How Do You Clean A Cast Iron

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you purchase something through our retail links, we may earn an chapter commission.

And so you desire to know how to make clean a cast-fe skillet. Cast-iron cookware holds a special place in our hearts—and our kitchens—because it's economical, durable, and versatile and information technology offers excellent estrus memory. Properly seasoned and maintained cast fe can last for generations and sustain a longer-lasting like shooting fish in a barrel-release surface than contemporary nonstick pans. But in order to do all this, cast fe has to exist well taken care of. And that'due south no small task considering no other piece of cookware incites greater argue and worry over its care and maintenance. To soap or not to soap? What'due south the best way to season it? And what'south with store-bought pans that claim to be preseasoned? Accept a deep breath, people—we've got answers.

First, season your pan

We're non talking nigh salt and pepper here. This seasoning is some form of fat (brute or vegetable) baked into the metal. That goes for cast iron, as well every bit carbon-steel and even well-worn sheet pans. This procedure, where fatty bonds with metal, is called polymerization and results in a pan with a darker surface and a slick, well-nigh nonstick coating. The bail between cast iron and fat is specially strong because bandage iron is more porous than other metals used for cooking. The more yous use your pan, the stronger the layer of seasoning becomes, which not only reinforces the nonstick surface merely also helps ward off rust.

To season a cast-iron pan, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place a layer of foil on the bottom rack of your oven and the pan on the height rack. Heat the pan for 10 minutes and remove. Using a fabric or paper towel, glaze the pan all over, including the bottom and handle, with about one Tbsp. fat. Vegetable shortening, lard, salary grease, or neutral cooking oil with a high fume point (such every bit canola, avocado, grapeseed, or safflower oil) all work, but note that some work improve than others. Put the pan back in the oven for another ten minutes. Remove and pour out whatever backlog oil or fatty. Turn the pan upside down and return it to the top rack of the oven (position it over the foil to catch whatsoever drips). Bake for 1 hr, turn off the oven, and let the pan cool in the oven. Repeat this procedure whenever the finish on your pan seems tiresome or worn.

Biscuit and eggs in the best cast iron skillet.

Some new pans are labeled "preseasoned," meaning they've gone through an initial round of seasoning during manufacturing. Still, we recommend seasoning these pans again at home to create a stronger bail.

How to clean a cast-iron pan

Look, this is, maybe, a blistering-hot take, but a few drops of dish soap aren't going to plow your cast-iron skillet into a pile of rusty dust. If you've properly seasoned your bandage iron, it'll take a lot more than a piddling lather to strip off that polymerized coating. I'yard not saying you lot must use soap every fourth dimension, but that yous can—if you follow a few like shooting fish in a barrel rules, which we'll become into below.

When yous buy a piece of new or used cast-iron cookware yous should wash information technology with mild soapy water before using. For crusty or rusty heirloom pans, you can use a combination of kosher common salt and steel wool, plus lather to scrub the surface and remove as much of the grime as possible. Once it's clean and dry, y'all tin can start the seasoning process (curlicue support for that).

And so how exercise y'all make clean a cast-atomic number 26 skillet after a typical dinner? For one, don't move your notwithstanding-scorching hot pan from the stove to cold water–that'south a recipe for potential disaster chosen thermal shock, which can cause your pan to warp or crack. Nosotros do recommend cleaning the pan while it'south yet warm (but absurd enough to handle safely), which makes cleanup easier.

For regular cleaning, avert using harsh detergents or steel wool since they can remove the seasoning. Yet gentle dish lather and a lite scrubbing with a dishcloth, sponge, or stiff brush will work. Nosotros're also partial to a stainless-steel concatenation-mail scrubber to tackle really stubborn stuck-on $.25. If you are doggedly against using dish lather on your cast iron, try this tried and true method: Pour a cup of kosher table salt into a nevertheless-warm skillet. Clasp a folded kitchen towel or dry dishcloth with tongs and scrub the pan with the table salt. Toss the common salt (down the drain is fine) and rinse the pan with hot water.

The Ringer

Dry your cast fe completely every time

Moisture is cast atomic number 26'southward greatest enemy. Non properly drying a bandage-fe pan tin cause it to rust. Afterward rinsing, dry your cast iron well with a clean cloth so place it on the stovetop over low heat. Allow to dry for a few minutes, then utilise a cloth or paper towel to rub information technology with a thin layer of shortening, lard, bacon grease, or a neutral high-heat cooking oil. Return the pan to the stovetop and heat until the fatty is just starting to smoke. So turn off the heat and permit the pan cool to room temperature.

How to shop cast iron

Keep your cast-iron cookware in a dry place with the lids off to avoid rusting—and do non cook with rusty bandage iron! The rust isn't toxic, but information technology will discolor your nutrient and impart an unpleasant metallic flavor. But don't toss that pan if rust does announced. But scour your pan with salt and steel wool or a chain-mail scrubber to remove the rust, then reseason the pan.

What to cook (and non cook) in your cast-iron pan

Now that you lot know all in that location is to know nigh how to clean a bandage-iron skillet, you're probably ready to give your cast iron a test bulldoze, right? Fried chicken is a good identify to start. Doing a niggling deep-frying (or cooking fat-rich foods like bacon) can exist an easy (and delicious) way to strengthen cast iron's nonstick surface.

Image may contain Food Fried Chicken and Nuggets

Once it'due south well seasoned, cast-iron cookware is good for any number of cooking applications, including pan-searing pork chops, blistering cornbread and pizza, even frying eggs. If y'all're looking for more than bandage-atomic number 26 recipes, we have enough.

It'southward truly difficult to ruin a properly seasoned cast-iron skillet—you tin employ it on the stove, in the oven, over open up flames like grills and campfires. Simply there are a few things you should avoid doing. Never shop nutrient in bandage iron since the moisture tin crusade the pan to rust. Avoid making anything too acidic in cast iron, such every bit a slow-cooking tomato sauce. Acids in food tin can intermission down the seasoning, which will leach metallic flavor into your sauce. (Don't worry, though, a quick-cooking flare-up cherry lycopersicon esculentum sauce will be fine. But remove information technology from the pan equally soon every bit it's done cooking and don't linger also long before giving the pan a rinse.)

If y'all always practice strip the seasoning, or your pan rusts, or someone (gasp!) puts information technology in the dishwasher, don't fret too much. These total travesties are easily fixed. The pan isn't ruined—just scrub away the rust, reseason the pan, and keep on cooking.

Photo of a whole chicken in a cast iron skillet surrounded by lemon slices on a wooden cutting board with plates and wine on the side..