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How do you clean and season your cast iron?

Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:06 am
Posted by sloopy
Member since Aug 2009
6909 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:06 am
I have 2 lodge skillets that I love to use, but when cooking food sticks making it a pain in arse to clean. I can't just wipe them out with a paper towel like some Internet searches have suggested. If I give them a good scrubbing, it takes some of the black seasoning off leaving some silverish spots and sometimes rust. What the hell am I doing wrong? It seams as if my cast iron skillets are not cooking/looking the way they should.
Posted by Uncle JackD
Member since Nov 2007
59573 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:08 am to
I season my cast iron the the BGE to avoid smelling house up.

I light coat of earl and bake at 300 for about an hour, repeat that a 2-3 times.

If I have rust, ill use a wire drill bit and get all rust off before.
This post was edited on 5/21/13 at 10:09 am
Posted by TigerHam85
59-024 Kamehameha Highway
Member since Nov 2009
31493 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:08 am to
quote:

but when cooking food sticks


Keep adding water boy
Posted by Rohan2Reed
Member since Nov 2003
75674 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:09 am to
Don't let the skillet cool off. As soon as I'm done cooking I run hot water and break up whatever pieces are stuck, then wipe it all out with a few paper towels.
Posted by jimithing11
Dillon, Texas
Member since Mar 2011
22532 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:09 am to
quote:

Keep adding water boy



I like water with my steaks and pork chops...
Posted by TigerHam85
59-024 Kamehameha Highway
Member since Nov 2009
31493 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:13 am to
I was speaking 100% about a gravy. Pretty much the only time I use my cast iron. My magnalite gets used like its going out of style though.
Posted by CITWTT
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2005
31765 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:17 am to
Always wipe your skillet down with a coat of oil when putting it away after use.
Posted by jimithing11
Dillon, Texas
Member since Mar 2011
22532 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:18 am to
I just got three new ones for my birthday and I've been using the hell out of them.

Is it a sin not to oil them up a little every single time after you're done using them ?

quote:

Always wipe your skillet down with a coat of oil when putting it away after use.


got it
This post was edited on 5/21/13 at 10:19 am
Posted by Zappas Stache
Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
Member since Apr 2009
43204 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:42 am to
Like others have said, the skillet needs to be hot to wipe dried stuff off. I have a pair of cheap, rubber coated Home Depot work gloves that allows me to handle the skillet while hot. If there is a particularly tough spot, I will sprinkle coarse sea salt into the skillet and use the salt as a scrubber. Then oil lightly and put away.
Posted by AHouseDivided
Member since Oct 2011
6532 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:45 am to
quote:

My magnalite gets used like its going out of style though.


Mine too.

Love those pots. I have my grandmother's set. I even have the one that takes up 2 burners across the stove.

Posted by corym52
Member since Jul 2007
721 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:47 am to
While still warm I put a little but of hot water and a fair amount of kosher salt and wipe everything clean then dry. Light coat of oil and it is ready for next time.
Posted by sloopy
Member since Aug 2009
6909 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 10:58 am to
Thanks for the info guys. I will try the salt method out.
Posted by TigerstuckinMS
Member since Nov 2005
33687 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 11:16 am to
quote:

Thanks for the info guys. I will try the salt method out.


Good. If you're rubbing the seasoning away, you're scouring, and you shouldn't be doing that when you're just cleaning it between uses.

As for actually seasoning it, I'm with the propane grill crowd if you have one. Get the grill as hot as it'll go and put the cast iron in to burn off as much of anything that's on it as you can. Remove and let cool before scouring it in hot soapy water (steel wool scour, you really want to get down to a good base to build on). Once you get it scoured well, dry thoroughly. A little time in a warm oven can drive off the water. It's important that the iron be dry before seasoning. DO NOT SCOUR AND THEN WAIT. Exposed iron will flash rust and you'll be cleaning it again if you don't go straight to curing. LIGHTLY coat in Crisco, set grill to about 350. Bake for an hour or so. Let cool and repeat Crisco and baking process a couple more times.

I like doing it outdoors because sometimes you can get some smoking while you're trying to bake on your carbon surface. Doing it outside in the grill makes this a non-issue.

ETA: Oh yeah, make sure the cookware is upside down when you season it so excess fat doesn't pool in the bottom. I did that once and had to start all over because it formed this sticky, almost rubbery coating in the bottom of the pot.
This post was edited on 5/21/13 at 11:21 am
Posted by CITWTT
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2005
31765 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 11:19 am to
Important to use plain stainless steel wool, not. soapy shite
Posted by rodnreel1
south la
Member since Jul 2012
79 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 11:50 am to
Posted by More beer please
Member since Feb 2010
46556 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 11:52 am to
quote:

Important to use plain stainless steel wool, not. soapy shite


Yep. My big pot I heat up oil in it and scrape it down. Cast Iron skillets I rinse and scrub with hot hot water after use. Paper towel with oil and put it away.
Posted by oldcharlie8
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2012
7862 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 11:58 am to
quote:

Always wipe your skillet down with a coat of oil when putting it away after use.


when they're cured properly, you will no longer have to do this anymore.

also, why in the hell would anyone buy a new cast iron pot? the pawn shops have tons of them that are already cured and half the price. go to a pawn shop.

Posted by Zach
Gizmonic Institute
Member since May 2005
117709 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 12:02 pm to
quote:

Don't let the skillet cool off. As soon as I'm done cooking I run hot water and break up whatever pieces are stuck, then wipe it all out with a few paper towels.


This is what I do.
And my skillet is over 100 years old...from Grandma.
Posted by Zach
Gizmonic Institute
Member since May 2005
117709 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 12:05 pm to
quote:

My magnalite gets used like its going out of style though.


I've got a magnalite pot that I bought 40 years ago. It's great and easy to clean but if I'm doing something like a roux it's too light. It twirls during the stirring... so I use cast iron for that. It doesn't budge.
Posted by TIGRLEE
Northeast Louisiana
Member since Nov 2009
31493 posts
Posted on 5/21/13 at 12:07 pm to
I haven't washed my cornbread pan in years.

My bigger pans I wash with water and spray Pam wipe off with paper towel.
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