can I safely use Bar Keeper's Friend on the inside of a Magnalite pot?

November 16, 2022 8:03 AM

I have a 3-quart Magnalite pot (like this one) with a lot of black burned food marks on the inside of the pot. Can I use Barkeeper's Friend to clean the interior if I wash it thoroughly several times before cooking in it again?

It's just the regular Bar Keeper's Friend cleanser (not the special cookware cleanser).

When I've tried to look up whether it's okay to use Bar Keeper's Friend on Magnalite, I'm seeing a lot of stuff about using it on the OUTSIDE of cookware (like on the bottom), but nothing about it being safe to use on the inside cooking area of the pot.

My concerns are:
* not poisoning myself next time I use the pot
* not damaging the pot (although it's pretty beat up after 30 years anyway)

Thanks!

posted by kristi to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Have you tried boiling then simmering with water? Sometimes just heat and water is enough to loosen the burnt food.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 8:24 AM on November 16, 2022

Bar Keeper's Friend is safe to use inside pots, as long as you don't let it soak for a long time, and as long as you rinse thoroughly after cleaning. See 8 ways to NOT use Bar Keeper's Friend.
posted by blob at 10:42 AM on November 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

Along tipsyBumblebee's suggestion, you could simmer with water and some baking soda to loosen the gunk
posted by radioamy at 1:40 PM on November 16, 2022

Or water and a little dish soap.

Simmering with water and either dish soap or soda will mean you have to re-season afterwards.

In my experience, once you've done all the soaking/scrubbing you can, these black and brown burn marks do fade over time.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:02 PM on November 16, 2022