How To Clean Cast Iron Frying Pan
But for cast iron with a thick layer of rust you ll need to remove the seasoning entirely.
How to clean cast iron frying pan. If there are pesky stains on the inside of the pot that won t go away after a thorough cleaning bring water to a gentle simmer in the pan on the stove with either a small amount of dish soap or baking soda then scrub and rinse carefully says nate collier of le creuset. Just apply a small amount of salt to the pan rub with a damp sponge and rinse. Soaking cast iron in water is a recipe for rust. To do so submerge your entire pan in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. This method of cleaning your cast iron pots and pans works great for tackling rust.
If the food is really cooked on you can always let the pan soak for a bit. But don t let cast iron sit in water too long or it will start to rust. After cooking let your pan cool then wash it with a little dish soap plus a little water and a gentle. Thoroughly dry your cast iron pan after cleaning. Be sure to thoroughly dry your pan.
If you need to remove sticky or stubborn stuck on food use a nylon scrubbing brush or a pan scraper and rinse under warm water. Use coarse kosher salt as a gentle abrasive scrub to remove stuck on food. Put your pan in the sink run some hot water in it and scrub off all the stuck on food. Allow the pan to soak checking on it frequently to see if the rust has been removed this could take up to eight hours. Use either a dry cloth or paper towels or briefly heat on the stovetop over low heat to prevent rust.
A little soap won t ruin your pan s seasoning if that s your preferred cleaning method. Add water to the pan along with a generous amount of coarse grain salt. Another option for stubborn food is cleaning cast iron with salt. Rinse the salt out of the pan and ensure it s dry. The baking soda is both a slight abrasive and a light but effective cleaner.
Scrub your pan with a nylon pad to work the salt into the surface and help remove the stuck on food.