This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and Colgate-Palmolive® and Scotch-Brite®. All opinions are mine alone. #GreatTeamEasyClean
One of our favorite ways to cook is using our cast iron skillet. We love skillet recipes during the summer because we make most of them outside on our grill, so the mess stays outside and the clean-up is super simple. Sometimes people shy away from using cast iron though because they’re unfamiliar with how to take care of it or how to clean it, so today I want to show you how to clean a cast iron skillet once you’re done using it. I bet you’ll find that it’s way easier to clean than you thought!
Cooking with cast iron is great because you can use the cast iron on the stove top, in the oven, on a grill…so many options vs. other standard pans. For this post, we used our cast iron skillet on the grill to make dinner, rinsed it off, and then proceeded to clean it off following the instructions below.
And all you need for the clean-up is:
Palmolive® Ultra Oxy
Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers
Click the image above to add both products to your Walmart Online Grocery cart!
Don’t stress about cleaning cast iron; it’s super simple. I like to use Palmolive® Ultra Oxy and Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers to tackle the job. The combination of Palmolive® and Scotch-Brite® gives shoppers the perfect solution to clean up many type of mess allowing for an easy clean. Scotch-Brite® & Palmolive® Oxy are great for messes such as cast-iron cookware, Dutch ovens, outdoor grill or holiday meals. The Scotch-Brite® scrubbers offer powerful non-scratch scrubbing, while also rinsing clean.
Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Scrubbers deliver the trusted scrubbing power of Scotch-Brite® Brand and resist odors, dries fast, and rinses clean without trapping food. They are non-scratch and safe on non-stick cookware like cast iron skillets.
Palmolive® Ultra Oxy attacks grease and hard to fight surface stains on dishes (like coffee). It is tough on grease, but soft on hands.
How to Clean Cast Iron After Cooking?
To clean cast iron, you will have to do so by hand. Add a little Palmolive® Ultra Oxy to your skillet and use a Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubber to gently scrub the pan. Once clean, dry immediately with a towel or paper towel. It’s normal to see a little black residue come off the pan, that’s just seasoning. Finally, you need to season your pan before storing it. I add about 1 tsp or a little less (depending on the size) of oil (vegetable or olive oil) and rub it into the pan using a paper towel. Then I take a clean paper towel and wipe off the excess oil until the pan is dry. The final step is to place your cast iron in the oven, upside down, and bake at 400 degrees for about one hour. Allow to cool, then store. This seasons the pan for the next use and prevents rust.
Can I clean cast iron with soap?
Yes, you can use a little soap on your cast iron pans, but you don’t need to overdo it. And with Palmolive® Ultra Oxy only a little soap is needed regardless (due to its extra strength cleaning power!).
Are you supposed to clean cast iron skillets?
Absolutely! It’s just a different cleaning method than your standard skillet, so be sure to take extra good care of those cast iron pans.
Can I soak cast iron?
Do NOT soak your cast iron skillet. This will cause it to rust. See above for how to clean your cast iron skillet and what to do if there are tough stuck on messes.
Can I use steel wool or a metal scrubber to clean my cast iron skillet or griddle?
Do not use steel wool or a metal scrubber on your cast iron. However, a gentle scrubber like the Scotch-Brite® Scrubbers are perfectly fine to use to get off the messes stuck onto the pan.
Can I put my cast iron in the dishwasher?
We do not recommend putting your cast iron in the dishwasher. Cast iron should be washed by hand. Placing it in the dishwasher causes it to rust and removes the seasoning on the pan.
How to season cast iron?
I add about 1 tsp or a little less (depending on the size) of oil (vegetable or canola) and rub it into the pan using a paper towel. Then I take a clean paper towel and wipe off the excess oil until the pan is dry. The final step is to place your cast iron in the oven, upside down, and bake at 400 degrees for about one hour. Allow to cool then store. This seasons the pan for the next use and prevents rust. You can also buy cast iron seasoning directly vs. using olive or vegetable oil at home.
Here’s some recipes with a cast iron skillet that you will enjoy:
Equipment list:
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I’ve had my cast iron for 50 years, some of it made in the 1930’s. Handed down to me. That one is about 100 years old now. Your working too hard and at too much cost. I’ve used everything from sand (camping) to metal scrubbers (the best) on my pans and they just get better with time. I cook almost everything in them from spaghetti sauce to cakes. And I regularly soak them. Doesn’t hurt them one bit. Also doesn’t hurt that I “store” them in the oven so they regularly get cooked cause I forget to take them out. And I oil them after each washing. Easy, peasy.