How do you properly care for and clean cast iron cookware?

How do you properly care for and clean cast iron cookware?

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.

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

Wash the skillet using hot water and a stiff mesh brush. Avoid using the dishwasher, as it can ruin the pan’s coating. To remove sticky food, scrub with a combo of coarse kosher salt and water. Then, wipe with a paper towel.

Do you have to 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 is wrong with cleaning cast iron pans?

Soap doesn’t wash away the oils. The oil combines with the porous surface of the pan when heated creating a surface harder and smoother than the pan itself. It would take a lot more than soap to remove the seasoning from a skillet.

How many times do you season a cast iron skillet?

In my experience, it’s reasonable to reseason a cast iron skillet once to 2-3 times per year. If you cook fattier foods in your skillet and avoid cleaning it with soapy water, the seasoning could last for years.

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. Go ahead and soap it up and scrub it out.

What is the best oil to season a cast iron skillet?

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.

Can you use PAM on cast iron?

Do not try to use nonstick sprays like Pam to season your cast iron skillet, as they contain other ingredients that aren’t good for your pan. And goodbye to excess oil that gets sticky if stored too long on the pan.