The term "Pickled" means that the material has been subjected to an acid solution that has been specifically developed to remove the high temperature oxides that appear on the surface after annnealing or welding . Removal of these oxides helps to restore the inherent corrosion resistance of stainless steel. Pickling solutions can be applied by immersing the stainless steel in a bath, spraying the surface or applying small amounts of a pickling paste with paintbrush.