How to Restore a Cast Iron Frying Pan
Cooks have been using cast iron pans for centuries. The solid, heavy pans cook foods evenly and require little to no oil for cooking. They are prized for their ability to be used on the stove top and in the oven. Cast iron pans are nearly indestructible and are sometimes passed down from generation to generation. Older cast iron pans may be coated in food particles and rust. With a little work, those pans can be restored to their perfect finish. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cast iron pan
- Steel wool
- Kitchen cleanser
- Dish detergent
- Vegetable oil
- Oven
- Newspaper
Instructions
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Cleaning the Pan
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1
Remove all food remnants. Immerse the pan in hot tap water and scrape the bits off. Repeat as necessary until all food is removed.
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2
Remove rust buildup. Add 2 tablespoons kitchen cleanser and scrub with steel wool. Rinse in hot water and add more kitchen cleanser as needed to scour the pan. Depending on the amount of rust on the pan, this may take a considerable amount of elbow grease.
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3
Cleanse the pan. Use regular dish washing soap, not automatic dishwasher detergent. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.
Seasoning the Pan
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4
Rub vegetable oil all over pan, coating inside and outside with a thin layer of oil. Do not allow oil to pool in the pan.
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5
Invert pan on some newspapers and allow to dry for two days. The finish should be tacky. If there are some spots that are slick instead of tacky, too much oil was applied and should be blotted off. If the pan does not feel tacky, not enough oil was applied. Repeat oil application and drying process.
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6
Place pan upside down in the oven and put a baking sheet underneath it to catch any drips. Turn on the exhaust fan and open any windows.
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7
Turn the oven to 500 degrees and allow to bake for 1 hour. The baking process burns the oil into a carbon coating and may cause some smoking from your oven. After an hour, turn off the oven and let the pan sit inside and cool for 1 to 2 hours. If, upon cooling, the carbon coating on the pan seems too thin, you may repeat the seasoning process.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Properly seasoned cast iron pans require little to no oil for cooking. If food begins to stick to the pan, it is probably time to clean and reseason the pan.
