How To Clean A Crusty Cast Iron Skillet

Generously sprinkle kosher salt or coarse sea salt into the pan and scrub it with a clean, damp washcloth For extra stubborn spots, use a plastic pan scraper to work the burned food off the pan

How do I get the hard crust off my cast iron skillet?

Directions Set your cast iron skillet in the sink and sprinkle a teaspoon or two of Kosher salt in the bottom Slice off the top of a raw potato Once all of the rust has vanished (Yay!), dry your skillet with a clean towel If you don’t need to re-season your skillet, just add a few drops of oil to its surface

How do you clean crud off the outside of a cast iron skillet?

Steps to Clean the Outside of the Skillet: Begin by boiling water Place the skillet in the sink upside-down Carefully pour the boiling water over the outside of the pan Using caution not to burn your hands, scrub off any food or buildup on the pan with a wire grill brush

How do you deep clean a cast iron skillet?

Directions for Deep Cleaning a Cast Iron Pan Wet the pan before cleaning This will help the Simple Green penetrate soils and make the cast iron easier to clean Spray on full strength Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner Scrub the pan Rinse with clean water Dry immediately Check for rust Re-season your cookware

Can I use Bar Keepers Friend on cast iron?

Yes, you can use BKF to clean the inside of your enameled cast iron pan just follow the procedure above Here’s what leading culinary magazine Bon Appétit had to say, “Bar Keepers Friend powder is also quite handy if you have burns that just don’t seem to budge—mix it with a tiny bit of water, and scrub away

How do you remove burnt on grease from a cast-iron skillet?

Sprinkle table salt over the grease in the cast iron cookware Scrub the inside of the cookware with a nonabrasive sponge Wipe the salt out of the cast iron pan with paper towels Wash the cookware with hot water and a sponge Dry the cast iron skillet with a lint-free towel

Will baking soda clean cast iron?

In a nutshell, this is how to clean your cast-iron skillet: Immediately after cooking, rinse in warm water, sprinkle with a bit of baking soda, and scrub gently with a nylon brush The baking soda neutralizes any flavors and odors from what you’ve just cooked, and has anti-bacterial properties

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

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 a Brillo pad on a cast iron skillet?

How to Clean Cast Iron Follow these easy steps if your skillet has any rust spots or if it’s completely coated in rust Scrub with hot water using a nonabrasive scour pad with coarse salt or a brillo pad on all sides of the skillet until all of the rust spots are gone

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

Is Bar Keepers Friend the same as Comet?

While Comet, Ajax and other household cleaners are bleach-based and alkaline, Bar Keepers Friend is an acidic cleaner On the other hand, the composition of BKF Cleanser actually cleans and polishes stainless steel surfaces It is endorsed and recommended by major stainless steel manufacturers

What oils are best for seasoning cast iron?

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

Is black residue on cast iron bad?

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

How do you remove excess oil from cast iron?

Bake Place the cookware in the oven upside down on the top rack and place aluminum foil on the bottom rack to catch any excess oil that may drip off the cookware Bake at 450-500 degrees F for one hour Allow to cool and repeat as necessary to achieve the classic black patina

How can you tell if cast iron is ruined?

4 Signs It’s Time to Let Go of an Old Cast Iron Pan It’s cracked It has a hole in it It’s warped or wobbly It’s covered in dust

Does vinegar harm cast iron?

The maximum amount of time you should leave your cast iron soaking in vinegar is 8 hours Any longer than this could be detrimental to the long-term health of the cast iron You should keep checking back on your cast iron as it soaks, though, because the length of time you need it submerged in vinegar will vary

Can you clean cast iron with vinegar?

But for seriously rusted-out and busted pans, Whitehead suggests a vinegar soak Mix basic white vinegar with water in equal parts and submerge your pan in it The vinegar will dissolve the rust, but once that’s gone, the vinegar will go to town on the original cast surface of the pan

Does vinegar hurt cast iron?

You can’t cook acidic foods in cast iron You shouldn’t cook a tomato sauce from start to finish in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven, but deglazing a cast iron pan with wine or vinegar is just fine As long as your pan is seasoned, the acid will simply come into contact with seasoning layer