Skip to main content

How to clean a cast-iron skillet

Your cast-iron skillet needs tender loving care. Here's how to clean it

There are few implements in any given American kitchen more important than a cast-iron skillet. These things are so durable and useful that half the foodies in America inherited theirs from their grandmothers. Durable, affordable, and almost impossible to mess up, a cast-iron skillet is the workhorse of the American kitchen. From scrambled eggs to skillet-fried chicken, the cast-iron skillet is practically a member of the family and can help you cook up some delicious recipes.

Unfortunately, most of us weren’t smart enough to take notes when our grandmothers were telling us how to clean our cast-iron skillets. Thank goodness for the Internet, right?

Recommended Videos

The Importance of Seasoning

Another wonderful thing about our modern times is that most new cast-iron skillets come pre-seasoned. “What is this seasoning of which you speak,” you ask incredulously? It’s a vital part of using a cast-iron skillet properly. Basically, we’re using a bit of oil and some simple chemistry to add a non-stick coating to the skillet. If the manufacturer didn’t pre-season yours, you need to create that layer from scratch. Just coat the pan with some vegetable-based cooking oil and bake it at 350 degrees for an hour. Wipe off the oil and the pan is ready to use.

How to Clean a cast-iron skillet

There’s no faster way to start a fight among chefs and foodies than declaring the best way to clean a skillet. The truth is you have some options.

The fundamental tenet is that old school cooks believe you shouldn’t use soap to clean your cast-iron skillet. In point of fact, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Some foodies think that soap will rub away your seasoning, which is one of the most important features of the pan in the first place. But here’s the thing about chemistry: remember how we put in our oil and heated up the pan to create our seasoning? The process of applying heat to that oil creates a chemical process by which the oil is turned into a thin, plastic-like layer that makes it nonstick. That process is called polymerization, and it’s very difficult to remove with anything less hardy than steel wool. So if you’re worried about germs, feel free to use a little soapy water, but you don’t strictly need to clean your cast-iron skillet with soap.

The second tenet is old-school as well, and it’s actually important: don’t put your cast-iron skillet in the dishwasher! Not only will the process of exposing your cast-iron skillet to extremely hot water potentially diminish your seasoning, exposure to water can also cause it to rust.

Now, the important part: There is no single best way to clean your cast-iron skillet, but we can point you in the right direction.

For a basic cleaning, just wash the pan, either with soapy water or simply warm water, wiping it with a kitchen sponge. If there are a few stubborn bits hanging on, you can use the synthetic scrubber found on many modern kitchen sponges. Just don’t break out anything stronger than that, such as steel wool.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If, let’s say, you’ve pan cooked a whole fish or pork loin or other food that has gotten stuck to the pan, go back to chemistry for the clean up. Toss some kosher salt into your skillet, put it on the burner on high heat, and then scrub out the charred messy bits with a spatula followed by some paper towels. The salt creates an abrasive substance that will free up the gunk, but won’t damage your seasoning. The heat simply carbonizes the leftover food, making it easier to pry up. Then rinse out the salt and wash the pan with warm water.

As we stated before, water is a really bad thing for a cast-iron skillet because it can start the process of oxidization, meaning your pan could rust. Because of this risk, make sure to dry your skillet thoroughly with kitchen towels or paper towels immediately after washing. On that note, you can cook just about anything in a cast-iron skillet, but don’t try to boil water in it or make soup. That’s just asking for trouble.

As an additional option, you can also hand-dry the skillet and then set it over a high flame. The heat causes any remaining water to evaporate, guaranteeing that the skillet is really dry.

As one last optional step, you can re-apply your vegetable oil to the pan and set it over a high flame to ensure your pan is seasoned and ready for its next outing. Just keep in mind that you need to heat it up if you choose this last option. If you just apply the oil without heating it, the oil can be sticky and even rancid by the time time you use it, necessitating the search for a new skillet.

Some Final Tips

Don’t overdo it on size. A 10- or 12-inch cast-iron skillet will be a very versatile tool for your kitchen.

cast-iron skillets take longer to heat up than Teflon or other pans, but keep in mind that they also retain heat better and distribute it more evenly than other surfaces.

