How to Clean Cast Iron Skillets

Do you have questions about how to clean cast iron skillets yourself? Should you use soap? How do you properly season it? And does it go in the dishwasher? We've got answers to these questions and more on our discussion boards, projects, and video tutorials. Hometalk can help you keep your cast iron skillet in tip top shape.

The Secret of How to Clean Cast Iron in Four Easy Steps

Clean and Season a Skillet

Start with baking soda: Sprinkle baking soda into your skillet and add a small cup of water. Use a copper scouring pad to remove rust and grime.
Rinse and dry thoroughly: Once you’ve cleaned the skillet, dry with a paper towel. Make sure there are no wet patches at this stage.
Protect your skillet with oil: Protect your skillet by seasoning it with olive oil. Wipe a thin coat around the entire pan to prevent rust.
Infuse flavor into your skillet: When using oil, after letting the first layer of oil dry, add another. This ensures full coverage and will infuse more flavor into the skillet.
Storing a clean skillet: Hang your skillet from a rack if possible. By keeping the surface clear, you reduce the risk of wiping away the oily layer of protection.

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Top Projects for Cleaning Cast Iron Skillets

Take a looking at our top projects on cleaning your cast iron skillet yourself.

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Popular Cast Iron Skillet Cleaning Discussions

Check out the popular discussions on the topic of cleaning cast iron skillets.

How to clean years of baked on grease from iron skillet

/> Gale

It must be 100 yrs old, the perfect size for a family of two. Was my grandmother's. Would like to keep it in the family. How do I clean the cast iron skillet?

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How to smooth bottom of used cast iron skillet

/> Lynda

A friend gave me a second hand cast iron skillet she picked up at a garage sale. The bottom of the skillet is not smooth as it should be. I have a glass top stove which I am very careful with when using my other cast iron skillets. How do I go about smoothing out the bottom of second had skillet I received as to not scratch my glass top stove. thank you.