I picked up a brand-new MSR Alpine frying pan (stainless steel) and it arrived with the handle wrapped in plastic and scotch-taped to the cooking surface. I tried to carefully remove the tape but it left quite a bit of residue that is resisting efforts to remove. I would rather not use chemical solvents (e.g., Goof-Off) on something I cook with but so far soaking in soapy water, then rubbing alcohol hasn't removed everything. Should I try something abrasive like a Brillo pad or will I regret scratching up the cooking surface? This is my first stainless pan so I'm not real familiar with what you should and shouldn't do to it.

Try cooking oil. If that doesn't work, try mineral spirits. Washing afterwards in soapy water will remove any lingering mineral spirits.

Stainless steel is impervious to liquids. Just put some mineral spirits on it remove the sticker and wash with soapy hot water. Stainless steel is not like porous cast iron.

GOO-B-GONE

WD-40

So whatever I put on there, it will wash off, because stainless doesn't absorb liquids? Sounds like a chance to use some of that TCE I've had on my garage shelf.

/s

thanks I will try some of the above options.

Use whatever as Savage Voyageur mentions. SS is quite impervious to what worries you, so carb cleaner to acids no problem, same for mounting a wire wheel to a drill and grinding the goo off. You could even use a propane torch to burn it off. Rinse well dry off and use it.

butthead

I started to scrub it with a kitchen pad and thought it was leaving some scratches so I stopped and decided to consult the experts. It's a $25 pan so not too concerned but thought we needed some discussion topics around this place.

there are 4 different tape residue spots. maybe I'll treat each one with a different solvent and report back on which was most effective.

hopefully this isn't what passes for entertainment here all winter long. it's only mid-Nov...

Stainless steal is used in an amazing number of industrial settings due to its strength and corrosion resistance. In the food industry they are looking for a minimum Ra35 (roughness average) so in layman’s terms if you use a green or purple scotch brite pad you won’t be doing an harm to the cooking surface yes you probably won’t match the existing finish but that’s only cosmetic

Lighter fluid, such as Ronsonol, will do the trick. I use it on a lot of stuff that has sticky store labels on them Doesn't affect most items.

I worked welding and polishing stainless steel for years.....check out the concessions counters as US Bank Stadium.

If the cooking surface is just SS, not coated in some type of Teflon, I would use a Scotch pad with isopropyl alcohol. They key to not leaving scratches is to go with the grain of the stainless...so you will be scratching the SS but the scratches will blend with the existing grain. Basically all consumer SS is cosmetically grained, appliances, tables, bowls, machines, etc.

If there is some type of Teflon coating then I would soak the residue in a citrus solvent, wet a paper towel with the solvent and put t it on top of the residue, put some plastic wrap on top and let it sit there, wet, for hours/days.

thistlekicker: "...hopefully this isn't what passes for entertainment here all winter long. it's only mid-Nov...
"

It could be a long winter...

Maybe it's just me but why even worry about it?

I had the same exact tape marks on my new MSR pan. Luckily I saw on the REI reviews of the product that the tape marks were known issue and so I was expecting it. My wife is an essential oils connoisseur and her lemon essential oils took those tape marks right off. Food grade and worked like a champ. I'm sure GooGone would work also and then just thoroughly wash the pan with dawn dish soap and you'll be good. You'd think MSR could do better with their packaging. BTW, I absolutely love my pan.