In article >,
says...
>
> sf wrote:
>
> > On 21 Jan 2011 16:05:14 GMT, "Gareth Fimlinson" >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > is anybody familiar with the discoloring of stainless steel pots
> > > from overheating?
> > >
> > > I saw a manual for one that said "damage from overheating is
> > > instantly recognizable as the stainless steel surface may change
> > > color producing a golden/brown/blue appearance. This is not
> > > reversable and cannot be cleaned off. However it will not affect
> > > performance in any way".
> > >
> > > Does this sound familiar to people?
> >
> > Yes. That's one of the reasons why I didn't get the mirror finish
> > when I spent what I consider "real money" on cookware.
>
>
> Any idea what the mirror finish is made of?
>
> What the discoloring is.
>
> Are there any leakage or health issues with using it after it has
> discolored?
>
> If it can be removed then why does it bother you?
>
> What makes make stainless steel pots without the mirror finish?
>
> I do want it to be metal inside.
>
> Looking at this pot,
>
> http://www.lecreuset.co.uk/Product-R...-and-Lid-20cm/
>
> the upper side and bottom side of the lid of the pot is very mirror
> like. I've seen it.. But i'm not sure whether you'd say that of the
> inside.
>
> Has anybody seen discoloring on pots that don't have a mirror like
> finish? Were people that have seen discoloring on their pots, able to
> see their face on the surface where the discoloring was?
> (that would help determine if pots without the mirror finish
> wouldn't/couldn't ever get discolored from I suppose, the accident of
> overheating dry).

This isn't anything that is magically related to shiny finishes or
stainless steel. Heat most steels to around 580F and they'll turn blue
(don't go quite so high you get yellow, go higher you get gray). It's
oxidation, it's normal, and it's telling you things about the state of
heat-treatment--it's badness on knives, chisels, drill bits and the like
because it means that you've softened the edge, but on pots and pans it
shouldn't make any difference at all.

You'll also see it on motorcycle exhausts.

There's some stuff called "Blue Job" that you can get at some motorcycle
shops that is supposed to take it off without scratching but it still
takes some scrubbing.

It can also be removed electrochemically but I don't know of a tested
process that can be done with stuff commonly found in the home or
readily available from Home Despot and Rat Shack.