Does anyone know how to clean a cast iron skillet?

Question

Just got one and I don't really know how to take care of it.

Answer 1

I live in the town that manufactures the most cast iron cookware in the world.
Here is the address of their page on how to care for cast iron cookware.

http://www.lodgemfg.com/usecare2.asp?menu=logic

I suggest you go there and read what they have to say. You can even email them and ask the professionals.

Answer 2

First, prepare the skillet: coat the entire inside with vegetable oil - use a paper towel to apply it. (Not three inches deep, but enough to really give it a good coating. You'll be baking the oil into the crevices in the iron.)

Next, put the skillet in a 450º oven and leave it there for an hour. It will smoke, but that's part of the process.

Let it cool. Use a piece of steel wool and scrub the skillet.

You're ready to go.

Final note. Don't run it through the dishwasher. After use, wash and dry it, dampen a paper towel with olive oil and coat the inside. Most folks store it in the oven, so it will stay warm and dry. The skillet will last 100 years or more.

Answer 3

Since its new, you need to scrub it in very hot soapy water with a scruberVERY well. Rinse it, dry it well. Use vegetable oil and a paper towel to thinly coat the inside and outside of the skillet. Heat it in a 400 degree for an hour. This is called seasoning. After this time, never use soap on the skillet again. You may need to season the skillet again for a few times after you have cooked in it. Wash the skillet in hot water only, using a scrubber from then on out.

Answer 4

1) The best thing to do is to burn the skillet. If you have a fireplace (or furnace), let the coals die down and then place the skillet in the coals. It may flame up--but that's okay. Let it burn off the grease and the food. (be sure to move the skillet around in the fire so it doesn't crack). If you don't have a poker or tool to get it out, wait until the fire dies down and the coals are cool to remove it. Then wash all the ashes off and re-season the pan .

(2) If you don't have a fire, the second way to do it would be to get a pan bigger than your skillet and boil the skillet in the pan on the stove. This doesn't work as well--it might get the food off but it won't clean the skillet (black specks) entirely. Either way you do it, you'll have to re-season the skillet .

When my skillet needs it, I stick it in the self-cleaning oven when that needs to be cleaned, too. You get two birds with one stone this way; hovever, I try to never let my skillets get really, really dirty.

After seasoning the skillet the first time, and after using the skillet, I use coarse salt such as Kosher salt, and scrub it around in the skillet with a paper towel. Dump the salt and rinse the skillet in cold water. Wipe dry with a paper towel (if you still get a brown stain on the paper towel, dump more salt in and repeat the process), and then wipe a thin film of olive oil in the pan. Stick the pan in a plastic bag until ready to be used."

Answer 5

Hopefully,before initial use...Should put at least one-qtr cup of cooking oil,spread evenly in skillet,next put into a 450 degree oven for about an hour,then lower temp to 275 degrees for two more hours...NOW you're ready to USE your skillet...You have made a coating that will last quite a long time..Now,should you need to wash after USE,just use a Paper-towel & wipe excess,any major messes use a tblsp of T.Salt w/sponge(no water)rub mildly until clean,then heat dry on stove top,Ready again for the next use,it's like magic...But it works....have three skillets & have been treating them for 16 yrs,you won't go Wrong with this treatment,if done Right from the BEGINNING,Happiness.:)!

Answer 6

The key to cleaning cast iron is to frirst clean it with mild soap, but then coat it with oil or grease and let it sit- it's called curing the pan- very old school. The oil stops rust from forming and the taste of soap form sinking in.

Answer 7

It takes a while to get properly seasoned, but then it works like a charm. When I clean mine I use a green scrubbie and hot soap and water (yeah yeah, I know I shouldn't), dry it well, wipe it with canola oil and a paper towel, and toss it in a hot oven for an hour or more.

The method goes against the traditional, but it's gotten to be non-stick over the years and I love it. No problems.

(Warning: Never let it soak in the sink. You don't want rust.)

Answer 8

I've used them for years and heard all kinds of stories. I Use the cold water and wash cloth for easy jobs. Sometimes just wipe them out with paper towel for fried stuff. For difficult stuck on food I sometime have to put cold water in,heat it to just so you can't put you hand in it comfortably,put in a little Dawn liquid, and use a spatula or fork to scrape it.
Just remember to use the least destructive method possible. Most of the time I don't even have to reoil anymore! Don't wash it if you do alot of frying,just put it in the oven for the next time.
Store in a dry place -the oven is great!
Don't ever use a dishwasher! Don't ever heat in a fire with out something in it or risk cracking it.

Answer 9

Hot water mild soap soft cloth and wipe well. Then dry good. Use a paper towel and lightly coat with oil...I like to use e.v.o.o olive oil and if you have never used it befor use veg oil. use a little more get the inside goog and greasy. Turn your oven to 375 and bake the pan for about an hour..

Answer 10

You wash it and dry it. Then take some veggie oil and wipe it around the inside. Put it on the stove and turn it on, until the oil is producing steam.(The longer it stays on and the hotter it gets the better for removing rust) Take it off and wipe it. (this will help keep it clean, and should it rust this will get rid of rust, if it is rusted repeat as nesessary to get rid of all of it)