It’s easy to get burnt on a cast-iron pan, especially if you pop it in the oven, so always use a towel or an oven mitt to handle the skillet.

Cooking in cast-iron increases the iron content in food. Kids under the age of three can be prone to iron toxicity, so use caution with the kiddies.

Use caution in cooking acidic foods like tomato sauce or recipes that contain wine in the cast-iron skillet, as these types of foods can be abrasive to your seasoning.

Always heat the cast-iron skillet up before cooking in it; if you start with a completely cold pan, your food is more likely to stick.

Which cast-iron skillet to Buy?

There are a wide variety of cast-iron skillets on the market, from the relatively cheap T-Fal pans at retailers like Target to full-on professional cookware for chefs. Given that this is a vital part of your kitchen arsenal, it’s better to spend a little more money and get a cast-iron skillet that will meet your needs. Weight, handle length, and size also play key roles in how easy a cast-iron skillet is to use. Longer handles will give you better leverage, although shorter ones can be good, too, if they also include a handle helper.

You can do your own search online, but here are three options. For a good basic pan that’s also affordable, you can try the Calphalon pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet ($30) or the Lodge LCC3 Cast Iron Combo Cooker ($35), which is also pre-seasoned and comes with a Dutch oven. For something a little more high-tech, try the Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet ($200), which comes with a decorative red exterior.

Now you know. Go forth, and cook something good tonight!

Topics
Clayton Moore
Clayton Moore’s interest in technology is deeply rooted in the work of writers like Warren Ellis, Cory Doctorow and Neal…
Best security camera deals: Ring, Arlo, Blink and more on sale
These are the best security camera deals available right now
Prime Day 2022 security camera deals graphic.

If you're the sort of person who worries about the physical safety of their home or live in a rough area, then having home security cameras can help give you much more peace of mind. The great thing is that in the past decade or so, security cameras have come a long way, and nowadays, you can get things like wireless security cameras that let you access them remotely from wherever you are through an application. Of course, that does mean that there is a huge selection out there, which is why we've collected some of our favorite security camera deals below, although if you're in the Amazon ecosystem, it might be worth checking out these Ring camera deals.
Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Security Camera -- $24 $50 52% off

While this is ostensibly made for your garage, there's no reason the Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage can't work for other uses as well, especially if you don't need the highest quality of recording. It has an HD camera, which isn't a ton, but it does have an impressive 130-degree field of view. The MyQ also connects through dual-band Wi-Fi for a better connection, and it even has two-way communication, which is impressive for something at this price bracket.

Read more
Best air purifier deals: Save big on Dyson, Shark, TCL and more
A Germ Guardian purifier placed on a living room floor.

While a lot of folks may think that having an air purifier is overkill, the truth is that they are great for those who suffer from seasonal allergies or who live in cities that have a lot of pollution. In fact, air purifiers work by removing allergens and pollutants from the air, meaning that you aren't just breathing in a bunch of gunk all the time. Not only that, but there are a lot of great air purifier options these days, and there are even some fancy ones that let them integrate with your smart home devices so that you can use them wirelessly.

Either way, we've collected some of our favorite deals below. While you're at it, you may want to consider checking out these air conditioner deals and humidifier deals to help with other issues.
Aroeve MK01 Home Air Purifier -- $40 $50 20% off

Read more
Best vacuum deals: Cordless to corded, Dyson to Bissell
LG CordZero all in one stick vacuum with auto empty dock.

If you've been living with an older vacuum and it's getting on years, meaning it's not vacuuming up as much as it used to, then now is the perfect time to upgrade to something new. There are a ton of great options out there, from corded to cordless vacuums, and there are even robot vacuums if you'd prefer to go that route. Whatever you're looking for, there are probably some great deals floating around for them, and you don't even need the best vacuums to get something of good quality. That's why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite vacuum deals for you below.

Also, if you prefer to go specifically for something more lightweight, you may want to consider these cordless vacuum deals. If you want that extra help mentioned earlier, check out these robot vacuum deals and Roomba deals.
Hoover Dirt Devil Power Express Upright Bagless Vacuum -- $50 $59 15% off

Read more