Bar Keepers Good friend Overview

There’s a motive that the motto of Bar Keepers Good friend is “As soon as Tried, All the time Used.” Initially marketed to tavern house owners within the late 1800s (therefore the “bar keepers” moniker), this powerhouse cleanser is one among my favourite secret weapons within the kitchen. And the very best half? Now we have one among my favourite substances–rhubarb!–to thank for it.

As a recipe developer, I put my pots and pans by their paces. When my chrome 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. Based on the lore of Bar Keepers Good friend, in 1882, chemist George William Hoffman cooked a batch of rhubarb in a tarnished steel 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 answerable for this magic trick. Based on BKF, oxalic acid “assaults cussed rust, tarnish, and lime stains on the molecular stage, 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 continues to be an important kitchen cleaner for pots and pans, cooktops, grills, oven racks, serveware, and extra. If it’s non-porous and manufactured from chrome steel, aluminum, or glass, you possibly can clear it with Bar Keepers Good friend.

Smooth Cleanser vs. Powder

Bar Keepers Good friend is available in two types: a mushy cream cleanser and a extra abrasive powdered cleanser. I take advantage of the mushy cleanser for average messes, and the powder for extra critical jobs like stripping a rusty carbon metal pan earlier than reseasoning it, scrubbing out burnt-on spills within the oven, or deep cleansing my chrome steel sink. The mushy 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 power of the paste, and thus its cleansing energy. 

Although BKF isn’t strictly dangerous to pores and skin, I choose to pop on a pair of dishwashing gloves when utilizing it (in both type), particularly since I’ve delicate pores and skin (notice: BKF recommends this too). After wetting the floor of no matter I’m cleansing, I add some cleanser—slightly 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’m going to city with a sponge, microfiber cleansing fabric, or Swedish dishcloth and get scrubbing. It does take some elbow grease to wash off cooked-on messes, and it might require a couple of rounds of utility to work by layers of staining or tarnish, however persistence and persistence ought to repay with BKF at your facet.

It Can Clear A number of Issues, however Not Every little thing

Bar Keepers Good friend is flexible, however not a magic bullet for each cleansing want in your kitchen. You may’t apply it to porous surfaces like forged iron, granite, marble, wooden, cloth, leather-based, or something painted. However for arduous, non-porous surfaces like chrome 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 quit 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 possibly can 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 chrome steel, glass, and enamel), it’ll strip the coating on nonstick pots and pans. The identical goes for forged 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 directions for utilizing the powdered cleanser to scrub the partitions, racks, and door of your oven with BKF. Simply make certain to rinse every thing effectively earlier than turning on the warmth to keep away from any chemical smells.

Why We’re the Consultants 

• Afton Cyrus is a meals blogger, recipe developer, culinary teacher, and freelance meals author and editor. She spent eight years as a take a look at prepare dinner and editor at America’s Check Kitchen earlier than changing into a contributor to Severe Eats in 2023. Her recipes and meals writing seem in award-winning and New York Occasions 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 so much of dishes and is keen about holding cookware in tip-top situation. You may see her meticulous method to product testing in motion in her critiques of fondue pots, liquid measuring cups, hand mixers, and strain canners.