milk frother corroding

Is My Dualit Model DMF2 Milk Frother Corroding?

Introduction

Unfortunately besides my Dualit Milk Frother requiring a repair (see How I Repaired A Dualit Milk Frother Model DMF2) another problem has developed. I have to ask, “Is my Dualit Milk Frother corroding?” If not what is happening to it. Is the brown mark I can see copper or rust?

Is My Milk Frother Corroding Or Not?

The surface coating (paint) on the inside of my Silver Stainless Steel Milk Frother (Model DMF2) bowl is either coming off or my milk frother is corroding.

At first I could see a small brown mark, which wouldn’t wash off, inside the Bowl. I thought the mark I could see was some burnt on milk. So, I had a little poke at it and instead of the mark coming off it got bigger.

The grey/silver coating on the inside was coming off. At first I thought there was rust developing under the coating. “Surely the bowl can’t be made of something like mild steel or there would be a problem with the magnetic drive to the whisk.”

What Is The Bowl Made From?

Well It’s definitely not ferromagnetic (a magnet won’t stick to it). I thought it was supposed to be made from Stainless Steel (much of which is non-magnetic) but perhaps it’s just the outer Jug Body that’s made of Stainless Steel. Take a look at it below.

milk frother corroding
What is this on the inside of the Jug? Is it corrosion?

There is a possibility that this bowl is made from copper and we can see an oxidised surface where the coating has come off. The only good thing here is the problem isn’t getting worse.

The bowl could of course be copper plated under the paint (on the inside at least). The bottom of the bowl on the outside where the whisk drive magnets rotate is silver metal and not copper coloured.

Another interesting point can be seen in the centre of the bottom of the bowl inside. The coating has been worn away by the rotation of the whisk spindle which comes into contact with the bowl. The metal exposed by this is shiny silver. I wouldn’t expect it to show any corrosion because it is forever being polished when the frother is used, but it isn’t copper coloured either. See below.

milk frother corroding
No signs of corrosion or copper here in the centre.

Conclusion

I have searched for corrosion within milk frothers generally on the internet and not yet found any references. So as yet I haven’t drawn any conclusions other than that something has gone wrong with my Dualit Milk Frother and I have to continue living with the question, “Is my milk frother corroding.”


END OF POST

Comments

5 responses to “Is My Dualit Model DMF2 Milk Frother Corroding?”

  1. MyAppliances avatar

    Corroding Milk Frother has been a common problem these days, you are not the only one facing it. I and a couple of more friends also had to go through the exact same situation!

  2. Kay Azeez avatar
    Kay Azeez

    Is it safe to keep using the frother? I have one and it is also doing the same thing.

    1. Helpful Colin avatar

      Hi Kay,
      On the grounds that the vessel is made of copper with some type of coating on it, I suspect a small abrasion in the coating like I had wouldn’t allow a large amount of copper to interact with the contents in any one particular warming process. However copper is poisonous in sufficient quantities and is not recommended for cooking vessels unless it is coated with something. Tin plating is recommended for saucepans. If a large amount of copper was absorbed by the milk when it is warmed, then I would expect the exposed area to become pitted and eventually have a hole in it. In my case I couldn’t see any serious damage. It just looks like the copper is oxidised. If you are concerned about it poisoning you, then don’t use it.
      If your vessel is damaged then look to see if it is covered by any guarantee.
      Regards, Colin.

  3. JohnRichardHendricks avatar
    JohnRichardHendricks

    Twelfth Night 2022 re: Nespresso 3080911 milk frother I have a path that is worn away on the inside bottom, on the opposite side as the wire whisk. The arch shape tells me it has something to do with heat element underneath. Such an expensive addition to my coffee maker, but afraid to use it because I do not know what the coating is on the inside of the frother. It makes me reticent to purchase Nespresso or any other frother.

    1. Helpful Colin avatar

      Hi John,
      Sorry for my late reply.
      None stick cooking items are usually coated in Teflon (PTFE – Polytetrafluoroethylene). You can find out about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene
      It’s seen as fairly inert and heat tolerant.
      I’ve not had the coating come off on my Nespresso frothers. I have on a Dualit model. Are you sure it is a groove and not a ridge of milk baked on, because that’s what I get. I soak it with detergent water and scratch it off with a fingernail.
      Nespresso have milk frother offers for regular coffee pod customers from time to time. You should look out for them.
      Regards, Colin.

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