How to care for a cast iron skillet? (1 Viewer)

[MikeIke]

I got a very nice cast iron skillet for Christmas. I seasoned it correctly when I first got it. My question now is, what is the proper way to clean it after use?

I've used it several times since Christmas, but not for anything fancy. After use, I put water in it, brought it to a boil, scraped out the leftover detritus, dried it and that was that.

Tonight I made fried chicken in it. Turned out pretty good, thanks for asking. However, now I have a skillet full of oil that needs to be washed. I know not to put it in the dishwasher. After I empty the oil, what is the proper way to clean it and keep it in good shape for years to come?

Help me, FFA, you're my only hope.

 

[tommyboy]

Scrub under hot water with a brush, not metal. Once it's clean wipe it down with a towel or paper towels. Once in a while rub a little oil on it after drying

 

[tommyboy]

Don't use soap unless emergency, just hot water. If you need more scrubbing power dump a bunch of salt in the pan, use that as your abrasive with a brush

 

[Henry Ford]

Here's what I do:

1. Empty whatever comes out without scraping.

2. Heat skillet up on high heat, until scalding hot, then turn off heat.

3. Add a half inch of water, which will steam, and let it sit until it stops boiling.

4. Pour out remaining water but do not dry - add a bunch of salt.

5. Using a rag or paper towel, rub salt around to scour anything off that's stuck. Then dump out salt.

6. One drop of dish soap on a damp paper towel rubbed around because I can't handle the idea of spoiled food germs, then rinse off.

7. Heat again on high to fully dry off the skillet.

8. Rub some more oil on it while it cools.

 

[mr roboto]

I got a very nice cast iron skillet for Christmas. I seasoned it correctly when I first got it. My question now is, what is the proper way to clean it after use?

I've used it several times since Christmas, but not for anything fancy. After use, I put water in it, brought it to a boil, scraped out the leftover detritus, dried it and that was that.

Tonight I made fried chicken in it. Turned out pretty good, thanks for asking. However, now I have a skillet full of oil that needs to be washed. I know not to put it in the dishwasher. After I empty the oil, what is the proper way to clean it and keep it in good shape for years to come?

Help me, FFA, you're my only hope.

For me I prefer to dump the oil, then clean the bit off while it's still hotish. No water. If you let the pan cool, then hot water with an abrasive brush (not metal)

Resist using soap but if you do use it quickly (don't soak it in soapy water for more than a few minutes.

Don't ever let water sit in it for very long.

A few tiny bits of black flakes are fine if that next thing you are cooking will produce fat (bacon for example).

 

[mr roboto]

Here's what I do:

1. Empty whatever comes out without scraping.

2. Heat skillet up on high heat, until scalding hot, then turn off heat.

3. Add a half inch of water, which will steam, and let it sit until it stops boiling.

4. Pour out remaining water but do not dry - add a bunch of salt.

5. Using a rag or paper towel, rub salt around to scour anything off that's stuck. Then dump out salt.

6. One drop of dish soap on a damp paper towel rubbed around because I can't handle the idea of spoiled food germs, then rinse off.

7. Heat again on high to fully dry off the skillet.

8. Rub some more oil on it while it cools.

Every time?

 

[cstu]

From the company that makes them.

 

[Henry Ford]

Here's what I do:

1. Empty whatever comes out without scraping.

2. Heat skillet up on high heat, until scalding hot, then turn off heat.

3. Add a half inch of water, which will steam, and let it sit until it stops boiling.

4. Pour out remaining water but do not dry - add a bunch of salt.

5. Using a rag or paper towel, rub salt around to scour anything off that's stuck. Then dump out salt.

6. One drop of dish soap on a damp paper towel rubbed around because I can't handle the idea of spoiled food germs, then rinse off.

7. Heat again on high to fully dry off the skillet.

8. Rub some more oil on it while it cools.

Every time?

Every time, other than skipping the salt step if there's nothing crusted.

 

[MikeIke]

Thanks guys, good stuff here. I knew the FFA would be able to drop some knowledge on me. You never fail!

 

[Henry Ford]

It's also how my grandfather cared for his skillet. Which is now my skillet. It's lasted close to 70 years being treated like this.

