Clean cast-iron skillet after every use Wipe interior surface of still-warm skillet with paper towels to remove any excess food and oil. Rinse under hot running water, scrubbing with nonmetal brush or nonabrasive scrub pad to remove any traces of food. (Use small amount of soap if you like; rinse well.)
Cast iron skillets should be cleaned after each use. The best way to care for your cast iron skillet is to clean it properly after each use.
Wash your cast iron cookware by hand. You can use a small amount of soap. If needed, use a pan scraper for stuck on food. For stubborn, stuck-on food, simmer a little water for 3-5 minutes, then use the scraper after the pan has cooled.
Will soap ruin cast iron? Using soap will not ruin your pan. It is totally fine on enameled cast iron, and on plain cast iron, too. It's not going to destroy your seasoning.
"You can't clean cast-iron the same way you clean stainless steel," kitchen expert and author of "Kitchen Matters," Pamela Salzman says. "It's very porous," Rach adds. "That flavor will stay in there and literally bake into the pan."
Taking care of cast iron cookware is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. Rinse your warm, but not hot, cast iron pan in an empty sink under hot running water using a clean cloth or brush to remove any traces of food. If there are stuck on or burned on foods, use coarse salt as an abrasive.
Cast iron is porous, meaning that long exposure to water can cause it to soak up the moisture and eventually rust. While a short soak won't do much harm, I avoid soaking the thing for fear of forgetting it and ruining the cure I've worked so hard develop.
Using vinegar mixed with water is one of the best iron cast cleaner methods you can employ to get rid of unwanted rusting on your pans. So, if you find yourself stuck with rust, pull out the vinegar and have it shining like new again in no time!
Be sure to let the cast iron cool first to avoid damage from thermal shock, which could warp or crack either the pot or the enamel. For everyday cleaning, use a non-abrasive sponge such as a Dobie sponge with hot water and regular dish soap.
The Best Way To Clean and Season a Cast Iron Skillet
For regular cleaning, avoid using harsh detergents or steel wool since they can remove the seasoning. However gentle dish soap and a light scrubbing with a dishcloth, sponge, or stiff brush will work.
You should clean a cast iron skillet immediately after use to maintain the pan's seasoning. Acidic foods like tomatoes can remove the seasoning if they remain in the skillet for too long and letting grease stand overnight can result in unpleasant flavors.
Use a fine grade steel wool pad and scrub the pan surface, inside and out, to remove rust and debris. Wash the residue with hot water and mild soap if needed. Once you have cleaned all the residue off the cast iron skillet, wash and dry your skillet as noted.
All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.
Why can't you boil water in cast iron? When you have water at a constant boil in seasoned cast iron, the boiling causes the seasoning to release. This can leave patchy seasoning or an uneven layer of seasoning left on your cast iron.
If cast iron is left in the sink to soak, put in the dishwasher, or allowed to air dry, it will rust. It can also happen when you store your cookware in moisture-prone environments, such as a cabinet near a dishwasher, an open cabinet in a humid location, or stored outside.
It's important to use hot water, since cold water going into a hot pan could cause it to warp or even crack. Using a stiff-bristled brush made out of natural fibers or plastic, scrub the inside of the skillet. Don't use a wire brush or steel wool, which are too abrasive and could damage the surface.
Having a small amount of oil after cleaning is not a problem. In fact, keeping a pan from drying out is an important part of long term maintenance. Over-cleaning your cast iron pan is unnecessary and will only stand to damage your seasoning. For many meals, this will be the only necessary step to cleaning your skillet.
Always dry cast-iron thoroughly and quickly after washing, then rub a small amount of vegetable oil (about 3/4 teaspoon in a 12-inch skillet will do) over the cooking surface with a dry paper towel. If the towel picks up a lot of black or brown residue, repeat the rinsing process and rub with oil again.
Olive oil is a great option for seasoning your cast iron skillet because it is affordable and easy to find. It also has a high smoke point, which means it can withstand high temperatures without burning.
The black residue on a cast iron skillet isn't harmful; it's just a part of cooking with a cast iron pan. A black seasoned coating shouldn't rub off easily or affect the food, as it should form a useful non-stick surface for cooking. If residue starts to build up, however, this can affect your cooking.
A well-seasoned skillet will have a dark, semiglossy finish and won't be sticky or greasy to the touch. It won't have any rust or any dull or dry patches. An easy way to test a skillet's seasoning is to fry an egg (heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes, then add egg).