Reoxidizing Stainless Steel pot

[awilki01]

I had some real hard burnt deposits on the bottom of my SS brew pot. It took PBW and a SS dish scrubber to remove it. Consequently, I have taken off the oxidized layer on the SS pot.

The person my my local brew store said I should put some lime juice or lemon juice (citric acid) in the pot so it can reform the oxidized layer. Otherwise, I might get a "tin" like taste in my subsequent beers.

Can anyone give me a process? Do I dilute lemon juice with water? Do I apply it directly? How long?

Thanks,
Adam

[danno]

to repassivate stainless steel, just let it sit dry for a week, the air will do it just fine... John Palmer (a metallurgist by trade) talks about it here: http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB-1.html

[brewmonkey]

While I am not sure if you can get some on the open market you might check with a local pub for Five Star Acid #5. Follow the instructions for dilution and put it in a spray bottle, unless you have a CIP setup.

Acid #5 is what most brewers use to re-passivate and while I cannot speak for other brewers I did this every 2 months or so on the kettle and 2-3 times a year on every fermentor/bright tank/serving tank and it works like a charm.