Cleaning Cast Iron
A Step-by-Step How To Guide
So you have your new cast iron skillet and you heat it up, cooked a delicious meal, returned back to the kitchen, and there the pan awakes your care.
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Cast iron cookware is one of the most durable types of cookware, with inherent nonstick properties and excellent heat conductivity. However, this type of cookware has a few drawbacks. Cast iron cookware, unlike most nonstick cookware, is prone to rust. To prevent rust, this cookware requires particular attention and care.
Furthermore, if you clean in the appropriate manner, you may avoid rust. In this essay, you will learn the best techniques to clean cast iron cookware. All of these approaches will assist you in keeping your cast iron cookware rust-free and looking like new.
How to Clean Cast Iron Cookware Effectively
There are several effective methods for cleaning cast iron cookware. Hopefully, these procedures will assist you in cleaning your cookware with ease.
How to Clean Cast Iron Cookware the Old Fashioned Way
After you've finished cooking, rinse your cast iron pot or pan with hot water. This is the greatest moment to clean the pan because it is still hot. Pour boiling water into the hot pan directly (this process is only recommended for cast iron cookware and is not applicable to other metal cookware). To remove large chunks of cooked-on food, rinse the pan once. After that, refill the pan with water. Pour in enough water to cover the cooked-on surface.
If your pan still needs to be cleaned and it is cold, reheat it. Heat the water in the skillet over medium heat until it begins to boil. Scrape the pan's bottom and sides lightly with a wide spatula to remove any residual food. Turn off the stove and drain the unclean water into the sink. Using a couple of paper towels, wipe down the pan. Make a thin coating of vegetable oil or shortening on the pan's surface.
Most of us do not do the dishes after cooking, until after eating the meal. You come back to the kitchen and there are those dried-up pans all waiting for you to give them some love.
If you are new to cooking with Cast Iron Cookware, you might be wondering just how easy or difficult it is to clean Cast Iron Cookware. Yes, they are non-stick, more or less, but food will dry up on them after cooking if not cleaned right away. Is this going to be horrible? Are you going to waste that money you spent buying your new skillet or pan?
Not at all! Cleaning is really not difficult and is basically similar to cleaning anything else in the kitchen, but there are some important rules to follow.
Whether you have a seasoned cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven, a grill pan, or bakeware, cleaning each item of our cast iron cookware is the same.
If you possess a cast iron skillet, you know how vital it is to clean it properly. Cast iron pans must be seasoned and can rust quickly if the seasoning is worn away. What's the good news? A cast iron skillet will last a lifetime if properly cared for, and it will only become better with age. Here's how to properly clean and season your cast iron skillet.
How to Wash a Cast Iron Skillet
When cleaning a cast iron skillet (meaning non-enameled cast iron), the most important thing to know is that you should not use soap, soak it in water overnight, or put it in the dishwasher.
Doing any of these things can ruin its seasoning. Instead, use very hot water and a mild, non-abrasive sponge to clean the pan after each use. Avoid using steel wool or other harsh materials to clean, as they can also damage the seasoning.
To remove any stuck-on bits of food, use a combination of coarse salt and hot water to form a paste and scrub gently, then rinse with hot water. Dry a cast iron skillet completely after washing it to remove any excess water droplets and prevent rust from forming.
Seasoning a Cast Iron Pan
It's all about utilizing oil to build up a nonstick surface and prevent rusting while seasoning a cast iron pan.
While you should clean the skillet after each use, seasoning should only be done on occasion, such as when you see the seasoning is wearing thin. To season, use a paper towel or dishcloth to wipe a little quantity of cooking oil on the inside of the pan. Then, for one hour, heat the skillet in an oven set above the smoke point of the oil to bond the oil to the pan and create a naturally nonstick surface. The fat transforms into carbon particles, resulting in natural nonstick or easy release. The more individuals that use the skillet, the more oils are deposited on it. They are converted to carbon particles by the heat of cooking.
