Cast iron skillets are great cooking tools and they’re easy to clean too. The best way to clean a cast-iron skillet is to scrub it with hot water and a sponge right after use. Soaking it in the sink isn’t a good idea because it will promote rust. Avoid using dishwashers and steel wool because they can strip the seasoning from the pan. If you have food that’s stuck onto the pan, you can scrub it with a paste that’s made of water and coarse kosher salt. When you’ve finished cleaning it, dry it with a paper towel. Applying vegetable oil to the skillet and wiping off the excess is a good idea to do every once in a while to keep it in good working condition.
If you have rust on your pan, you can remove it with a potato and baking soda. All you have to do is cut a potato in half, sprinkle it with baking soda, and scrub the pan. After you clean your pan this way, it’s a good idea to re-season it. You can do this by rubbing the skillet with cooking oil and baking it for an hour in an oven that’s heated at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you remove it from the oven, you’ll need to dry it with a paper towel.
