Only serious people respond please I don't need any 'smart' or sarcastic replies!!I bought an aluminum pot to cook tamales inWhen I went to clean the pot the entire bottom was stained blackWhat specifically causes an aluminum pot to turn black when boiling water? Is the water safe to drink? Do I need to remove the black stain before I can cook in it again?Thanks for your help on this.
Was this after the tamales were cooked? If so, the pot probably got too hot and the tamales burned, leaving Carbon, which is harmless charcoalPasta will burn when boiled if the noodles come into contact with the bottom of the pot, even though everything is underwater If the water itself caused this then the water might be contaminatedMinor water contamination involves Iron and SulfurIf the tap water is orange and smells like rotten eggs, this is the problemIt smells bad but isn't toxicHard water is the result of limestone, which will dissolve in waterThe water evaporates, leaving a white crustLimestone is harmless and hard water is actually a good source of CalciumMore serious water pollution occurs in areas with a mining historyMinerals are extracted, leaving large open holes in the rockAlso, the materials excavated and processed ore are piled up in tailingsBoth come into contact with rainwater, which washes heavy metals into the water supplyThis includes Lead, Chromium, Copper and even UraniumLead is the most toxic and most commonIn the USA it is the responcibility of the state government to ensure the water supply is safe to drink, including the ground water Cleaning Aluminum is different than cleaning SteelDo not use Lye (Sodium hydroxide or oven/drain cleaner)This will corrode the pot badly and generate inflammable gassesAluminum is best cleaned with soap and steel woolAluminum is a soft metal and the steel will scour away the black deposits.
Was this after the tamales were cooked? If so, the pot probably got too hot and the tamales burned, leaving Carbon, which is harmless charcoalPasta will burn when boiled if the noodles come into contact with the bottom of the pot, even though everything is underwater If the water itself caused this then the water might be contaminatedMinor water contamination involves Iron and SulfurIf the tap water is orange and smells like rotten eggs, this is the problemIt smells bad but isn't toxicHard water is the result of limestone, which will dissolve in waterThe water evaporates, leaving a white crustLimestone is harmless and hard water is actually a good source of CalciumMore serious water pollution occurs in areas with a mining historyMinerals are extracted, leaving large open holes in the rockAlso, the materials excavated and processed ore are piled up in tailingsBoth come into contact with rainwater, which washes heavy metals into the water supplyThis includes Lead, Chromium, Copper and even UraniumLead is the most toxic and most commonIn the USA it is the responcibility of the state government to ensure the water supply is safe to drink, including the ground water Cleaning Aluminum is different than cleaning SteelDo not use Lye (Sodium hydroxide or oven/drain cleaner)This will corrode the pot badly and generate inflammable gassesAluminum is best cleaned with soap and steel woolAluminum is a soft metal and the steel will scour away the black deposits.
Contact (thermal) metamorphism
Contact (thermal) metamorphism