 

[cstu]

consider that cookware is 400ºF in 4 minutes on medium heat and is sterile at 212º F

IMO there's no reason to freak out that your pan isn't perfectly clean. A brush and hot water is usually enough with a property seasoned pan.

 

[culdeus]

Tried the salt trick. May as well have licked it. Did nothing. Maybe need large grain salt like sea salt. dunno

 

[Henry Ford]

Tried the salt trick. May as well have licked it. Did nothing. Maybe need large grain salt like sea salt. dunno

Usually means you need more time in the water before salt. If there's a lot of crusted crap, boil the half inch of water in the pan for five minutes before dumping and putting in salt.

 

[Henry Ford]

Also, I heartily disagree with using an abrasive brush on a cast iron skillet.

 

[mr roboto]

Also, I heartily disagree with using an abrasive brush on a cast iron skillet.

Meh. Too much time using your method. How are you going to hurt a cast iron skillet with a dish brush?

 

[MikeIke]

Tried the salt trick. May as well have licked it. Did nothing. Maybe need large grain salt like sea salt. dunno

I've got a lot of kosher salt, should do the trick.

 

[MikeIke]

Also, I heartily disagree with using an abrasive brush on a cast iron skillet.

Meh. Too much time using your method. How are you going to hurt a cast iron skillet with a dish brush?

I've been using a bunch of paper towels held by a wooden spoon. Seems to clean it well enough. Today was different just because I had a lot of oil in it after frying chicken.

 

[Henry Ford]

Also, I heartily disagree with using an abrasive brush on a cast iron skillet.

Meh. Too much time using your method. How are you going to hurt a cast iron skillet with a dish brush?

Youre not going to hurt the iron, you're going to damage the seasoning coating you've spent 70 years putting on it.

 

[Henry Ford]

Also, I heartily disagree with using an abrasive brush on a cast iron skillet.

Meh. Too much time using your method. How are you going to hurt a cast iron skillet with a dish brush?

I've been using a bunch of paper towels held by a wooden spoon. Seems to clean it well enough. Today was different just because I had a lot of oil in it after frying chicken.

The oil isn't necessarily bad, you're going to coat it in oil anyway. It's the crap in the oil you need out.

 

[boots11234]

Here's what I do:

1. Empty whatever comes out without scraping.

2. Heat skillet up on high heat, until scalding hot, then turn off heat.

3. Add a half inch of water, which will steam, and let it sit until it stops boiling.

4. Pour out remaining water but do not dry - add a bunch of salt.

5. Using a rag or paper towel, rub salt around to scour anything off that's stuck. Then dump out salt.

6. One drop of dish soap on a damp paper towel rubbed around because I can't handle the idea of spoiled food germs, then rinse off.

7. Heat again on high to fully dry off the skillet.

8. Rub some more oil on it while it cools.

Every time?

I know right? FFS. I'd have thrown mine out the window years ago if I did that every time.

I dump out any grease. Scrape with a Ringer XL (search on Amazon for it). Run a bit of water on it to rinse then put it back on the stove very low to completely dry it. As far as the Ringer XL, it is chainmail wash cloth. 5 stars with 2600+ reviews. Tad spendy but it works.

 

[RC94]

What kind of oil do you guys use?

 

[Henry Ford]

What kind of oil do you guys use?

Avocado. Grandpa used olive.

 

[boots11234]

What kind of oil do you guys use?

Any cooking oil. Just don't use motor oil.

 

[HellToupee]

I got a very nice cast iron skillet for Christmas. I seasoned it correctly when I first got it. My question now is, what is the proper way to clean it after use?

I've used it several times since Christmas, but not for anything fancy. After use, I put water in it, brought it to a boil, scraped out the leftover detritus, dried it and that was that.

Tonight I made fried chicken in it. Turned out pretty good, thanks for asking. However, now I have a skillet full of oil that needs to be washed. I know not to put it in the dishwasher. After I empty the oil, what is the proper way to clean it and keep it in good shape for years to come?

Help me, FFA, you're my only hope.

10 pages worth of FFA cast iron tips here

 

[Ratbert]

After use, i scrape it to remove any stuck food particles & then buff it dry with a paper towel. I don't use water or soap.

 

[chauncey]

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