How to Salt a Cast Iron Pan
Pans made of cast iron are one of the most useful tools in the kitchen. However, they can present more of a problem than traditional cookware when it comes to cleaning. The use of soap and water on cast iron can lead to a rusty buildup. Fortunately, it is easy to clean a cast iron pan with salt and a few other basic household ingredients. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Cast Iron pan
- Steel Wool
- Towel or Cloth
- Vegetable, Canola or Peanut Oil
- Coarse Salt
- Cooking Range
- Pot Holders or Oven Gloves
- Tongs
- Paper Towels
Instructions
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1
Scrub cast iron pan with steel wool to remove surface rust.
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2
Wipe out loose dirt and rust with a cloth, and repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the pan is mostly cleared of surface rust.
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3
Place the pan on the burner and turn the stove up to medium-high heat.
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4
Pour oil into the pan, enough to form a thick coating on the bottom.
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5
Add about three tbsp. of coarse salt to the pan; four tbsp. should be added for an especially large pan, and two tbsp. will suffice for a small pan.
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6
Wad up the paper towels and grip them with the tongs, scrubbing the pan in a back-and-forth motion while holding the pan steady with a potholder. Scrub thoroughly, covering the entire surface of the pan with the salt and oil mixture.
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7
Rinse the pan completely with hot water, and then wipe clean with a cloth.
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8
Coat the pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil and store.
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1
Tips & Warnings
After salt-cleaning the pan, never clean it with soap and water again. This will cause the pan to rust further, forcing you to salt-clean it again. Instead, remove buildup from the pan by rubbing it with a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil.
