What is the best way to clean a cast iron skillet?

To clean, just use mild dish soap (that’s right, it’s okay to use a little soap!) and a scouring pad or a cast iron pan cleaning brush. Wash it, scrub it, rinse it, then wipe it out well and season it with a few drops of oil and store with a paper towel covering the cooking surface.

Can you use soap on a cast iron pan?

Contrary to popular belief, you can use a small amount of soap to clean cast iron cookware! Large amounts of soap can strip the seasoning off your pan, but you can easily re-season your pan as needed. Our cast iron cookware should be washed by hand. A dishwasher will remove the seasoning and likely cause rust.

Why do you not wash a cast iron skillet?

The first is that since oil is used to season the cast iron skillet and create a nonstick surface, soap would effectively wash away the cure that you worked so hard to build. The second reason that this myth persists is that soap isn’t the most efficient cleaner of cast iron.

Can you use Dawn dish soap on cast iron?

Soap is designed to remove oil, therefore soap will damage your seasoning. This is what gives well-seasoned cast iron its non-stick properties, and as the material is no longer actually an oil, the surfactants in dish soap should not affect it.

Should you clean cast iron after every use?

So, how often should you clean a cast iron pan? Clean your cast iron pan after every use. Most of the time, wiping it down with a paper towel will do the trick. However, if your skillet is still dirty, wash it briefly by hand in soapy water before patting it dry for storage.

What’s the best way to clean a cast iron pan?

For stubborn, stuck-on food, simmer a little water for 3-5 minutes, then use the scraper after the pan has cooled. Our Seasoning Care Kit has everything you need to wash and care for cast iron the right way.

Can a cast iron skillet be used in a dishwasher?

Cast-iron is not rust-proof! Make sure to minimize the amount of time it comes into contact with water. (This means no dishwasher, either!) Just a quick heads up: Submerging an extremely hot pan in cold water can cause it to crack. So don’t do it. It’s a common misconception that soap will strip the seasoning from your pan.

How to restore and season a rusty cast iron skillet?

Follow these simple steps to refurbish your cast iron finish, and you’ll be cooking for decades to come. Scour the rusty sections with steel wool or the Lodge Rust Eraser. Then wash the pan with warm, soapy water. This step may remove portions of the seasoning, but that’s okay because we’re preparing to re-season the pan.

What makes a cast iron skillet non stick?

Part of what makes cast iron so great for cooking is that layer of seasoning it gets after regular use (you’ll also want to season your pan before its first-ever use). Seasoning is basically a layer of oil baked onto the pan’s surface. Each time you cook with oil or fat, the seasoning will build. Eventually, it makes the pan nearly nonstick.

How do I clean the outside of a cast iron pan?

Working outside on cardboard or newspaper to prevent from killing or staining anything. Liberally spray the cast-iron pan and let the oven cleaner do it’s job. Wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands wipe the bulk of the residual oven cleaner and dissolveed grease with paper towels and discard.

Can I wash a cast iron skillet in the dishwasher?

Cast Iron. Cast iron pots and pans should never be put in the dishwasher. When a dishwasher is running, the conditions inside are hot and wet, which isn’t ideal for cast iron. These conditions will cause cast iron pots and pans to rust and will wash way the seasoning (the protective, non-stick coating).

What is the proper way to season cast iron?

Properly season cast iron: Turn your oven to 200 degrees. Place the cast iron upside down while the oven is still cold and allow the “pores” to open for about 30 minutes. Remove cast iron and apply a good layer of Flax seed oil, then wipe it ALL off with something that will not leave lint, etc.

How do you clean cast iron?

How to Clean Cast Iron. Place still-warm-from-cooking cast-iron skillets and pans in the sink and rinse with hot water. Wipe all surfaces clean, using a nonabrasive sponge.