Can I use hydrogen peroxide on cast iron?

Author: Leilani Padberg  |  Last update: Thursday, January 29, 2026

In cases of particularly resistant stains, hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda can be heated in the cookware to create a bubbling solution that lifts discoloration.

What happens when you put hydrogen peroxide on iron?

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to quickly oxidize soluble ferrous iron to ferric (Fe+3), forming a rapidly settling ferric hydroxide floc. The resulting floc can be removed with filtering or a clarifier. This reaction is shown below: 2 Fe+2 + H2O2 + 4 OH- → 2 Fe (OH)3 (precip.)

What is the best solution to clean cast iron?

What is the best cleaning solution for cast iron? Water! You don't need (and should not use) soap to clean a cast iron. Simply use water and a scrub brush, or for a big mess use some course salt and oil to scrub away to residue and then rinse with water.

Does hydrogen peroxide rust iron?

Acid is corrosive and can cause things like metal to break down. Hydrogen peroxide is made of hydrogen and oxygen, but it's the oxygen that's key to creating rust on metal. The molecules of iron on the surface of the nail exchange atoms with the oxygen in the solution and produce a new substance. You guessed it–rust!

What should you not clean cast iron with?

You should absolutely clean cast iron cookware. Just don't use anything abrasive like steel wool. Also don't soak for very long. And use a standard dish detergent like Dawn. The notion of not cleaning is decades outdated and comes from when soaps were lye-based (lye will break down the seasoning).

Simple rules for cast iron care

Is Dawn dish soap safe for cast iron?

Will Soap Ruin Cast Iron? Using soap will not ruin your pan. It is totally fine on enameled cast iron, and on plain cast iron, too. It's not going to destroy your seasoning.

What's the best oil to season cast iron?

Common cooking oils like olive oil will gradually produce seasoning, but won't be as effective as grapeseed oil. Canola, other vegetable oils, and shortening are a little better.

Can you clean cast iron with hydrogen peroxide?

Over time, enameled cast iron can become discolored or stained. To remove stains, soak the cooking surface in hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda, and then scrub with dish soap, water, and a non-scratch scouring pad to keep your enameled cast iron looking as good as new.

Does hydrogen peroxide destroy metal?

Hydrogen peroxide can be corrosive even to highly corrosion resistant metals and alloys such as titanium. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidizer produced by water radiolysis, is considered one of the main contributors to corrosion of the stainless steel (SS) components in the cooling system of nuclear reactors.

How do you clean iron with hydrogen peroxide?

Removing heavy scorch marks

Apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the stained area using a cotton swab. Let it sit for five minutes before rinsing.

What ruins a cast iron skillet?

You let your skillet soak.

Soaking your cast iron skillet in your sink is a recipe for rust, as is washing it in the dishwasher. Instead, clean it ASAP, even using simple soap and water if you must.

How do chefs clean cast iron?

3-Step Cast Iron Cleaning Method
  1. Wash. Wash your cast iron cookware by hand. You can use a small amount of soap. ...
  2. Dry. Dry promptly and thoroughly with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. ...
  3. Oil. Rub a very light layer of cooking oil or Seasoning Spray onto the surface of your cookware.

What is the black wiping off my cast iron?

They are most likely carbon deposits. This happens due to overheating of fats and oils. Using an oil with a low smoke point will carbonize at high temperatures and cause residue from the pores of your pan to rub off onto your food. While unappealing, they won't hurt you in such a small amount.

What damage can hydrogen peroxide do?

Serious eye or skin burns and bleaching of the hair may result from contact with hydrogen peroxide solutions. Drinking a concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution can cause vomiting and severe burns of the throat and stomach. Generally, the more serious the exposure, the more severe the symptoms.

Can you clean a flat iron with hydrogen peroxide?

In a dish or bowl, combine 1/4 cup baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until a paste forms. With your fingertips, rub the paste onto the flat iron. This aids in the removal of crud and filth from hair products. Using a toothbrush or a Magic Eraser, scrub the area.

What does hydrogen do to iron?

These ironmaking processes involve crushing and agglomerating the iron ore, making small pellets. Those pellets are heated with hydrogen gas in a reactor, causing the oxygen in the ore to react with the hydrogen, producing water vapour and leaving behind pure iron.

What metals react with hydrogen peroxide?

It decomposes into water and oxygen upon heating or in the presence of numerous catalysts, particularly salts of such metals as iron, copper, manganese, nickel, or chromium. Explosion may occur resulting from catalytic decomposition.

What surfaces does hydrogen peroxide damage?

Peroxide can damage any material damaged by oxygen. If you look around, that is almost anything that is not an oxide. Many rocks, to a first approximation, are metals that have been oxidized.

How long to soak metal in hydrogen peroxide?

A common method of dealing with rusted screws and bolts implies removing them from their sockets and leaving them to soak in a hydrogen peroxide solution overnight. Hydrogen peroxide is known to dissolve accumulated rust from metal surfaces and can even break up the entire tarnish in some cases.

What is the best cleaner for cast iron?

For everyday cleaning and seasoning
  • Dish soap: In our testing, we found Seventh Generation Dish Liquid to be the best. ...
  • Non-abrasive sponge or scrub brush: A Dobie sponge, for example, or the Full Circle Tenacious C Cast Iron Brush or 10-inch Lodge Care Scrub Brush.
  • Kosher salt: For stuck-on bits.

What does hydrogen peroxide do to iron?

Iron and hydrogen peroxide are capable of oxidizing a wide range of substrates and causing biological damage. The reaction, referred to as the Fenton reaction, is complex and capable of generating both hydroxyl radicals and higher oxidation states of the iron.

Is vinegar OK for cast iron?

For a small amount of rust, just scour it with a scrubber and water like normal and rub with oil. But if you've got a bigger problem, luckily, a little white vinegar and elbow grease are usually enough to whip that pan back into shape.

What oil not to use on cast iron?

Oil, especially canola oil (bad, unhealthy oil), should not be used. If a quick oiling (not seasoning) in between is desired, it's best to use a high temperature oil like avocado. A quick rub can do the trick, if your pan looks a bit dry. I have one pan that is about 100 years old!

Should I season cast iron at 350 or 450?

Bake your cookware upside down at 450 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven for one hour. Allow the pan to cool down completely, and repeat three more times.

Do you heat up cast iron before oil?

When using carbon-steel and cast-iron pans, some people like to heat the dry pan first, then add the oil. This is because high heat causes the oil to oxidize and polymerize, allowing it to bond to the metal, filling in any small pits and divots—a process that seasons the pan, essentially giving it a nonstick surface.

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