How to Care for Cast Iron Cookware
Learn everything you need to know about how to care for cast iron cookware as well as storage tips, and best practices for usage.
How To Video
I confess. In my early stages as a homemaker I had to purchase a brand new pan set every single year. This was usually what I would request at Christmas time. I’d see the huge box underneath our Christmas tree and knew it was mine. I’d excitedly open it up to find the latest food network stars design and no matter who the famous chef was on the box, come the end of the year, the pans would be sticking and burned. I would feel the need to buy new.
Admittedly, I was still in my learning phase and I did shove those pots into a dishwasher daily. So they didn’t have much of a chance when they entered my home. I was also one of those people who kept a cast iron skillet tucked away in a cupboard and hated lugging it out since it was so heavy and hard to wash. I had kept it only cause one of the many chefs on tv I enjoyed had sworn by one. Like clockwork, I’d find myself standing at my sink scrubbing out stuck on food and swearing I’d never use it again.
Years later, and I mean years. I finally understood how to care for it and actually enjoy using it. Contrary to popular belief it was not as complicated as i had once thought.
Probably the most surprising thing about using cast iron in the kitchen, is the superior results they provide. Suddenly, almost overnight, my food was better. My pancakes had a rich golden brown to them, my fried chicken was perfectly crisp. My eggs slid right off the well-seasoned skillet with ease and to date, nothing chars my vegetables quite the same. A cast iron pan in good shape from proper care is a multi use pan that will last for years.
In this post I share my easy way to care for cast iron cookware so that you can finally enjoy your cast iron in your kitchen.
Cast Iron Cookware Is…
- Able to be a nonstick surface when properly cared for.
- A home cooks dream cookware that can be baked in or used to make the best fried chicken.
- Easily found at a thrift store or yard sale and simple to restore with a little elbow grease.
- Able to be a regular use or every day pan.
- A pan that takes a little bit of proper care knowledge.
Prior to Using
Make sure to season cast iron before using it for the first time. The seasoning process is pretty straightforward and is likely the most important thing you can do in the care of your cast iron cookware.
This basically consists of rubbing it down with some oil whether that be grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, or canola. I use olive oil or coconut oil as I don’t keep the other types of oils in my home and these work just fine for me. To oil the pan you can use a clean rag or a clean paper towel to dab and wipe it down evenly
Note: You want the pan to have a slick look but not have excess oil collecting on the cooking surface.
Set your oven to 500 ℉ and bake the cast iron in the hot oven for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the hot pan from the oven and let the pan cool before storing it.
The Proper Way To Use Cast Iron
You need to get your pan hot before adding any food to it otherwise, chances are it will stick. I like to make sure mine has sufficient butter, coconut oil, or olive oil for the job I am doing. I keep mine on the medium setting and I have a gas stove just to give you an idea of the heating aspect of these pans. Sometimes I do lower the heat down for simmers as these pans tend to heat up nicely and hold that heat. Before using the pan, it should have a sleek, shiny black surface indicating it has been properly seasoned in the first place.
Use Enough Fat
When using cast iron cookware, you must use fat to cook. Whether that is butter, olive oil, coconut oil, or lard. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is using a decent amount for the food when cooking. If you try to cook eggs with no butter or oil of any sort if your pan is properly seasoned it might not stick on the first attempt however, if you continue to cook without any fat in the pan it will begin sticking and you will need to re-season your pan in the oven or at the very least on the stovetop.
Before Adding Food
Make sure the pan is hot before you add food, this will reduce the chance of sticking!
Stuck On Food
If food does stick to your pan, this means it was not seasoned properly. You will need to remove the stuck on food and re-season the pan following the above steps. To remove the stuck on food you can use coarse salt, a pan scraper or a piece of crumpled aluminum foil to help scrub the pan and remove the debris. If this does not work, you can add a little water to the pan, and place it on the stove top to heat. Heat the water until hot, remove it from the heat and hold the handle of the pan with a heat proof towel. Use a scrubber to help the food release and then pour out the water and dry completely before seasoning.
What To Do When Your Done Cooking
This is important. Do not soak your pan in water as it will rust. Instead, I let mine cool down after cooking. Once it’s tolerable, I take it and scrub it out with only hot water and a scrub brush to scrub off any food residue. I don’t use soap, just hot water. I know some people do use soap, I would suggest a mild dish soap if you opt for it.
Keep in mind that using soap is not recommended to clean cast iron. I also don’t always clean my pans after each use. If the pan is slick and I cooked something that can be easily wiped out, I wipe out the surface of the pan with a dry rag.
Once the pan is cleaned out. I pat dry and place it over medium heat.
I make sure it dries completely over the heat. Once dry, I take a brush and brush olive oil evenly into the pan. Let it heat until it smokes just a bit and then turn the heat off.
Allow it to cool completely before storing.
How To Care
- If you don’t have a brush, I would dab a paper towel with the oil of your choosing. Then apply it to the pan before placing it on the hot burner.
- If you follow these steps on How To Care For Your Cast Iron Cookware on cooking use, proper washing, and care before storing. You can expect to have a well-seasoned pan that will last for years to come and provide an amazing cooking companion.
FAQ’s
What if my cast iron has rust?
Not to worry! A very simple solution to this is to simply scrub the rust off with a scouring pad, steel wool or even a crumpled piece of foil works great. Wash the pan out with hot water and even a little soap if you’d like. Dry your pan completely and immediately season the pan (I.e. the Before Use section above.)
How do I get stuck on food off?
You can use a special cast iron scrubber or a crumpled piece of tin foil to help get any stuck foods off. I like a standard scrub brush. If you find the food is extremely stuck on, another trick is to put a bit of water in the pan and set it on the stovetop to heat up. When the water is hot begin scrubbing the food off. The heat from the stove will help lift off the stuck-on food.
What is the best way to store my cast-iron skillet between uses?
There are a variety of ways you can store you cast-iron cookware. If you use it daily as I do, you can actually just stack them on the stovetop so they are handy and available when you need them. I don’t bother washing them out with every use unless I cook something like fish or something with a heavy odor.
Wall hooks are another option that will keep your cast-iron pans in arms reach and in a spot where they will not get damp. A lot of home cooks swear by hanging the skillet upside down. Cupboards are fine, the most important part of storing cast-iron is to make sure that they are placed in a dry place. Avoid stacking anything that might be moist on the inside of the pan.
How Do I Season a Brand New Pan?
Before using a brand new skillet, it is important to season it properly so you have that protective coating on first use. One of the most important things is the initial seasoning. After rubbing the pan well with an oil (avocado oil, canola oil or my above suggested oils) remember a little oil goes a long way. I set my oven to 500℉ and place the pan inside for 30-45 minutes. When handling the pan at a high heat make sure to use proper protective gloves when removing.
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Cast Iron Skillets Set of 2 (10 inch and 12 Inch)
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