Cast iron is difficult to clean, but not with these simple tricks!

Cast iron skillets are great pieces of cookware. Apart from the fact that they heat food evenly, you can use them for pretty much anything. Cook something in it on the stove, or put it in the oven for a baked dish (both sweet or savory!). Everything has a downside, though, and so does cast iron: it’s difficult to clean properly!

With this advice you’ll be able to keep your skillet looking clean and good as new!

First use
The experts over at Good Housekeeping have some excellent tips on how to clean your cast iron cookware. First things first: when you’ve got a brand new skillet or pot, it’s important to wash it in soapy water, dry it, and then rub the entire thing with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil. Yes, the outside as well! Place it upside down into your oven and heat it at 180 °C for at least an hour. Let it cool inside the oven afterwards. Your new skillet is ready to use!

Keeping it clean
If you want to take proper care of your cast iron cookware, there are couple of steps to take after every use. Wash the pot or skillet with dish soap and a dish brush. Do not soak it, though! After you’ve washed it, put it back on the stove and turn on the stove until the water starts to evaporate (this will take about 30 seconds). Turn off the heat again when the skillet is dry. Then, use a paper towel to rub a few drops of vegetable oil into the surface of the skillet, but be careful not to burn yourself. When it’s cooled down, put a paper towel onto the surface of the skillet and store it like that.

What not to do
It’s important to remember that you should never soak cast iron in water. You also shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher under any circumstances, or scrub it with harsh cleaners or scouring pads with metal in them. If you do this, you’ll have to prepare your cookware as if before the first use all over again.

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Source: Good Housekeeping | Image: Wikimedia Commons, FiveRings