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I have a seasoned cast iron skillet, and I don't want to mess up the seasoning when I'm cleaning it. What do I use and what don't I use to get it back to clean?

I've heard not to use soap and to make sure it is dry, but nothing beyond that.

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Kosher salt and a small amount of vegetable oil. Scrub the pan with the salt on a rag or paper towel, if there are stubborn bits mix a couple drops of oil with the salt, wipe dry with clean towel. If you use a wet method to clean the pan re-heat it after cleaning to make sure it is completely dry before storing.

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Besides what @Janelle said, for really stuck on stuff, use a similar process as you'd use to deglaze the pan --

While the pan's still hot (or heat it back up if you've let it cool), and then add some cold water. Some should instantly steam, and should hopefully be hot enough to boil a little. (don't add so much water that you cool down the pan).

Scrape the bottom (I use a wooden spatula), dump out the water, and if there's still lots of stuck on bits, repeat.

Wait a minute, dump out the rest of the water that's puddled up, and wipe with a paper towel to dry, let any remaining water evaporate, and then a quick coat of oil before putting it away.

update : per comments from event_jr : this technique may not be safe for carbon steel pans.

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    Deglazing will damage seasoning. I did this on a CS pan I spent hours meticulously applying thin layers of oil on. Heartbreak.
    – event_jr
    Jul 24, 2014 at 15:48
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    @event_jr : I've been doing it for years with cast iron pans, and never had problems. What's a "CS pan"? is that a brand, or a specific type of cast iron?
    – Joe
    Jul 27, 2014 at 1:14
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    Carbon steel. I have a De Buyer. AFAIK the same seasoning principles apply. But again, it may be because it was newly seasoned. I guess in a few years I'll know if it's generally true.
    – event_jr
    Jul 27, 2014 at 2:59
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    @event_jr : I can't comment, as my only carbon steel pan is a wok, and I seem to manage to bake the seasoning off of it every time I use it over extreme heat. I suspect that seasoning won't stick as well to carbon steel as compared to cast iron because it's so smooth, so less grip between the metal & seasoning.
    – Joe
    Jul 27, 2014 at 12:32
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Another alternative is to go to an East Asian grocery and pick up a wok cleaner, which looks like a tiny little broom made of stiff sticks. It does more-or-less the same thing as the coarse salt. I find it particularly useful for cast iron grill pans, as it's easier to get leverage on burnt-on material than when using salt. It'll cost you maybe two dollars (US).

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  • I have a small thing with stiff wood bristles labeled 'pot brush' that I picked up that does a pretty good job -- my issue with the wok cleaners is that the one I have isn't so great for getting into corners.
    – Joe
    Jul 10, 2010 at 21:49
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We use tap water + a cheap plastic-bristled kitchen scrub brush to get all of the food bits off. Then put it on medium heat on the stove until it's dry. The heat will sterilize for you. Why medium heat? Someone told me it's better for the pan than using high heat. It sounds logical but I have absolutely no real proof.

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    The oven works well also. As well, it may already be hot from cooking.
    – Kris Kumler
    Oct 3, 2010 at 22:57
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    The high heat problem is that if your stove's too powerful, and you leave it for too long, you can cook the seasoning off the pan; medium heat's safer for an empty pan.
    – Joe
    Feb 10, 2011 at 2:05
  • I have also read that high heat could heat the pan unevenly and cause it to warp.
    – JohnB
    Jan 21, 2015 at 16:08
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I run mine under cold water and gently scrub it with a brush to remove any large stuck-on bits (it's well seasoned, so nothing really sticks to it). Then I stick it on the stove on high and when it's good and hot, I rub it down with a paper towel that's been dipped in Crisco or vegetable oil. This kills any germs, removes any fine bits that might be stuck, and re-seasons the pan.

Run the paper towel under water before you throw it out. If you don't, the resulting trash can fire will make you feel stupid, if not worse. :)

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Pretty much same as all else. Wash with only a brush and hot water (while the pan is still hot) to get residue out.

Except when I have fried something that will leave a taste, like fat fish (salmon, herring or similar). Then I also use dish-washing liquid along with the brush.

Dry off on the stove after cleaning with water.

The thing to remember is that cast iron will contain small hollows which should contain fat. Otherwise everything will just burn. Feel with a finger if it "feels" fat. Otherwise pour on some cooking oil and let it simmer in low heat for a while. Swipe off excess with a paper towel.

/L

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    Residents? If you've got critters living in your pots and pans, you've got problems. :)
    – Marti
    Oct 21, 2010 at 16:19
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Well-seasoned cast iron cookware provides one of the best surfaces for cooking, since it heats foods evenly and can do just about anything — including go on the stove or in the oven. That said, it's a notoriously tricky material to clean and maintain if you don't know what you're doing.

Avoid using the dishwasher, soap, or steel wool, as these may strip the pan's seasoning. Scrub off stuck-on bits: To remove stuck-on food, scrub the pan with a paste of coarse kosher salt and water.

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    This does not add anything to the many other answers already given; please do not repeat answers.
    – user34961
    Jun 27, 2018 at 12:57

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