using a kettle that use to be a crab steamer? pic

[brew2enjoy]

I was given a nice 13 gallon s/s kettle that was previously used as a crab steamer. As you can see in the photo, there are some stains and corrosion on the bottom. What is the best way to clean this and make sure I don't end up with crab beer? I have already boiled 7 gallons of a water/ oxyclean mix and scrubbed it with a brush. I think I am going to boil some more water in it again. Any other tricks?

Edit. The photo was taken after the oxyclean boil...

 

[BBL_Brewer]

Does it still smell like crab? If not I wouldn't worry about it. If it does try some bar keepers friend.

 

[HopSong]

I'll bet you already have it clean enough. I'd take one of those green scrubbies.. the abrasive kind you get at the supermarket.. and polish the bottom. If you are really concerned.. you can even get both kinds.. coarse/medium and Fine at places like Lowe's.. I won't mention the big orange store

 

[unionrdr]

I soak mine in PBW for a couple days. Then use an SOS soap pad,as they're fine grade to start with. Does a nice job of getting that polished SS look again. The PBW should help soften that crud a little,so the soap pad can do it's job better.

 

[djfriesen]

+1 BKF. That stuff is amazing. It won't polish, (in fact, it does the opposite) but it's fantastic for getting burnt-on stuff and tarnish off your ss. I use it on my pots at home all the time.

Just sprinkle a little in the bottom, then put enough water in to make a thinnish paste. Buff with a paper towel, rinse with water, and you're done.

 

[jafo28]

Another vote for the Bar Keepers Friend, Really good stuff.

 

[billtzk]

Soak in PBW 30 minutes, scrub thoroughly with one of those green scrubbies or an SOS like unionrdr said, then rinse thoroughly and scrub again with BKF. Rinse again, boil some water in it, let it cool, and look at it and taste it. If there's no oily sheen and off flavor, you're good to go.

 

[day_trippr]

Never use an SOS Soap Pad - or any other non-stainless steel wool product - on stainless steel, unless you want to see rust pits in your kettle.

Scotch Brite green scrubbies - or even Scotch Brite stainless steel scouring pads for hard core scouring - won't leave embedded bits of iron behind...

Cheers!

 

[BigEd]

I soak mine in PBW for a couple days. Then use an SOS soap pad,as they're fine grade to start with. Does a nice job of getting that polished SS look again. The PBW should help soften that crud a little,so the soap pad can do it's job better.

Just my .02 but using steel wool based cleaning pads like SOS isn't such a good idea on stainless steel. Fragments of the steel fibers can remain in the surface and start rust spots.

 

[unionrdr]

I haven't had that problem. I rinse well,using a dobie or micro-fiber scrubber to get all the soapy residue out. Good so far,& I don't need to do it very often.

 

[PT Ray]

It looks like a run of the mill aluminum pot, though the bottom appears a little pitted which would be the result of using caustics to clean it. Stop cleaning and brew. You mentioned stainless, are you sure? After brewing just clean with soap and a sponge or nylon scrubbie at the most. I usually just hose mine out. I've used it so many times the bottom has gotten noticeably thinner. I save the abrasives for my stainless.

 

[Ravenshead]

That looks like hard water deposits to me. A couple of CLR treatments will take care of them. Just be sure to rinse well.

 

[unionrdr]

Interesting thought. I forgot about CLR,that stuff works great on hard water stains. Or water residue stains in general. I use it in the coffee maker now & then,but never tried it on metal. Stainless steel might handle it ok. But aluminum,...I doubt it.