Hi everyone! Today we are going to talk about Cast Iron Cleaning.

 

Although, this is not the sexiest of topics to talk about, but I felt prompted to do so since we are about to begin camping season.

 

If you own a cast iron skillet, then you know that cleaning it properly is important. Cast iron skillets need to be seasoned and these can easily rust if the seasoning is damaged.

 

The good news? I am going to give you a step by step guide on restoring your favorite cooking skillets and how to properly season them.

 

Without further ado, let’s jump into the Article!

 

 

 

For more information on Cast Iron Cleaning, please check out Lodge’s website. They have great information on cleaning and restoring these bad boys. Here is a link to their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Iron Cleaning 101: Don’t Overthink it.

 

 

I will be the first to admit this, I had a misconception that cast irons is delicate and easy to mess-up.

Well, this reality could not be further from the truth!

People have been cooking on cast iron for centuries now. With its durability and utility, it has made it a staple in kitchens around the globe.

After tons of research, there are several ways to clean and restore these. I am going to give you a few easy steps to make life easier.

 

First things First, Wipe it out!

After your skillet has cooled and is warm enough to touch, wipe the inside and remove any oil or food residue. Wiping this out while it is still warm will help reduce the time and difficulty of cleaning your pan and prevent any food to be caked on the skillet.

If you are able to accomplish this by simply wiping it out, stop here. If you have a little bit of oil still on the pan, this won’t be an issue.

In all honesty, keeping a pan from drying out is an important aspect of long-term maintenance. In my humble opinion, over-cleaning your cast iron pans is not necessary and will only damage your seasoning. In the instance that you cannot wipe this clean on the first try, don’t worry, we will talk about this on the next step.

 

 

Get the Chainmail Scrubber

After you’ve done some preliminary cleaning, wash with warm water and a mild dish soap.

Make the judgement call if you think your cast iron needs a more aggressive cleaning. Additionally, I recommend using a chainmail scrubber.

Why?

It’s important to not use anything too harsh such as a steel wool, sponges or other abrasive cleaning methods. Again, you will want to refrain from damaging the seasoning.

Secondly, fill your pan halfway full of water and heat over the stove. As the water heats up, the sticky leftover food particles should soften and become easier to wipe out.

Thirdly, after allowing the water to come to a near boil, pour the water from your skillet and use the chainmail scrubber to remove the food.

 

Dry it Off.

It is important to rinse and dry your cast iron skillet immediately after cleaning. I recommend using a lint-free towel.

In addition to drying your pan out, NEVER allow your pan to air-dry as this can allow rust to build. The next step is crucial, and we will talk about that shortly.

 

Don’t forget to Apply the Heat

Okay, so now we have covered the hard part. Now it’s time to heat things up shall we.

First, place your clean cast iron skillet over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Subsequently, this will remove any additional moisture left on the skillet after wiping it dry with a towel.

Remove the pan from the heat after all water has evaporated and wipe with a small amount of cast iron seasoning or a half teaspoon of high smoke point oil throughout the inside of your skillet. Don’t forget to remove any excess oil or seasoning. Finally, wipe the oil out with a dry or separate cloth or towel.

 

Finally, it’s time to Store it.

I store my cast irons in a cool dark place or near the stove for regular use. If you have multiple cast iron pans, avoid the temptation of stacking them on top of each other. Why? you guessed it, this will damage the seasoning. I also recommend hanging these on the wall if you do not have the space underneath.

 

 

Thoughts & Takeaways

And that will wrap things up for today. I hope you enjoyed this article and found some value in it. Cast iron cleaning should not be a headache anymore. Wiping these bad boys out right after you use them is half the battle. But in the case that you need to clean them, don’t overthink it and most importantly, don’t overdo it. Storing them in a cool dark placed and hanging them is for best practices. Please share your best practices on Cast iron cleaning in the comment section below.

 

 

-CT