From the kitchen to the battlefield, cast iron is a trusted, durable material.
Even so, using harsh chemicals to clean your cast iron can cause irreversible damage.
Luckily, celeb chef Symon has some tips for keeping your cast iron in tip-top shape.
Cast iron skillets are coveted kitchen tools that have been used for millennia. It's believed
that cast iron cookware has been around as early as China's Han Dynasty around 220 AD
and resurged in popularity in Europe during the 16th century, according to WebstaurantStore.
And as Eater notes, the metal was:
"One of the most important materials in China for the next 1,000 years,
where it was used mostly to forge weapons and tools for farming and agriculture."
Today, cast iron is making a massive comeback thanks to its esteemed durability,
longevity, and sustainability. These heavy duty pans can be used to prepare all sorts of meals,
including breads, pastas, stews, desserts, meats, breakfast dishes, and much more.
Cast iron is a well-loved, deeply trusted material that can last for many years,
although it requires plenty of care to maintain the very best quality.
A lot of this comes down to how it's cleaned between uses.
There are also a few important guidelines when it comes to how not to clean your cast iron.
For example, never place your cast iron in the dishwasher nor scrub it with harsh detergents,
according to Lodge, one of the world's best-selling cast iron
brands. Doing so can cause rusting and long-term irreversible damage.
So, how do the pros recommend protecting this tried-and-true
culinary staple? Chef Michael Symon offers a simple method he swears by.
"The best way to clean it I have found is with a little bit of kosher salt
and heat. So I put Kosher salt in the base of the pan."
To properly clean it, the award-winning restaurateur first suggests using a dry towel
to wipe up as much debris as possible. Next, place your pan on the stove – or in this case
the rack of a BBQ – and carefully turn the burner on high heat. As the skillet warms up,
shake a generous amount of kosher salt onto the surface, making sure to coat the entire bottom.
Allow the salt to heat up for a minute or two, as this will activate its antimicrobial
properties and help absorb any excess fat molecules, chef Symon explains.
When the salted pan is nice and hot, use a towel to thoroughly rub the salt around.
After a short while, you'll notice the salt turning a slightly darker color,
which is caused by the absorption of the icky substances. Keep scrubbing until the surface is
free of scraps. When the cast iron is all clean, turn off the heat and discard the salt. Voila!
While Chef Michael Symon's cast iron cleaning method is passably foolproof,
there are other proven techniques used by home and professional cooks. Thankfully, you won't need any
fancy tools or expensive products to accomplish this, no matter which strategy you opt for.
For instance, recipe developer and cookbook author Emily Han suggests
vigorously using a scrub brush or sponge plus some vegetable oil or shortening
to safely remove leftover food remnants and season the pan.
She highly recommends cleaning your skillet while it's still hot — and remember,
never let it soak in the sink! This will cause the iron to rust.
"Focusing on the feeling of the warm water, the
smell of the detergent, the sound of the squeaking, and following your own breath."
Other pros have their own favorite cast iron skillet cleaning routines.
Controversial chef Brad Leone, who frequently collaborates with Bon
Appétit to demonstrate various culinary tips on social media,
has a quick and easy way to make cast iron look pristine and prepped for your next dish.
Leone's method involves a scrubbing pad,
water, an oven, and similarly to Chef Symon's method, some coarse kosher salt.
Then, to season the skillet, grab a neutral oil with a high smoke
point such as vegetable, grapeseed, or flaxseed. Some chefs even use Crisco.
Rub a bit of oil into the base of the pan and, with a few paper towels or a dish rag,
carefully rub the oil around the entire surface — sides and bottom included.
Once you've prettied up your pan and you're ready to get cooking,
there are several ways to use your cast iron skillet. From mixing a cream sauce
into pasta to frying up some crispy bacon, you'll enjoy your cast iron for years.