There are plenty of reasons to get excited about cast iron skillets. They’re durable, reliable, and able to withstand high heat for longer than most other materials. They’ll last for years with the right care. If you have a cast iron skillet at home, you can use it to make all kinds of delicious food. What you might not know is that caring for a cast iron skillet is just as important as using one. A neglected piece of cast iron will lose its appeal and even become dangerous to use over time. Fortunately, cleaning and maintaining a cast iron skillet is much simpler than you think. Read on to find out how.
Thoroughly Clean Your Skillet After Each Use
Cleaning a cast iron skillet after each use is the first step to maintaining its appearance and condition. If you don’t clean a cast iron skillet, it will rust, discolor, and even start to smell bad. That’s because food residue will break down the protective oil coating that keeps it looking and smelling good. Don’t let your cast iron get to that point. It’s simple to clean a cast iron skillet. All you need is a mild dish soap, water, and a stiff-bristled brush. Start by filling your skillet with water and a squirt of dish soap. Let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes to loosen the food residue. Next, use the mild brush to scrub the skillet clean. Let it dry completely before storing it.
Dry Your Cast Iron After Cleaning
The next step to cleaning your cast iron skillet is to dry it thoroughly. Drying your cast iron after cleaning it is crucial to preventing rust and corrosion. Letting water sit on your cast iron will cause it to break down and corrode. That’s why you need to completely dry your cast iron after you’ve cleaned it. Use a clean dish towel to dry your skillet. To dry your cast iron skillet, set it on the stovetop over low heat for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can place a clean, dry skillet on top of your cast iron to help it dry quicker. You can also prop your skillet upside down over an open flame if you have an outdoor stove.
Baking Soda Rinse
Cleaning your cast iron skillet with a baking soda rinse will help remove any residual soap, oil, and dirt that was left behind after you cleaned it. This will ensure your skillet starts with a clean slate when you season and oil it. To make a baking soda rinse, mix baking soda with water in a bowl. You can use a 1:1 ratio. For a large skillet, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Dip a clean cloth or sponge into the baking soda solution, and wipe it on the inside and outside of your skillet.
Seasoning Your Skillet
Seasoning your cast iron skillet is an important part of cleaning and caring for it. Seasoning is a process where you apply oil to your skillet to give it a smooth, non-stick coating that prevents rust and food from sticking to it. Don’t worry, this process is easy. And once you’ve seasoned your skillet for the first time, you don’t have to do it again for a long time. Use a paper towel to apply a thin layer of oil to the inside and outside of your skillet. You can use vegetable, canola, or olive oil. Next, place your skillet over low heat on the stovetop. Let it heat up for several minutes. Once it’s warm, turn off the heat and let the skillet sit until it’s completely cool.
Protect your skillet with a coat of oil
There are a few benefits to coating your cast iron skillet with oil after you’ve seasoned it. First, as with any other pan, oil will prevent your food from sticking to it. Second, regularly coating your skillet with oil will keep it from rusting and breaking down over time. Finally, it will make cleaning your skillet easier by preventing food from sticking to it. To regularly coat your skillet with oil, simply add a bit of oil to the skillet using a paper towel and spread it around. You can coat the outside of your skillet as well as the inside. Whenever you use your skillet, a small amount of oil will transfer to your food. This is normal, so don’t worry about it.
Conclusion
Caring for a cast iron skillet is a simple process that will help you get the most out of this durable and long-lasting cookware. Start by thoroughly cleaning your skillet after each use. Once that’s done, you can use a baking soda rinse to clean it even more thoroughly. Finally, season and protect your skillet with a coat of oil. Once you’ve done these three things, you’ll get many years of use out of your skillet.