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How To Clean A Cast Iron Skillet With Salt


Cast iron skillets are great items to own because they can last the test of time. However, if you want your cast iron skillet to last you will need to provide it with the special care that it needs. Cast iron skillets can provide health benefits such as improved iron levels.

There are tons of benefits to owning these types of skillets.

Taking care of cast iron skillets is simple, but does require a little bit of know-how in order to keep the pan in the best possible shape.

The Importance of Knowing how to Properly Clean a Cast Iron Skillet with Salt

Cast iron skillets can’t be soaked in water because it will damage them. It does not matter how hard food is stuck on to a cast-iron skillet, avoid soaking it in hot water. Cast iron pans are seasoned.

This means that they are coated with oil and heated to create an ideal nonstick surface. If you want your skillets to continue being in the best possible shape, you will need to know the best way to clean it.

Removing Stuck on Food from a Cast Iron Skillet

If possible, try cleaning your cast iron skillet while it is still warm. Since the pan is warm, stuck-on food particles will come off easier. The first step is to try to remove as much stuck-on food as possible.

This can easily be accomplished by using a spatula. It is vital that you are careful not to scratch the pan.

 Do not force stuck on food off with the spatula. Instead, simply scrape off as much as possible without damaging the nonstick surface of the pan. The next step is to pour roughly one-third to one-half of a cup of salt into your cast iron skillet.

Add Oil and Salt to Scour a Cast Iron Skillet Safely

Cast Iron Scouring

Once you have poured the proper amount of salt into the pan, you will use a paper towel to rub the salt around in the pan. Use the salt grains to scour the pan safely. This will help in removing food that is still stuck in the pan.

If the skillet is dry, you may want to consider adding a bit of oil to the pan to soften things up. Do not add too much oil.

Only a small amount is needed to allow the salt to properly remove stuck-on food. If the food still does not come off, use a pan scraper to remove the rest of the food. If you do not have a pan scraper, a spatula will do just fine. Again, be careful not to scratch the cast iron skillet.

Reseasoning Your Cast Iron Skillet after Cleaning

Now, you have the option of rinsing the cast iron skillet out with water or just wipe it clean with a paper towel. The choice is yours. If you do decide to rinse the skillet out with water, you will need to make sure that you thoroughly dry it.

Just a few drops of water can cause a cast iron skillet to rust. You may want to consider adding a few drops of oil and rubbing the oil in using a paper towel.

Once you have done so, you will then need to put the pan into the oven until the oil begins to smoke. When the oil begins to smoke, it is time to take the pan out of the oven. This process will reseason the pan.

Cast Iron Skillet Care Information

Well Maintained Iron Skillet

Once the skillet has cooled off from being in the oven, you will need to take a dry paper towel and buff the inside of the pan. This makes sure it is evenly seasoned. Make sure to store your cast iron skillets away from moisture or they will rust.

There are a few things that you should keep in mind when cleaning your cast iron skillets. You can use soap and water to rub out tough stuck-on food debris, but you cannot leave the skillet soaking in the water.

This will ruin the nonstick surface. Do not use rough scrub pads to take out stuck-on food either. It is completely safe to use soap and water on a cast iron skillet as long as you remember to reseason the skillet when you are finished. It is also important to ensure that the skillet is completely dry. It only takes a little bit of water to ruin a perfectly good cast iron skillet.

A Few Important Things to Remember

Do not use too much oil when you reseason your cast iron skillet. If you leave too much oil in the skillet, it can turn rancid. This will make your food taste terrible.

Do not leave food stuck on your cast iron skillets for too long because the chemicals in the food will compromise the integrity of the cast iron skillet’s nonstick surface.

If you have not used your cast iron skillet in several months, you may want to consider reseasoning it before you start cooking.

Final Tips to Care for a Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron skillets are extremely popular, but a lot of people shy away from them because they think that they are difficult to clean. This is not the case. 

Cast iron skillets are simple to clean, but special care is required. It is not recommended to use soap and water on a cast-iron skillet, but it can be done if the proper precautions are followed. 

A cast-iron skillet has the ability to enhance the taste of your food. They can also increase the amount of iron in your food. These types of skillets require a little tender loving care so that they can keep on providing excellent nonstick cooking results.

Cleaning your cast iron skillet with salt is the best way to remove food without damaging the nonstick surface.

Resources

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Marsha

I'm obsessed with cleaning (maybe to an unhealthy degree) and want to share all of my best tips and hacks with you.

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