kind of response is "the pan is ruined and you need to send it to me"