Joe said, “I am an 80 year old Artichoke lover! I boil them at least 5 times a week in a white interior coated pot! In short time the pot interior is stained green. My ritual has been to toss and replace the pot every few months. NO CLEANING PROCESS HAS EVERY REMOVED THE STAIN! I’ve asked the Artichoke Growers in Castroville, CA and a FOOD SCIENCE faculty at UC Davis for help. So far no luck. Are you or your readers up to the task? ANY help greatly appreciated! Many Thanks!”
Though 
green stains from plants are most often seen as grass stains on clothing, they can occur from almost any plant and stain a variety of surfaces. The stains are caused by the chlorophyll in the plants, which acts as a green dye. Here’s two methods to remove the stains.
The Enzyme Method
You Will Need:
- Digestive enzymes
- Water
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Get digestive enzymes, such as Udo’s Choice™ Enzyme Blend or D-Enzymes™. These can be found at a health food store, some vitamin stores, or purchased online.
- If you get a digestive enzyme that is in tablet form, crush the tablets to make a powder. If you get a digestive enzyme that is already a powder, pour some into a bowl.
- Mix a small amount of water in with the powder to make a thick paste that is about the consistency of toothpaste or peanut butter.
- Spread the paste over the surface of the pot. Only a thin layer is needed.
- Leave the paste on the stain for 1-2 hours. Once the paste has dried, it is no longer working.
- Wash the pot as usual to remove the paste.
- This process can be repeated as many times as necessary.
The Alcohol Method
You Will Need:
- Vodka
- Cornstarch
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Moisten a soft cloth with some vodka and rub the pot. If the stains are fresh, this can work to remove them quickly.
- For older stains, you will need to use a poultice. Mix a small amount of vodka with cornstarch to make a thick paste that is about the consistency of toothpaste or peanut butter.
- Spread the paste over the surface of the pot in a thick layer.
- Let the paste dry on the pot, then brush it off.
- Wash out the pot thoroughly to remove the alcohol residue.
- Repeat the process if needed. The vodka will loosen the dye and the cornstarch will absorb it.
Additional Tips:
- Since the stains are on a cooking surface, it is best to only use food-grade items, which is why we recommend using vodka instead of isopropyl alcohol.
- An alternative to using water and digestive enzyme tablets to make a paste is to use milk and cornstarch. Milk has natural enzymes which may also work to remove the stains.
- Do not substitute baking soda for cornstarch. Baking soda is alkaline and can cause chlorophyll stains to set.
- Another option is to use a denture tablet. To do this, fill the pot with water, then drop in a denture tablet. This is a good way to clean the pot after each use.
- Older chlorophyll stains can be very difficult to remove. It is best to remove the stain as soon as possible.
- If you still have trouble removing the stains, consider getting a pan with a green interior so the color is not as obvious.
Leave a reply