Bar Keepers Good friend Evaluation

There’s a purpose that the motto of Bar Keepers Good friend is “As soon as Tried, At all times Used.” Initially marketed to tavern house owners within the late 1800s (therefore the “bar keepers” moniker), this powerhouse cleanser is one in all my favourite secret weapons within the kitchen. And the very best half? We’ve got one in all my favourite substances–rhubarb!–to thank for it.

As a recipe developer, I put my pots and pans by way of their paces. When my stainless steel skillets or enameled Dutch ovens have taken a beating with burnt-on messes, scorched undersides, or cussed stains, I attain for my trusty bottle of BKF to revive them. Bar Keepers Good friend can deliver again the luster and shine of tarnished pans due to its key ingredient: oxalic acid. 

And that’s the place the rhubarb is available in. In line with the lore of Bar Keepers Friend, in 1882, chemist George William Hoffman cooked a batch of rhubarb in a tarnished metallic pan. To his shock, after cooking, the pan turned glowing clear! He quickly realized that oxalic acid, discovered naturally in greens like rhubarb and spinach, was chargeable for this magic trick. In line with BKF, oxalic acid “assaults cussed rust, tarnish, and lime stains on the molecular degree, breaking the bonds that maintain them collectively.” Hoffman went on to create a powdered cleanser that integrated oxalic acid, and Bar Keepers Good friend was born. Over 130 years later, BKF remains to be a vital kitchen cleaner for pots and pans, cooktops, grills, oven racks, serveware, and extra. If it’s non-porous and manufactured from stainless-steel, aluminum, or glass, you’ll be able to clear it with Bar Keepers Good friend.

Tender Cleanser vs. Powder

Bar Keepers Good friend is available in two kinds: a gentle cream cleanser and a extra abrasive powdered cleanser. I take advantage of the gentle cleanser for average messes, and the powder for extra critical jobs like stripping a rusty carbon steel pan earlier than reseasoning it, scrubbing out burnt-on spills within the oven, or deep cleansing my stainless-steel sink. The gentle cleanser is pre-mixed and able to go proper out of the bottle, whereas the powder must be blended with water to type a paste. How a lot or little water you employ determines the energy of the paste, and thus its cleansing energy. 

Although BKF isn’t strictly dangerous to pores and skin, I desire to pop on a pair of dishwashing gloves when utilizing it (in both type), particularly since I’ve delicate pores and skin (word: BKF recommends this too). After wetting the floor of no matter I’m cleansing, I add some cleanser—a bit bit goes a good distance, so use a small quantity to start out. For cussed stains, BKF recommends letting the cleanser sit and penetrate for as much as one minute, however not longer than that, as extended publicity may cause discoloration and scratches. Then, I am going to city with a sponge, microfiber cleaning cloth, or Swedish dishcloth and get scrubbing. It does take some elbow grease to clean off cooked-on messes, and it could require a couple of rounds of software to work by way of layers of staining or tarnish, however persistence and persistence ought to repay with BKF at your aspect.

It Can Clear Plenty of Issues, however Not All the pieces

Bar Keepers Good friend is flexible, however not a magic bullet for each cleansing want in your kitchen. You possibly can’t apply it to porous surfaces like cast iron, granite, marble, wooden, cloth, leather-based, or something painted. However for arduous, non-porous surfaces like stainless-steel, porcelain, ceramic, or glass, go for it! Along with pots and pans, you should use Bar Keepers Good friend to shine up your cutlery or serveware, your copper mugs for Moscow Mules, and even the within of your microwave! So earlier than you hand over on a scorched pan or tarnished piece of serveware, give it a scrub with Bar Keepers Good friend—you’ll be amazed at what you’ll be able to deliver again to a sparkle.

FAQs

Can I take advantage of Bar Keepers Good friend on nonstick cookware?

No. Although Bar Keepers Good friend can be utilized on a wide range of arduous, non-porous surfaces (like stainless-steel, glass, and enamel), it can strip the coating on nonstick pots and pans. The identical goes for cast iron with out an enamel coating.

Are you able to clear an oven with Bar Keepers Good friend?

Sure! The Barkeepers Good friend web site has detailed instructions for utilizing the powdered cleanser to scrub the partitions, racks, and door of your oven with BKF. Simply be certain that to rinse every little thing effectively earlier than turning on the warmth to keep away from any chemical smells.

Why We’re the Consultants 

• Afton Cyrus is a food blogger, recipe developer, culinary teacher, and freelance meals author and editor. She spent eight years as a check cook dinner and editor at America’s Check Kitchen earlier than turning into a contributor to Severe Eats in 2023. Her recipes and meals writing seem in award-winning and New York Instances bestselling cookbooks and on-line for America’s Check Kitchen, Ten Velocity Press, King Arthur Baking Firm, Severe Eats, and different shops.
• All through her meals profession, she has washed quite a bit of dishes and is enthusiastic about maintaining cookware in tip-top situation. You possibly can see her meticulous strategy to product testing in motion in her opinions of fondue pots, liquid measuring cups, hand mixers, and pressure canners.