How to Clean Cast Iron Pots and Pans

Cast-iron cookware needs special cleaning care.

You've undoubtedly been camping at least a few times in your life and chances are you've got a cast iron pot or pan. Chances are also good that you tried frying something on it with a resulting sticky mess. The way to avoid this is to properly clean and subsequently season your cast iron pots and pans. Does this Spark an idea?

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Dirty Cast Iron Cookware
Wooden Spatula
Polyethylene Scraper
Patience

Instructions

- 1
  
  Rinse out the cast iron pot with some clean, fresh water. When it's clean, put it on a burner or in an oven for a few minutes for the water to evaporate and to heat the pan. Wipe with a paper towel. Cool before storing.
- 2
  
  If there is hard crusty stuff in the pan, pour some water into the pan and boil it. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil. Boil for a few minutes, then let it sit until everything is soft and easy to remove.
- 3
  
  To scrape a cast iron pan, use a soft tool such as a wooden spatula or a polyethylene scraper, available at camping supply stores. Don't use a scouring pad if you plan to season your cast iron pot.
- 4
  
  Sugar is the hardest to clean. It hardens to a rock-like consistency. An ounce of prevention is key. Line your cast iron pot with aluminum foil before baking cobblers and other sweets. Some sugar will accumulate on the bottom of the pot when you're making dessert, but it will be liquid and easily removable. When in doubt, line with foil ... you can hardly go wrong with that technique.
- 5
  
  If you have a particularly greasy mess, clean all the food debris out first, either by scraping it off or by boiling, then heat your pan. When the greasy stuff is smoking, wipe it off with a clean paper towel. Be careful when doing this -- you run the risk of serious burns. When you've done that, let the pan cool. Over time, any remaining grease will serve as additional seasoning.
- 6
  
  It's hard to clean without soap, but resist the temptation to squirt a little soap into the pan. Soap is a seasoning killer. As an abrasive instead, try coarse salt and a nonmetal brush.

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

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