How To Clean Iron Cast Pans
Wash your cast iron cookware by hand.
How to clean iron cast pans. For stubborn residue try the salt method. Our seasoning care kit has everything you need to wash and care for cast iron the right way. Coat the cast iron lightly in cooking oil. After cooking let your pan cool then wash it with a little dish soap plus a little water and a gentle. The salt will work as a gentle abrasive to remove grime.
Take it back to the burner and turn on. If there are pesky stains on the inside of the pot that won t go away after a thorough cleaning bring water to a gentle simmer in the pan on the stove with either a small amount of dish soap or baking soda then scrub and rinse carefully says nate collier of le creuset. Rinse the skillet with hot water. This seals the metal and makes sure no moisture causes the cast iron to rust. You can use a small amount of soap.
If needed use a pan scraper for stuck on food. If you use your cast iron cookware daily this step is not necessary. Use a damp cloth to clean out the inside of your skillet until the water runs completely clear. Wash your cookware with dish soap and a stiff bristle dish brush but don t soak it. Sprinkle coarse salt on the pan and then scrub with a brush or sponge.
Clean the skillet with soap and hot water. Dab a paper towel in olive grapeseed or canola oil and rub it over the cast iron. Wipe out any food with paper towels a rag or sponge and gently scrub any stuck on bits with a brush or coarse salt. Clean your cast iron skillet while it s still warm. To clean enameled cast iron wash it with hot soapy water just as you would with any other cookware.
Water is the enemy of cast iron so the last thing you want to do is leave it dripping wet post wash. Thoroughly dry with a rag or paper towels or place the skillet on the stovetop over medium low heat until dry about 3 5 minutes. Sure the seasoning will prevent any rust from forming right away but if the pan is left to stand with water in it even those tough layers of polymerized oil won t be enough to stop the relentless oxidative skirmish between iron and h 2 o. A little soap won t ruin your pan s seasoning if that s your preferred cleaning method. But when your cast iron needs a refresh follow this dry cleaning method.