Yes, You Can Clean Your Cast Iron Skillet With Dish Soap — Here’s How

With every use, your forged iron cookware will slowly develop a deep, darkish patina that signifies a well-seasoned skillet. While meals grease builds taste and acts as a pure non-stick floor, it’s nonetheless necessary to usually clear your forged iron skillet — or else the flavour could flip rancid. “Clean cookware after each use, so meals bits don’t construct up and trigger burning, sizzling spots or sticking,” says Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute‘s Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab.

“No one desires to prepare dinner in a unclean pan,” provides Carolyn Forté, govt director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. “Your forged iron skillet needs to be washed after each use, however by no means soaked within the sink or put within the dishwasher.” To assist you take care of your cookware with out damaging it, we’re sharing find out how to clear a forged iron skillet or Dutch oven — together with methods utilizing coarse salt and dish cleaning soap. Keep scrolling for some useful cleansing pointers, and discover out suggestions for re-seasoning.

What You’ll Need

How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet After Cooking

Before you comply with these easy step-by-step cleansing directions, bear in mind to “by no means soak a forged iron skillet in water or put it within the dishwasher,” says Papantoniou. Avoid scrubbing your forged iron with something too abrasive, like a metal wool or stainless-steel scouring pad, which may scrape off the specified build-up.

While your cookware is cool sufficient to the touch, wash it with a couple of drops of delicate dish cleaning soap and a stiff bristle dish brush. Rinse the pan. Reminder: Do not soak the skillet.
Take it again to the burner and activate the range for 30 seconds or till the water begins to evaporate. Once dry, flip off the warmth.
Re-season the floor by coating its inside and exterior with a couple of drops of vegetable oil, spreading the oil with a clear paper towel. You might also use a cleansing material or dish towel, however notice it could stain.
Once cool, put a paper plate or paper towel within the mouth of your skillet to soak up moisture and retailer. “Always permit your forged iron to completely dry after use or earlier than placing it away,” says Papantoniou, who typically leaves her skillet on the counter in a single day earlier than storing it.

How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet With Salt

Coarse salt is a good various to utilizing dish cleaning soap, and it’s truly a greater possibility for sustaining your skillet’s seasoning. “Cleaning your forged iron with salt is an effective method to assist protect the patina and reduces how usually you should season the pan,” says Papantoniou. When deciding which methodology to comply with, Papantoniou says it finally comes all the way down to desire. “Cleaning with cleaning soap and water presents a greater clear, however I want the salt methodology to construct up the non-stick coating.”

Empty the pan, pouring out any drippings or residue meals into the trash.
Create a skinny layer of kosher salt, coating your complete skillet. Kosher salt is coarser than desk salt, making it a greater possibility for cleansing.
Use a picket spoon or spatula to scrape any burnt-on bits or stuck-on meals. Note: This course of is greatest carried out on the stovetop, so there’s no threat of scratching the countertop.
If bits are tough to take away, permit the salt to warmth up as you proceed scraping.
Wait for the salt to chill fully earlier than tossing it into the trash. Wipe the pan clear with a paper towel or cleansing material.

Well-seasoned forged iron cookware offers among the best surfaces for cooking as a result of it heats meals evenly. Browse one of the best forged iron skillet recipes.

How to Remove Rust From a Cast Iron Skillet

Don’t fear: It’s simple to deliver a rusty forged iron skillet again to life. A daily cleansing needs to be sufficient to take away rust, however chances are you’ll have to swap your bristle brush for one thing a bit stronger.

Use a couple of drops of delicate dish cleaning soap and a non-metallic scrubber or a stainless-steel chainmail scraper, which work greatest for tackling a rusty forged iron.
Clean, dry, re-season and retailer your cookware as directed above.

Amanda Garrity is a way of life author and editor with over seven years of expertise, together with 5 years on employees at Good Housekeeping, the place she coated all issues house and vacation, together with the newest inside design traits, inspiring DIY concepts and reward guides for any (and each) event. She additionally has a comfortable spot for feel-good TV, so you may catch her writing about fashionable exhibits like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and extra. 

Associate Lifestyle Editor

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the affiliate life-style editor for Good Housekeeping, the place she covers all issues house and inside design. Prior to becoming a member of GH in 2022, she wrote for publications together with ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, along with crafting product copy for house manufacturers like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.