Cleaning an Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
Because they have a smooth, non-porous surface, enameled cast iron pans are easier to clean. To clean enameled cast iron, simply wash it in hot, soapy water, as you would any other piece of cookware. If stubborn stains on the interior of the pot persist despite thorough cleaning, boil water to a medium simmer in a pan on the stove with a little quantity of dish soap or baking soda, then scrape and rinse thoroughly.
Cleaning Directions - Cast Iron Cookware without Enamel
Step 1 - Wash
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| Step 1 - Cleaning Cast Iron Cookware |
Wash your cast iron cookware by hand. If the food you cooked is stuck, you might find heating up your pan slightly will free the food bits left in the pan or skillet. Next, I take a paper towel and wipe the pan out into the trash, removing the big easy bits.
Next, run the water in your sink warm, to match the temperature of your skillet or pan. I start with a chainmail scrubber, which usually cleans the pan really well. Next, I switch to a sponge with a scrubby pad on the back to finish out any spots that remain. You can use a small amount of soap if needed to loosen up any remaining food. Also, if the food was very oily or fatty, the soap will help remove excess fats and oils.
For stubborn, stuck-on food, simmer a little water for 3-5 minutes, then use the scraper after and repeat the process from above. You can create your own cleaning kit that has everything you need to wash and care for cast iron the right way.
Step 2 - Dry
After you have washed your pan off in the sink, wipe dry the skillet or pan right away. Dry promptly and thoroughly with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Do not worry if you see a little black residue on your towel, it's just seasoning and is perfectly normal.
Return the skillet or pan to your stove and begin heating the skillet or pan up over low heat to cook the water remaining from washing away. Water evaporates around 212 degrees (f), so the pan needs to get hotter than that. You may see some vapors come off of the pan while it is heating, but you do not want it so hot that it actually starts to smoke.
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| Dry your pan and add oil |
Step 3 - Oil
Rub a very thin layer of cooking oil or seasoning oil onto the surface of your cookware with a paper towel. Wipe the surface until no oil residue remains, and as many of the surfaces of the pan or skillet have been oiled. Some people will at this point continue heating the pan up to the smoke point of the oil you just added, and then shut the heat off, allowing the pan or skillet to cool down.
Another additional possible step -
A final option is to take the opportunity to add a layer of new seasoning to the skillet or pan by putting the skillet or pan (or any cast iron cookware) into the oven and baking a new layer of seasoning on the pan. This is a normal seasoning process that converts the added oil to a polymer through a process called polymerization.
In short and rough terms, polymerization is defined as the following. Polymerization is the chemical reaction that joins monomer molecules to produce polymer chains or three-dimensional networks in polymer chemistry.
In the case of cast iron cookware, polymerization is what happens during seasoning, or when you season your pan, skillet, or cookware. You turn the oil you apply into a polymer or a hardened coating.
Optional Step 4 - Season
Although not strictly required on a regular basis, the seasoning will add to the protective layer on your cast iron and protect it. Some foods that are high in acid content can remove some of your seasoning, so optional step 4 can fix this issue.
After finishing Step 3 and wiping out any excess oil, you place the pan into the oven. One important consideration and something of some discussion online is how to place your cast iron cookware in the oven when seasoning it. Some people advise that the pan or skillet be placed upside down and something be placed below it to catch any excess oil. The catch item can be a sheet of aluminum foil or a cookie sheet. Myself, it is my opinion that the pan is placed right side up. I do this for several reasons. First, the key is to not have excess oil in the pan to season with. Excess oil will cause uneven seasoning. Second, in my oven, the grate will leave marks on the rim of the pan I am seasoning. When the pan sits normally in the oven, this does not occur.
So place the cookware in the oven, and take note of the oil that you are using for seasoning. Each cooking oil has a different smoking temperature. Polymerization only occurs when the seasoning oil reaches its smoke temperature.
