With each use, your cast iron cookware will slowly develop a deep, dark patina that indicates a well-seasoned skillet. While food grease builds flavor and acts as a natural non-stick surface, it's still important to regularly clean your cast iron skillet — or else the flavor may turn rancid.
It's not necessary to wash a cast iron skillet after each use, but it is important to clean it properly if you're cooking different food items in it.
It's not necessary to wash a cast iron skillet after each use, but it is important to clean it properly if you're cooking different food items in it.
Cooking with a cast iron pan that has a little bit of surface rust on it isn't likely to hurt you. If your pan is seriously rusty or has visible rust flakes, you shouldn't cook with it until the rust is removed and the pan is washed and re-seasoned.
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.
The more you use a rusted pan, the more iron you'll consume in your food. It's best to avoid cooking with a rusty cast iron pan. If it's reached the point of corrosion or deep rust, throw it away rather than risk your and your family's health.
Washing it may help a bit, but rust is persistent. You wonder if the cast iron is safe to cook with this weekend for breakfast or if you should just toss it in the trash. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that rust isn't food safe, so it wouldn't be wise to ingest.
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.
Yes, Coke contains phosphoric acid which helps remove rust from cast iron. Pour Coke on the rusted area and wait 15 to 20 minutes for the acid to break down the rust. Then wipe the pan with a scrubby sponge or dish towel. Repeat this process until the rust is completely gone.
Don't throw it in the dishwasher or use metal scouring pads and harsh abrasives for everyday washes, because they can remove the seasoning. Once you're through cooking with your cast iron skillet, wash it by hand using a nylon bristle scrub brush while it's still warm (this actually makes cleaning much easier).
You can generally use whatever oil you prefer, as long as the cooking temperature is below the smoke point of the oil. Olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and grapeseed oil are all great multipurpose cooking oils—you can use them for everything from sautéing to baking.
Rinse your skillet after use
After your cast iron has cooled down a little bit (you don't want to burn your hands!), rinse your cast iron in the sink with warm—never cold—water to dislodge clingy food scraps like eggs, and prevent them from hardening and sticking to the pan.
Clean your cast-iron skillet each time you use it. Doing so prevents stuck-on food from staying on the skillet between uses. If the skillet is only slightly dirty, a quick wipe after cooking in it will work. If dirtier, or food is stuck, then scrubbing it is best.
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.
A cast iron pan over the grill or fire provides an even cooking temperature by absorbing and distributing heat equally across its surface. Cast iron holds heat better than any other pan because of the thicker metal, making it easier to avoid flare-ups.
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!
You should only need to fully re-season your cast-iron cookware one to two times a year, but you may also want to give it some extra seasoning love anytime you cook something that requires a heavy-duty cleaning.
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.
Is it OK to Grill on Rusted Grates? Theoretically, cooking on a rusty grill grate won't harm you. It might make your meat taste like a rusty nail, though and even Bearded Butcher Blend Seasoning might not be enough to fix it. It's best to remove rust from grill grates before cooking on them.
Cooking in cast iron can add a significant amount of iron to your diet. In studies, researchers found that spaghetti sauce cooked in cast iron skillets increased the iron content anywhere from 2mg to 5mg iron.
Cooks for generations didn't use soap on cast iron pans because the soaps were made with lye and vinegar, two ingredients that will absolutely strip the seasoning and can even damage the pan's iron. Today's aerosol oven cleaners are often made with lye or sodium hydroxide.
With proper care cast iron cookware can withstand a lifetime of use. Actually several lifetimes as these cast iron pans and dutch ovens are often passed down from generation to generation. Taking care of cast iron cookware is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.
The Cause:
Occasionally, the seasoning on your pan may break down and leave black specks, especially if the cookware is not well-seasoned, but it is not harmful in any way.