Q&A for How to Care for a Cast Iron Skillet

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Question

What can I use to scrub my skillet?

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.

Kadi Dulude

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

There are special cast iron scrubbers out there that you can buy. They're great if you're worried about damaging the cast iron.

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Question

What fat should I use to season my cast iron skillet?

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.

Kadi Dulude

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

I'm fond of flaxseed oil or olive oil. Either of those are a really good option.

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Question

Can you get a cast iron skillet wet?

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.

Kadi Dulude

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Yes, you can get it wet. Some people think you can't, but it'll be fine so long as you dry it thoroughly. You can even soak a cast iron skillet in water if you're trying to get burnt food off. Just make sure it's totally dry before you store it and keep it well-seasoned.

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Question

If my first cast iron pan has been preseasoned and I wash it before first use, do I need to season it again?

Michele

Top Answerer

No. Whether preseasoned or seasoned yourself, once it's done, as long as you care for your pan--keeping it away from dishwashing liquid unless needed to remove sticky food and wiping dry immediately after rinsing to avoid rust--your pan is good to go.

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Question

Is it safe to reseason a rusty cast iron skillet?

Community Answer

Rust is fairly harmless if ingested, no, it won't give you tetanus, but will leave a metallic taste in the food that you cook. To prepare a rusted cast iron skillet for reuse, submerge it in vinegar for several hours. Wash with hot water and scour with a stainless steel scrubber, and dry completely. Place it in your oven and turn on the self-cleaning cycle (removing everything else in the oven since temperatures can exceed 1000 degrees Celsius!). Scour again with scrubber, wash with hot water, and dry. Then, preheat the oven to 500 degrees, coat your skillet with a thin layer of vegetable oil/lard/fat substitute, and place it in the oven for two hours.

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Question

My pan came out gummy on the outside. What can I do?

Michele

Top Answerer

Treat it as you would a rusted pan. Use vinegar and, if needed, make a paste from vinegar and salt and scrub the outside. Then reseason the pan.

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Question

Do I "season" the entire skillet with the fat, including the outside, bottom, etc., or just the inside of the skillet where I will cook?

Community Answer

Season the entire skillet; otherwise the seasoning will be uneven and your cast iron won't last long.

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