How to Clean and Care for Cast Iron
I LOVE my cast iron pans. In my personal opinion, food simply tastes better when you cook with cast iron. Food cooks more evenly and there’s more of a…crisp! These pans are probably one of the most used pieces of cookware in my kitchen.
Correctly caring for cast iron will help provide you with a lifetime of use, without having to ever replace it. If your cast iron is brand new, it hasn’t been cured yet. Up front, there’s a little more care that goes into the curing process for a cast iron pan. Save an extra minute or two during cleanup for the curing process.
Cast iron is vulnerable to rust if it’s submerged in water for too long. However, common (yet misleading) advice says you should never submerge cast iron in water and instead, only wipe it down. While I recommend following manufacturer care instructions, cast iron is indeed safe to come in contact with water for a short period of time. Just dry it immediately and add a curing oil to the pan.
Personally, I hand wash my cast iron pans. They haven’t rusted as of yet, over the span of the 15+ years of owning cast iron cookware.
Cast iron CAN especially be vulnerable to rust if it hasn’t cured yet. This is where some of the misleading information comes from, when it comes to never submerging it in water. You CAN put cast iron in water, just don’t leave it in water. Dry it right away. Again, you’ll want to pay extra attention in caring for your cast iron pan until it’s cured. The curing process might take a few months — have patience!
Learn these cast iron essential care tips below to prolong the lifespan of your pan. Let’s dive in! Follow these steps after each use of your cast iron pan:
Step 1: Cool It
Allow your cast iron pan to cool down before handling it. The bottom of your cast iron pan can stain a countertop or other surfaces. It’s best left on the stovetop, a trivet, a hot plate, or an oven mitt.
Step 2: Wash It
After your cast iron pan cools down: wash it with a mild dish soap and a sponge or dish brush under running water in the sink. If you notice any sticky spots or baked on bits, you can soak for a few minutes (but not for too long). You can also allow these stuck on bits to stay on the pan — it might lift during the oil conditioning process.
Step 3: Dry It - Immediately
Dry the cast iron pan with a super dry towel. Leave no standing water left behind! Instead of letting your cast iron air dry like you might do with other dishes, ensure this gets a good hand dry.
Step 4: Condition It
Grab a dry cleaning towel, paper towel, or napkin and an inexpensive cooking oil of choice. Pour the cooking oil onto your towel or into the pan and spread the oil around. Cover the entire interior cooking surface of the pan.
You’ll only need to condition your cast iron pan until it’s “cured”. If you notice water easily wicking off of the surface and not absorbing into the pan, it’s cured.
Step 5: Store It
Store your cast iron pans in an open area where the pan has room to “breathe”. Keep cast iron away from other cookware and cooking utensils when not in use. Cast iron is heavy and can also cause damages to other surfaces. If possible, keep on an open shelf in the kitchen, on top of a trivet or a hot pad.
Cast Iron Metal Scrubber
This tool can help you effortlessly clean your cast iron pans without stripping away accumulated flavors. It can sometimes be more effective than a traditional dish sponge or dish brush as it helps get in there to remove some of the baked on bits that might be lingering in your pan still.
Cast Iron Pan Scraper
I like to recommend a plastic-free option whenever possible to help reduce the plastic waste that ends up in landfills (that later gets broken down as microplastics in our environment, yikes!). This wood scraper has a small low profile to easily be tucked away into a drawer when not in use.
Leather Cast Iron Pan Handle Cover
This GORGEOUS cover that goes over the handle of a cast iron pan makes handling your hot pan so much easier! It comes in two different sizes for a traditional handle and a long handle.
Cast Iron Cleaner & Curing Oil
For peace of mind, this duo gives you everything you need (product-wise) for caring for your cast iron pan. Both of these products are 100% natural with food grade ingredients.
