How to Clean & Condition Cast Iron Pans
Unless you care for them properly, cast iron pans have the potential to rust. Some cast iron pans are pre-sealed, but many need to be conditioned or seasoned before they are used or cleaned. Fortunately, even when a cast iron pan has rust, in many cases it can be saved through re-conditioning. Reconditioning and cleaning your cast iron pans properly is not difficult, it just requires that you use a specific process. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vegetable oil
- Steel wool
- Dish soap
- Dish towel
- Sponge
- Paper towels
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
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Conditioning Cast Iron Pans
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1
Scour your cast iron pan with a moistened steel wool cleaning pad. Pay special attention to areas that have developed rust spots.
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2
Rinse the pan with water until it is free of cleaning soap.
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3
Wipe the entire surface of the pan with a sponge dipped in vegetable oil. Wipe until the entire pan has a thin coat of oil on it.
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4
Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom of your oven to catch oil drips. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
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5
Place the cast iron pan upside down in the oven on the middle rack. Leave it in the oven for about two hours, turning it right side up midway through.
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6
Remove the pan from the oven after two hours. Carefully wipe excess oil from the pan with a wad of paper towels. Let the pan cool completely before you put it away.
Cleaning Cast Iron Pans
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7
Moisten your cast iron pan with warm water. Moisten a sponge and add a drop of dish soap.
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8
Wipe the surface of your cast iron pan clean with the soapy sponge. Do not soak your pan in water. Use a sponge or scrub brush, along with aggressive scrubbing to remove baked on food or stains.
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9
Rinse soap from your cast iron pan after it is clean. Dry your cast iron pan completely with a clean soft cloth.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not wash cast iron in the dishwasher.
References
- Photo Credit Beef steak cooking in a cast-iron grill pan. image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
