PURPOSE: To produce stainless steel with less elution of iron components by cleaning the surface of stainless steel, heating the stainless steel in an oxidizing atmosphere to form a colored oxide film and then removing the colored oxide coated film.

CONSTITUTION: Degreasing, pickling, mechanical polishing, electrolytic polishing, etc., are applied to the surface of stainless steel as the cleaning treatment. A coating agent of high m.p. fine particles is uniformly coated on the stainless steel and the steel is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere at about 350W700°C for a prescribed time to form a colored oxide coated film on the cleaned surface. The colored oxide film is discolored by an acid or electrolysis and then dissolved and removed. Consequently, the elution of Fe ions from the surface of stainless steel is reduced and stainless steel applicable in the equipment and pipelines for medicines, foods, etc., is obtained.