How To Clean Cast Iron Items
We of course have our own method that we ve used and touted for years but we ve decided to settle this once and for all.
How to clean cast iron items. To clean cast iron cookware use a plastic scrubber and hot water to remove food. There are a lot of opinions and rules when it comes to cleaning cast iron skillets. Put your pan in the sink run some hot water in it and scrub off all the stuck on food. Just a little bit of hot water is all you ll ever need. Doing any of these things can ruin its natural seasoning.
To be extra sure the cast iron is dry place it on a hot burner and let it warm up so any water will evaporate. Wash your cookware with dish soap and a stiff bristle dish brush but don t soak it. If the food is really cooked on you can always let the pan soak for a bit. Some people scrub using elbow grease using coarse salt or a metal cast iron cleaning pad. Rinse it well then dry thoroughly.
Instead use very hot water and a mild non abrasive sponge to clean the pan after each use. We did the research to determine. The simplest way to remove a lot of rust from cast iron is to make a slurry of bar keepers friend and a couple of tablespoons of water in the pan and scrub the rust off using a stainless steel. The most important thing to know about cleaning cast iron skillets meaning non enameled is that you should not use soap soak it in water overnight or put it in the dishwasher. First i place just enough water to cover the surface of the skillet.
Don t ever use soap. 3 rinse the cast iron under your faucet. But don t let cast iron sit in water too long or it will start to rust. I don t even have to go that far my way is easiest in my opinion. I don t need much just barely enough to cover the bottom surface of the skillet.
But when your cast iron needs a refresh follow this dry cleaning method. Then dry the cast iron item carefully with a dishcloth and store it in a dry place.