Cast iron can be used for a number of purposes, but it’s definitely one of the most popular materials for cookware. Seriously, cast iron is so popular that it seems that some people live and die by it. If you have cast iron pots and pans, it’s super important that you have the Austin home cleaning skills to take care of them properly. Follow this information from It’s Cleaning Time, and everything will be just fine.
One of the most important things to understand about cast iron is seasoning, which makes this metal unique from other popular cookware materials, such as copper, aluminum, or porcelain. As you cook with cast iron, its porous surface absorbs oils from your food that makes the metal non-stick and keeps it from rusting – not to mention that the seasoning adds flavor and character to your food! In order to preserve this wonderful seasoning, which gets better and more valuable over time, it’s important not to use soap or detergent on cast iron, put it in the dishwasher, or let it get rusty. But if any of these things do happen, don’t panic! It’s not difficult to restore seasoning and get your cast iron back on track.
If your cast iron is already in pretty good shape, it’s really simple to clean. Either run the pan under warm water and scrub with a plastic brush or scrubber, or skip the water and rub the metal with salt. Then place the pan over a burner on a low temperature evaporate excess moisture, whether it’s left over from cleaning or cooking. Finally, when the metal is warm but not hot, use a paper towel to rub a thin coat of cooking oil over the interior of the dish. The oil will prevent rust and protect the seasoning, and the warmth opens the pores in the cast iron and makes them absorb the oil more easily, just as warmth opens the pores in our skin.
If your cast iron has any rust build-up, simply wet the rusted area and scrub it with fine-grade steel wool. As you work, rinse the pot or pan periodically to eliminate the rust you’ve already scraped off. See how easy it is to solve your Austin cleaning dilemmas?
When you remove rust from cast iron, you destroy the metal’s seasoning. If food is sticking when you cook, your seasoning is not up to snuff. The good news is that if your cookware needs to be re-seasoned, it’s not difficult to do. Cover the bottom rack of your oven with aluminum foil to catch any drips, then pre-heat your oven to 350 – 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat your cast iron with a thin layer of lard, shortening, olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil (different kinds of oil will create different flavors, which are a matter of taste), and place the pot or pan facedown on the oven rack above your layer of foil. Be sure to turn on a fan and open a window if you can, because there will probably be some smoke. Let the cast iron bake for about an hour and remove it with a thick oven mitt. If you wish, you can repeat this process up to three times to build up a thicker seasoning. Of course, each time you cook with the dish, it will increase the seasoning as well.
It’s important to store your cast iron in a place where it will stay cool and dry – naturally, if any moisture builds up, it will eventually lead to rust. (If your cast iron cookware has a lid, store it with a folded paper towel inside to absorb any moisture that does happen to accumulate.) The best way to keep your cast iron in great shape is to use it often and clean it properly!
