How to Clean Anodized Pans [5 Methods That Won’t Damage the Surface]

If you’re looking for a workhorse kitchen pan that isn’t going to break the bank, you’ve probably considered – and likely bought – an anodized aluminum pan.

They’re cheaper than stainless steel, easier to cook on than Teflon, and more durable than standard aluminum. Unfortunately, these pans can also be difficult to maintain as they’re not dishwasher safe. Once you’ve made the purchase, you need to brush up on how to clean anodized pans.

Anodized pans can be cleaned using baking soda, vinegar with dish soap, a lemon with some salt, cream of tartar, or Bar Keeper’s Friend Cleanser (not Cookware). No matter which method you choose, the key is a little bit of acid and a lot of gentle scrubbing. Never put anodized aluminum in the dishwasher, as it will break down the non-stick coating.

Keep reading to learn all about anodized cookware, including the best ways to remove stubborn grease, regular maintenance, and what exactly anodizing aluminum does.

How do you clean anodized cookware?

Anodized cookware is popular because it’s durable, conducts heat well, and won’t leach harmless metals into your food like untreated aluminum may. Unfortunately, it’s not dishwasher safe and can be difficult to keep clean at times.

For daily cleaning of anodized cookware, soak the cooled pan in hot, soapy water then scrub gently with a non-abrasive sponge. For heavy stains or built-up grease, use natural scrubbers like baking soda or salt, household acids like cream of tartar, lemon juice, or vinegar, or the popular Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser.

Anodized aluminum is durable and scratch-resistant, but it can still be damaged by excessive scrubbing or metal utensils.

Can you put anodized cookware in the dishwasher?

Anodized cookware is generally considered to be low maintenance, but it does require special maintenance to keep it performing at its best.

Anodized cookware should be hand-washed and should not be put in the dishwasher.

Dishwashing detergent is more abrasive than standard dish soap and may damage the coating. Once the coating is damaged, the heat of the dishwasher may also cause further damage to the uncoated aluminum beneath.

Can Calphalon pans go in the dishwasher?

What is the process of anodizing aluminum?

Anodized aluminum can be created in two ways, both of which create a long-lasting, non-stick coating on an aluminum surface.

Anodizing aluminum can be done in one of two ways:

1. Standard anodizing – The cookware is submerged in sulphuric acid while an electrical charge is passed through the tank. This causes oxygen ions to be released and the anodic coating to be developed.
2. Hard-anodizing – Hard-anodized pans include a second coating wherein the acid solution is cooled significantly and the electric current is increased. This type of pan has a thicker, smoother coating than one created using the standard process.

How do you maintain anodized aluminum?

No matter what type of anodized aluminum pan you purchase, the maintenance will be the same.

Never put anodized aluminum pans in the dishwasher. After use, allow the pan to cool completely, then wash in hot, soapy water. Non-abrasive scrubbers can be used for stuck-on food.

Cooking with silicone or wooden utensils is recommended; never use metal utensils or steel wool on your anodized aluminum cookware! Scratches in the surface will compromise the effectiveness of your pan, and potentially cause chemicals to leach into your food from the aluminum base.

Before first use

When you first take your anodized pan out of the box, you should do exactly what you do with anything else in your kitchen before you put food on it: wash it!

Before using your new anodized aluminum pan for the first time, wash it thoroughly in hot, soapy water, rinse with fresh water, and dry immediately with a clean dishtowel.

This will help remove any residue as well as any nastiness that might have been picked up in shipping.

Everyday cleaning

While you shouldn’t plan on tossing your anodized aluminum pans in the dishwasher, daily maintenance shouldn’t be an inconvenience.

Once the pan has cooled, wash it in hot, soapy water using a dish towel, a non-abrasive sponge, or a soft bristle brush. If there is any stubborn residue, let the pan soak in the soapy water for about 15 minutes then scrub gently to remove.

Never use abrasive cleaners or sponges as they can scratch the coating.

Once the pan is clean, rinse it thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a clean dishtowel.

Top tip: Some brands advertise their hard-anodized aluminum pans as being dishwasher safe. Read the fineprint and you’ll notice that they actually recommend washing your new cookware by hand to preserve the non-stick qualities and keep it look new!

Exterior

One downside to anodized aluminum is that the exterior tends to get dirty and look much older than the coated interior.

Clean baked-on grease off the exterior of your anodized pans by applying a liberal coating of an anodized surface-friendly cleaner and scrubbing gently.

You can pick up a specialty cleaner if you’re so inclined, or you can check out the five methods I’ve listed below for deep cleaning your anodized pans.

5 ways to deep clean anodized pans that won’t damage the non-stick surface

While they’re in good condition, nothing cooks like an anodized pan! I was thrilled the first time I used mine, but after about a year, it stopped being as non-stick as I remember. At first, I thought it was just wearing out – I do use it 3-4 times a week – but it turns out it just needed a little extra TLC.

To deep clean your anodized pans, try:

1. Baking soda
2. Dish soap and vinegar
3. Salt and lemon
4. Cream of tartar
5. Bar Keepers Friend

Each of these methods works either by adding a bit of acid or using a slightly abrasive cleaner to loosen the baked-on grease. If one method doesn’t work for you, rinse the pan and try another!

