I love cast iron skillets. They make me feel like I’m someone who knows what she’s doing in the kitchen. They can take a beating, go from stovetop to oven, and they’re pretty enough to go on the table. They photograph beautifully, too. Love them.
When it comes to cleaning, though, that love? Not so strong. I know folks who have impeccable-looking cast iron skillets and as many who have ruined at least one. For those of you in the know, please tell us:
What are some of your favorite cast iron tips?
I know you’re not supposed to use dish soap on them but is that a hard and fast rule? What if you’ve already ruined part of the pan? Is there a way to recover from that? What’s the best way to season it? Or store it?
We’d love to hear your tips or even your challenges when it comes to cast iron cookware. Share your thoughts below and let’s help each other out!
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Leann C on 3.19.2014
I am also from the south and we value our iron skillets. They are like gold to us southern girls. They get passed on, generation to generation. Every…and I mean every single time I use my skillets, I turn my oven on to heat (temp doesn’t matter) While I clean the skillet then I spray lightly with Pam and wipe the Pam around with a paper towel, then put it in the oven and turn it off. The heat not only dries the skillet throughout but activates the Pam to keep the skillet well seasoned. My cornbread never sticks!
Angela Radke on 3.19.2014
Thank you for posting this blog. I’ve been wondering if there was anything I wasn’t doing for my cast iron skillets.
Sue In Fla on 3.19.2014
I am 64 years old and from the South. I can remember my mother refurbishing old cast iron by placing it in a fire either outside (bonfire) or the fireplace. This really burned everything off the pan. I would assume this is sort of like the responder who mentioned the oven self-cleaner. I have four very old fry pans and I clean them with very hot water. They are stored stacked, with parchment paper layered between them.
Naomi on 3.19.2014
I have had cast iron for years and love it. I have two smaller skillets I keep everybodies hands off for a specific reason. I only do eggs in the smallest using either spritz of olive oil or butter, then when done, wipe out quickly with a paper towel and let cool. BE really careful there. But I never have to do anythihg else to it. The one a bit bigger I use a lot for grilled sanwiches, again just wipe it out after doing your sandwiches while warm, let cool and put away. My biggest skillet I rescued from a yard sale, terrible rusted. Put in about 1/4 inch vegetable oil, let set for a few minutes, then add a whole bunch of salt, use paper towels for scour out, dump (you may have to repeat depending on how bad the rust is) out and do again. Once all of the rust is out, season with a bit of oil and start using. If I have used one for taco meat, etc, wait until it has cooled down a bit, then fill with JUST hot water, let it soak, using a soft scrubbie or dishcloth to clean, then dry with a soft cloth, spritz a bit of oil, spread and you’re good to go again! I have used tiny amounts of dish soap before, but don’t recommend it. I’m always on the lookout for cast iron and have been fortunate to find many of my pieces at yard sales. Wouln’t be without it:)
Sue M. on 3.19.2014
I, too, never use soap to clean my cast iron pan. Just hot water and a scrubby brush.
My favorite use for my 12″ pan is to use it for roasts and baked chicken. Making pan gravy is a snap and if I don’t make gravy, the good juices are great over whatever starchy vegetable I’m having. I also sometimes add root vegetables to the pan so they roast in the juices. Yum! Clean-up is so much easier than a typical roasting pan.
randomsideizzie on 3.19.2014
“No soap, no soap”
Ok, so Milton from Office Space didn’t say this exactly, but it still applies.
Hot water and a non-abrasive scrubber should do the trick. Just be sure it is completely dry afterward and rub down with some sort of cooking oil.
Don’t listen to me though, I am not a pro at this.
I found a great article that gives tips for using cast iron (cleaning is mentioned in Step 5). Also, read the comments of this post – others mention what works for them – like using kosher salt for the really stuck food bits.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Tool-Tips-Guide-Cast-Iron-Cookware/?ALLSTEPS
Tiffany B on 3.19.2014
I would love to just have a set.
T2Nashville on 3.19.2014
I inherited 2 cast iron skillets that were incredibly rusty with gunky buildup. I read on Pinterest where you could place them in a large trash bag with a cup of ammonia for several days, and this would loosen the gunk. It worked great! Just had to clean them up and re-season them afterwards.
PatioDaddio on 3.19.2014
A stainless steel scubber like the one linked below is great for cleaning cast iron. To clean a pan I boil some water in it to loosen any nasty bits, scrub, towel dry and then I apply a light coat of oil.
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Stainless-Steel-Scrubber/dp/B000JCKC0C
Deitan on 3.19.2014
Great advice, thank you all! So I have a small cast iron pan that has some rust issues on the cooking surface. Like Beth said she does with “ruined” cast iron – will giving it a good scrub with steel wool work or is there some other treatment for this problem?
