This week’s tip is all about how to Care and Clean Cast Iron Pans. We’ll also talk about seasoning and cooking with cast iron pans. And share a few delicious recipes that you can make using your perfect seasoned cast iron pans.
Tips on Cleaning and Caring for Cast Iron Pans
Do you have a cast iron pan? I have three different cast iron pans and I love them! There’s something about cooking in cast iron that brings extra flavor to your recipes. Today I’m going to share with you tips on how to clean and care for your cast iron pans.
Some people are extremely blessed to have cast iron pans that have been around for generations. I mean, some people pass their cast iron pans on to their children, then to their grandchildren and on and on. However, I wasn’t as fortunate.
I purchased my first pan about 12 years ago and I really do love it. It’s a grill pan and I use it primarily to cook steaks and hamburgers and the taste if amazing. Let me say that again, the taste is amazing.
How to Season a Cast Iron Pan:
Before you even begin cooking with cast iron, you need to season the pan. The grill pan that I purchased came pre-seasoned which is great. I didn’t have to go through these steps, but if your’s didn’t, here’s what you need to do.
- Wash the pan first with hot soapy water and dry completely. This will most likely be the only time you use soap on the cast iron pan.
- Then place the pan in preheated 375 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure the pan is completely dry.
- Remove the pan and then using a paper towel, or even your fingers, coat the entire pan with about 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening. Some people use vegetable oil, I prefer to use shortening.
- Place the pan back in the oven for another 10 minutes, remove and pour out any excess fat.
- Place the pan back in the oven but this time turn it upside down and bake for one hour.
- Then turn off the oven and let the pan cool completely.
Tip: Place a large piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven to catch the drippings.
What Type of Food Should you Cook
What I love about cooking with a pan is that it can be used over high heat to brown and sear foods. I like to start my hamburgers or steak on top of the stove and sear the meat to get those beautiful marks that you see in the photo below and then finish cooking in the oven.
- You can also cook eggs, chicken and fish.
- Try baking cornbread and biscuits.
- Individual sized pizzas are always fun!
- I used a mini round pan to make a skillet chocolate chip cookie. The possibilities are endless!
How to Clean and Care for Cast Iron Pans:
So…you’ve made this amazing and delicious steak…now what? A few things to remember are do NOT use soap and do NOT let your pan soak in water. However, the most important is do NOT put your pan in the dishwasher.
- What I like to do is rinse the pan with very hot water.
- Then I’ll use a sponge, stiff brush or chainmail scrubber to clean.
- If you have some tough bits and pieces that won’t come off, you can pour kosher salt into the pan and then try scrubbing again with a damp sponge, paper towel or the stiff brush.
- Rinse the pan with hot water to remove the excess salt when you’re done.
- Dry the pan completely after you have cleaned it.
- You can also rub a very small amount of oil or shortening all over the inside of the pan.
- I like to place my pan in the oven that is still warm from cooking.
Tools to Help you Clean
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- Chainmail Scrubber – oh my word, this works amazing. I just started using it and I love it.
- Another great tool is this Chainmail Scrubber with sponge attached.
- Cast Iron Pan Scrubbers – these are great. I have a few!
My New Favorite Tool to Use
New to me over the past year is this Silicone Handle Cover Holder. However, you can only use it while you’re cooking on top of the stove. Do not put the pan in the oven with this attached.
Yes, that is pizza dough in the pan. I love to make a small individual sized pizza every now and then.
Check out these other recipes that use Cast Iron Pans:
Here are a few of my favorite recipes that use cast iron pans! Make pizza fun! Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie is the perfect sweet treat for two to share. This is a delicious recipe to serve for Valentine’s Day or anniversary or date night. Serve warm from the oven with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Spinach Bacon Cheese Frittata is the perfect recipe to make for brunch when company is coming or you just want to celebrate the weekend with your husband! Dinner is ready FAST when you use a cast iron pan to roast chicken breasts. Cast Iron Pan Recipes
Cast Iron Pan Pizza
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Spinach Bacon Cheese Frittata
Cast Iron Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts
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I love using my cast irons! Biscuits are the best in them! Another reason why I really like them (Awesome fact!!), they provide an excellent source of iron to your diet.
Thank you for the frittata recipe, going to give it a try this weekend!
Yes, you’re right about the source of iron! Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoy the frittata recipe!
I HAVE A STOVE AND THE TOP GRITTS I GUESS THATS WHAT THEY ARE CALLED IAM EXTREEMISET WHEN IT COME TO MY STOVE BUT I NEVER KNOW HOW TO CLEAN THEM FROM GREASE I WAnt them to lookm like the day i bought it help please i even painted them once lol
I’m not too sure if you’re asking me to help with cleaning your stove? The post above has directions for cleaning cast iron pans.
I love my cast iron pan, and until about a year ago, I wouldn’t dare cook eggs in them (they stuck something fierce!) In the end, it was all about caring for them! I cook everything in this pan now! From Wall to Wall DIY Wednesdays.
Yes! We recently purchased a new induction stove and I’m finding that cast iron is the best for me. I’ve been using my pans so much lately too! Thanks for visiting!
I so needed this! My husband always leaves ours out on the grill..LOL I’d luv to invite you to share with us at Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday Link Up!
LOL. That’s too funny! Yes, bring the cast iron pan inside! I’ll check out your party too!
Thank you for this. Just bought a cast iron skillet the other day and was about to return it. Didn’t know not to use soap to clean it. Will try your cleaning method.
I have been using mine more and more now because of our new induction oven stove. I love them! Thanks for visiting!
Loving all of these great tips for cast iron pans. I love using mine but I’m always at a loss how to care for it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Michele!
Great helpful tips for a cast iron pan. I have never used one before. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.