1. Baking soda

Baking soda is an amazing natural cleaner and pretty much every kitchen has a box of it.

Remove burn marks and other stains from your anodized pans with baking soda by following these steps:

1. Create a paste – Make a thick paste of 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water. You’ll want to have enough to coat the pan at least twice, so I recommend using ½ cup baking soda and ¼ cup water.
2. Coat the pan – Slather the paste over the pan using your fingers.
3. Let sit – Allow the baking soda to sit for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour. The paste should still be slightly wet.
4. Wipe off the paste – Using hot water and a towel or non-abrasive sponge, remove the paste from your pan. You can scrub gently using a circular motion.
5. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan in hot water to remove any residue.
6. Repeat if necessary – You can repeat this process again, or try one of the other suggestions to break up any baked-on grease.

This cleaning method can be used for both the interior and exterior of your anodized pan.

2. Dish soap and vinegar

If you’re into natural cleaners, chances are you already know how versatile distilled white vinegar is.

To clean stuck-on food particles off your anodized pan using vinegar, follow these steps:

1. Make a vinegar bath – Using 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, fill your sink with enough cleaning solution to submerge your pan. For my sink, I use 1½ gallons of water and ½ gallon of vinegar, but your mileage may vary depending on the size of your sink and pan. Hot water isn’t necessary for this step.
2. Soak your anodized aluminum pan in the vinegar bath – Let the pan soak for 15 minutes.
3. Gently scrub the build-up away – Using a non-abrasive sponge or soft-bristle brush, scrub the pan using small circular motions to remove any remaining food particles or grease.
4. Empty the sink – Refill with hot, soapy water as normal.
5. Wash the pan – Wash the pan the same as you would normally. Any remaining food should be easy to remove. Make sure you wash the handle and outside of the pan to remove any vinegar residue.
6. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan using fresh water.
7. Dry the pan – Using a clean dish towel, dry the pan completely.

3. Salt and lemon

If you’d like to attack the build-up by employing both acid and a naturally abrasive product, a paste made of salt and lemon juice is a great option.

To clean an anodized aluminum pan using salt and lemon, you should:

1. Make a paste – Make a paste of equal parts salt and lemon juice. I recommend starting with ¼-½ cup of paste.
2. Coat the pan – Slather the paste over the pan using your fingers.
3. Let sit – Allow the mixture to sit, but do not exceed 30 minutes.
4. Scrub the pan – Using hot water and a towel or non-abrasive sponge, remove the paste from your pan. You can scrub gently using a circular motion.
5. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan in hot water to remove any residue.
6. Dry the pan – Using a clean dish towel, dry the pan completely.

Leaving the lemon on your pan for too long can damage the coating, so make sure you set a timer!

4. Cream of tartar

Cream of tartar has a wide variety of uses in baking, but I bet you’ve never considered it as a cleanser. Surprisingly, the same properties that make it good for making makeshift buttermilk also make it acidic enough to clean your anodized bans.

Follow these steps to use cream of tartar to clean both the inside and outside of your anodized aluminum pan:

1. Create a paste – Make a paste of equal parts water and cream of tartar. I recommend starting with ¼-½ cup of paste.
2. Coat the pan – Slather the paste over the pan using your fingers.
3. Let sit – Allow the baking soda to sit for 10 minutes.
4. Wipe off the paste – Using hot water and a towel or non-abrasive sponge, remove the paste from your pan. You can scrub gently using a circular motion.
5. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan in hot water to remove any residue.
6. Dry the pan – Using a clean dish towel, dry the pan completely.

This cleaning method can be used for both the inside and outside of your pans, although it is more effective on stains than buildup.

5. Bar Keepers Friend 

Bar Keepers Friend is a popular powder cleaner that claims to be a powerful, yet gentle cleanser. For anodized cookware, make sure you use Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser – not the one labeled for Cookware, as that one is more abrasive.

Clean your anodized pans with Bar Keepers Friend by following these steps:

1. Wet the pan – Use warm water and wet the stained surface of the pan.
2. Sprinkle BKF over the pan – Most stains don’t require much product, so start with just a little bit. If the pan is especially dirty, working in small sections may make the process more manageable.
3. Scrub gently – Using a towel or non-abrasive sponge, gently rub the surface of the pan. You can scrub gently using a circular motion.
4. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan regularly if performing multiple steps. Don’t leave the product on the pan for more than 1 minute.
5. Repeat if necessary – Add more product if necessary, rinsing regularly.
6. Rinse the pan – Rinse the pan in hot water to remove any residue.
7. Dry the pan – Using a clean dish towel, dry the pan completely.

While this method is generally considered safe for anodized aluminum, the brand recommends testing a small area of the pan before applying it to the entire area to avoid etching or dulling.

Summary of how to clean anodized aluminum pans

Anodized aluminum pans are popular because of their high quality, durability, and generally low maintenance.

Washing your anodized pan in hot, soapy water after each use will keep it in good condition. If you start to notice grease build-up or staining on the bottom of the pan, it’s time for a deep clean.

Use one of the following methods to restore the look and function of your favorite anodized pan:

• Baking soda
• Dish soap and vinegar
• Salt and lemon
• Cream of tartar
• Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser

To extend the life of your anodized pan, never place it in the dishwasher.