HeatherB on 3.19.2014
I always leave mine in my oven. Whenever I turn on my oven for preheating for baking, I leave it in there and take it out when my food goes in. I don’t use soap. It’s black, nonstick and works beautifully.
Susan on 3.19.2014
I use crumpled up TIN FOIL to scrape up food stuck on the pan. Then i RINSE it with warm water. And lastly, I SPRAY vegetable oil, a light mist all over the pan (handles and all) for a quick seasoning.
SandraG on 3.19.2014
I know everyone says not to use soap to clean, but I have done this. My cast iron is so old and well seasoned that I don’t think anything will hurt it. Now if your cast iron is still in its younger years, I would not use soap. I also dry mine by putting on a medium burner, just don’t walk away from it and leave to long. My cast iron skillets do not stick. Use them all the time. You do what’s best for you though.
Eva D on 3.19.2014
Don’t panic when you hear this…but…I thought I had ruined my cast iron when some food stuck to it really bad. I tried everything to get it clean and was ready to toss it in the garbage. As a last resort, I stuck it in the oven on the cleaning cycle and hoped for the best. It came out like a “naked” piece of cast iron with ashes in the pan from the food debris. I seasoned it again and it looks brand new! Since then, I have had good luck cleaning it with coarse salt and a good paper towel.
Elaine on 3.19.2014
Of course, never use soap OR steel wool on it. You can use a plastic scrubby or brush, with hot water. If you get one that’s had the finish ruined, wash it well, dry with a paper towel, then coat with vegetable oil or shortening. Bake (empty) in the oven at 350* for an hour. Pull it out, let it cool, then wipe out the extra oil & it’s ready to use.
I just hang mine on my baker’s rack; I do not re-season it every time I use it. I just wash it with hot water, dry it with a paper towel, & hang it up. It’s really that simple.
Rick on 3.19.2014
I also never use soap.
When i have stuck on bits, I put some water in then pour some kosher salt into it to scrub them out.
Beth on 3.19.2014
Never use soap, even the soap in many of the scratchy pads. I try to deglaze my pan every time I use it, even when the recipe does not call for it. Then I dry thoroughly, wipe it down with a good oil or lard. I prefer bacon grease myself. Wipe excess off. If your oven is still warm, place the cleaned/oiled pan in the warm oven to help reseal it. I then lay a dry paper towel in the bottom of each pan. I have several and like to stack them. Plain steel wool and a little elbow grease will restore a ruined cast iron skillet any day of the week. I purchase cast iron at yard sales, auctions, or estate sales every chance I can. They can be restored and are priceless in my book. My favorite cookware.
Martha H on 3.19.2014
Season well, never leave wet, dry with a paper towel and you will have the best no stick skillet for life ! Not to mention you are getting a dose of iron which is so good for your blood health!
Charmaine on 3.19.2014
Never use soap to clean it! If bits of food are stuck to it after cooking, just put a little water in it, let it soak awhile, then use your scrubby to get it off. Cast iron is safer and more healthy to use than non-stick skillets—no chemicals or weird things bonded to it
jackie on 3.19.2014
My mom gave me a cast iron skillet when I got married, she said “it is not only for frying chicken, if he ever lays a hand on you, you hit him in the head with it!” Never had to do that, but I have made some wonderful foods in it! Lots of oily stuff the first couple months of cooking, only rinse with hot hot hot water and wipe out with paper towel, then dry it comepletly, pour a tablespoon of vegetable oil in pan and wipe with paper towel to cover it all over. It is now ready for the next meal. Do this ever single time you cook in it! My husband says I take better care of that pan then him! Oh, no one can ever touch or cook with it but me!
Diane on 3.19.2014
I don’t use soap – ever. I wash with a green scrubbie that is nonscratch. I also put a little oil in the pan after cleaning and use a paper towel to coat the pan. After doing this for years the pan is practically nonstick.
Lisa on 3.19.2014
Do not EVER clean your pan with soap. I generaly just rinse mine out with water and use a sponge with the rough side. Then when necessary, I use Criso Shortening to season my pan. That is only if necessary and usually when my husband gets the brainiac idea to put my antique skillet in the DISHWASHER!! Yes, he did that. It came out rusted … and I almost filed for divorce ….
Anne Weber-Falk on 3.19.2014
Watch your flame! Because cast iron really retains the heat you don’t need a very high flame under the pan. This was the toughest thing for me when I first started using cast iron.
mnheather on 3.19.2014
Thanks for this! I really want to love my cast iron, but it totally intimidates me. I can’t wait to see some tried and true tricks to using it!