How to Use Cast Iron – Non Toxic Cooking Option
Learning how to use cast iron can be a great way to cut down on any unwanted chemicals such as teflon in the kitchen. It’s also a great way to introduce iron into yours and your children’s diets just from cooking with it! So much so that it’s one of the things that inspired me to start the hashtag #NutritionStartsEarly; it’s a double entendre for both as children and in the morning… so a breakfast cooked in cast iron is a good one 😉 I adore cooking with cast iron and literally use at least one piece of it every single day. The problem is that most people are scared of it or don’t know how to use cast iron. But it’s SO easy and I will take you through the basics of cast iron 101 from using to cleaning and seasoning.
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Whether you have antique cast iron like Griswold or something new like Lodge or Lava, there is no real difference in how you use and maintain it. I personally prefer using the older type because it’s such a buttery smooth texture, but I am also very much in love with my Lava griddle/grill combo. If you are buying used or antique, you will definitely want to go ahead and clean it before seasoning it yourself. So that’s where I will start.
How to Clean Cast Iron with pictures
Because cast iron is so porous, you do not want to use anything like soap. Soap can really ruin a good piece of cast iron. Maybe this is why many people shy away from it. It’s not really that it’s hard to clean, but we just live in a society that doesn’t know how to clean without soap.
So whether you are cleaning in general or you need to clean rust off of cast iron, there is no real difference (other than elbow grease) in how you go about doing this. In fact, my husband turned on the burner he thought was for the tea kettle one morning and let one of my skillets get so burned, charred, and rusted that it looked awful. However, I got it looking as good as new in no time.
(All of this is pictures above)
First, if there are any flakes or anything in the pot/pan, wipe those out with running water and a black or dark wash cloth.
Next, get some coarse salt. and sprinkle it all over the area you are going to clean. Using a a coarse sponge or brush and running warm water, scrub the rust or dirty area. I personally use scotch natural fiber sponges because they are gentler on my cast iron and on the environment.
Finally, rinse and look where you might need to repeat before seasoning.
How to season Cast iron in the oven
After your cast iron is cleaned, it needs to be seasoned. This is what give it the non-stick factor. And of course, we all want that, especially without the added chemicals. SO how do you do it? Really easy…
Take a dark towel or wash cloth and an oil of your choice. (I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil). You will pour in a liberal about of oil and spread it all around, up the sides, over the handle, on the bottom, etc.. This makes the entire thing non-stick… which is what we want. If there is a wooden handle, most of the time it can be unscrewed (and should be done before you start seasoning).
I always put on a little more oil than the pan can really handle and let it sit for a bit so that it can seep into the porous parts of the skillet.
While you are working on this, your oven should be preheating to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
After you are done and your oven is ready, you can place each piece upside down inside of the oven. Some people prefer the center rack, but I do mine all at once to save time and be more efficient and have not seen a difference one way or another. You may also want to have a piece of foil in the bottom of your oven to catch any drips, but solely up to you.
Let them “bake” for one hour. Note: Your house might stink a bit and even get smoky from seasoning them and that’s normal. But of course, always make sure there are no fires 😉
Finally, when should you re-season your cast iron? The answer is simple. When food starts to stick. If you want to do it more than this, more power to you!
Any more questions about cast iron? Leave me a comment!
Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 6 children living on a farm in New England. She believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience and has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development. She is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
Great post! I needed this! I have a rusty cast iron pan I need to clean!
Thanks! I am so glad that I could help. It’s surprising just how well salt can get rust off of cast iron.
Great post!! We have cast iron, and I really am scared to use it. Maybe I’ll dig mine out and give it a try!
Don’t be afraid! It’s so easy to use, just intimidating at first. Just remember to rinse it out and dry it off right after using it and you’ll be fine 🙂
Thank you so much for these tips… I have been wanting to use a cast iron skillet for a long time… as a matter of fact I purchased one and than gave it to my daughter. I will definitely try this.
Happy Holidays!!
You are so welcome! I hope it helps you a lot. Coming to the other side where cast iron isn’t so intimidating is a beautiful place 😉 Happy Holidays to you as well!
Perfect timing! I need to re-season my cast iron pan that has been neglected lately. Pinning this for sure!
Great post, thank you. But what do you do if you cook eggs or spaghetti sauce in it? How do you clean it after that with out ruining seasoning? Just hot water & sponge ok?
I cook eggs in mine every day and if it’s seasoned correctly, there is no residue left at all. So just make sure to keep it seasoned and then add a touch of oil for a minute or two before actually putting the eggs in. As for spaghetti sauce… some will say that the acid in tomatoes is bad for cast iron, but that’s up to you. I have still cooked spaghetti with it and I just scrape out as much as possible and then spray hot water and wipe it out with a cloth. (No scrubbing). Hope this helps! 🙂
Is black cast iron pots safe for use on glass top stoves? Has anyone experienced using on glass to stove? When I purchased my glass top stove, I was told not to use this type of pot on my stove because I’d be EFT with a glaze that could not be removed. I have been very obiedent since, but miss using my my iron pots. Hope someone has experienced use on glass tops.
I personally do not know because we don’t have a glass top stove. However, I would maybe look into finding some cast iron that has enamel just on the outside.
My mom never used anything but iron pans…i love them..especially to make cornbread..i use hot water and some paper towels to clean mine..makes great fried chix and yummy gravy!!
If you can find old iron pans not pitted grab them!! I like old as well..smoother surface..dnt be scared..try a new way to cook..you’ll wonder why it took you so long