I use avocado oil to cook with, and to season my cast iron cookware with. The specific smoke temperature is listed at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. To reach that smoke point for my specific oil, I set my oven to just above the smoke point, so 505-510 degrees Fahrenheit.
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| Avocado Oil Smoke Point |
You should identify the smoke point of the oil you are seasoning with and set your oven to an appropriate temperature. Once the oven has reached its set point, the oil on the cookware will start to smoke. You might find that turning on the oven fan will remove any smoke coming out of the oven.
I leave my oven on until there is no evidence of smoke coming out of the vent, which is usually between 30 and 60 minutes. Once the smoke stops, I turn off the oven and leave the cookware inside, the door closed, and allow the temperature to go down naturally over time.
In my case, I usually just leave the cookware in the oven overnight to cool.
Although this description may seem very involved, in practice, it is very simple.
The video below will take you to step by step through the process of cleaning your cast iron after cooking. If you like the video, please consider subscribing to the channel for more videos. Thanks!
Cast Iron Cookware Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions
Can cast iron cookware be soaked?
No! Rusting is caused by water and air coming in contact with the base cast iron. The seasoning on your cast iron will have microscopic cracks in it. This is why it is important to have multiple thin layers of seasoning. Soaking cast iron in the water gives the water a chance to work its way down through those cracks to the cast iron below. Use a nylon scrubbing brush or a pan scraper to remove sticky or hard stuck-on food, then rinse with warm water. Make certain that your pan is completely dry.
Don't be alarmed if you accidentally leave your pan in water for too long and it rusts! You can eliminate the rust and continue to use your cast iron cookware with a little more care.
Can soap be used to clean cast iron cookware?
Contrary to popular perception, you can clean cast iron cookware with a minimal bit of soap! Large amounts of soap will remove the seasoning from your pan, but you can easily re-season it as needed.
Can you clean my cast iron pan with steel wool or a metal scrubber?
No! To remove any stuck-on residue, they recommend using a pan scraper or a chainmail scrubber.
To eliminate rust before re-seasoning, we only advocate using steel wool, a metal scrubber, or possibly course salt.
Can you put my cast iron skillet in the dishwasher?
No. Hand washing is recommended for cast iron cookware. A dishwasher will likely remove the seasoning and produce rust, but some people have reported using a dishwasher with cast iron cookware successfully.
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| Clean and shiny seasoned cast iron skillet |
Tips for Caring for Your Cast Iron Cookware
You may use your cast iron cookware for years if you take excellent care of it. There are some helpful hints for you to effectively maintain your cast iron cookware.
When cleaning a cast iron skillet, avoid using detergent or soap. Although detergents and soaps are excellent cleaners, they should be avoided when cleaning cast iron cookware. Most detergents contain sulfides, which cling to and remove the oils in the pan.
Never put a cast iron skillet in the dishwasher. The dishwasher can destroy the cast iron pan's nonstick coating. On the other hand, it can easily encourage rust on the skillet.
When cleaning cast iron skillets, avoid using steel wool. It can damage the coating and diminish the pan's seasoning.
It is critical to clean your cast iron skillet appropriately and on a frequent basis, in order to keep it rust-free. After each usage, immediately clean the pan.
Allow the pan to completely dry. Water can readily promote rust on the pan, so make sure to thoroughly dry it.
Keep your cast iron cookware in a dry, safe place away from water. When storing the pan, lay a paper towel in it to protect it from dust.
Final Thoughts
Cast iron cookware is an excellent choice for your home kitchen. However, if you are not careful with your cast iron cookware, it can deteriorate quickly. To extend the life of your beloved cookware, you should follow regular cleaning practices.
Another thing you may do is read the manufacturer's instructions to learn how to clean cast iron cookware properly. This might help you to properly care for your kitchenware.
Your cast iron skillet, pan, or cookware is now happy and ready to cook its next delicious meal for you. Enjoy!
Cheers!
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