Do My Pots Look Like Potty?

There is a small debate surfacing in the kitchen. About two years ago I bought a set of All Clad pots and pans. Matt the Hatt or James, or whatever the hell else he's calling himself these days, who is a Teflon Hata', will be happy to know only one of them is teflon. But I digress.

The debate that is simmering its way into a boil is how do these pots and pans look best? Emily doesn't like the stains that come from two years of use. Quite a few pots of chili, soup, risotto, and bean dishes have cooked in these pots. Simple soap, water, elbow grease, and shouts of "Out, out damn spot!" won't get scrub some of these stains clean.

But I say, it looks good that way. You can tell we use our pots and pans a lot, and the spots are therefore just marks of love and familiarity. Much like the smile wrinkles on an old man's forehead. But Emily thinks we should get some heavy duty cleaner and make them look brand spanking new. They look a little too "rode hard and put away wet" for her tastes.


Image from www.happycookers.com


However, I feel so chef-like when I have the blue natrual gas flame going on three burners, each topped with a well-worn pot full of Mike's brew cooking and boiling away. I am reminded of the cooking scenes from Big Night. So any takers as to whether or not these pots need some heavy-duty cleaning?