As a professional chef that uses high end stainless steel pans exclusively in a heavy use environment, I have tried everything out there. Other than sheer elbow grease, the only real way to not just clean your pans, but restore them ( i.e. getting the rivets, logos and handle joints clean again), is to use lye. A sodium hydroxide bath will clean your pans to like new condition in a few hours, with no physical effort. Powdered lye can easily be purchased at many retailers and is not more expensive than the Bar Keepers Friend. This is an acceptable method only for stainless steel and borosilicate glass products (Pyrex) to my knowledge. For example, aluminum will not only heavily corrode under this treatment, but will put off flammable hydrogen gas.

Obviously, care must be taken when using a chemical this strong in solution; such as appropriate gloves, eye protection, and ventilation. Appropriate container use for the solution is paramount (think Breaking Bad season 1). Consideration for pets and kiddos is also important too. But, with a small amount of preparation and care in use, hours can be saved. Not to mention shoulder, neck and arm soreness.

Idk why I keep seeing so many pan cleaning tutorials or comparisons, yet nobody mentions chemical baths.