How To Clean A Cast Iron Skillet Before Seasoning

To avoid getting smudges on all your kitchen towels designate one to use exclusively for drying your cast iron skillet.

How to clean a cast iron skillet before seasoning. Heat the skillet in a 350 f oven for one hour which. Skillet peach crisp is a summertime dream. While you should clean the skillet after each use season it as often as you like by rubbing a small amount of cooking oil on the inside of the pan using a paper towel or dish cloth. How does it work. Without the protective layer of carbonized oil called seasoning cast iron is susceptible to rust.

Basically the more you use it the more non stick it becomes. Pork chops and cabbage is a one skillet dinner. There s no need to throw away a cast iron skillet that s a little or a lot rusty. Even a well seasoned pan can rust if it s left in the sink to soak put in the dishwasher allowed to air dry or stored in a moisture prone environment. Saucy skillet chicken puttanesca proves you can cook tomatoes in cast iron.

Cornbread in a cast iron skillet has an irresistible golden brown crust. Soaking with soap over scrubbing or cooking highly acidic foods in cast iron can strip the seasoning. It s easy to fry eggs in cast iron when you know a few tricks. Most cast iron pans come with a factory seasoning that improves with regular use and proper care. Easy off is a caustic alkali so be sure to work outdoors wear rubber gloves and avoid spraying near your face or skin.

The longer the food is in. As a reminder to be careful drape a thick towel or a mitt over the handle. A good cast iron skillet can be used for just about anything whether it s searing meat on a stovetop baking a frittata in the oven or even roasting vegetables over the grill. A little soap is okay but don t use anything too abrasive and be sure to dry your pan right away after cleaning so it doesn t rust. Instead it s all about using oil to build up a nonstick surface and prevent rusting.

The american manufacturer pre seasons its cast iron cookware with a thin layer of baked on oil before each piece leaves the factory however even a brand new pan needs a little tlc before it fries its first egg and that goes double if you re snagging a vintage cast iron. Cast iron remains hot long after you remove it from the stove. Well seasoned cast iron skillets naturally become non stick. If this happens use these steps to strip a cast iron skillet that is completely remove any residual seasoning on a cast iron pan before reseasoning it. Cooking in cast iron increases the iron content in food.