When cooking with cast iron, things can get messy very quickly! The trick is knowing how to take care of your cookware properly. While most people agree that investing in good quality cookware is worth it, some types of cookware are not as friendly to use.
Cast iron skillets are one of the top budget-friendly cookware items you can buy. They’re durable and heavy, making them an attractive choice. However, like any other type of cookware, they will leave some kind of residue behind when you wash or wipe it off.
This article will go into detail about the different surfaces of cast iron pans and what products can be used to remove the paint and other residues.
Use baking soda and water
For someone that loves to cook, having a nice cast iron skillet is like having a member of the family. They can enjoy using it for almost anything you can think of!
One thing most people do not realize is how to care for their pan. When cooking with cast iron, there are two things that can go wrong. The first is when some leftover food sticks in the pan and then starts burning or sticking onto other foods. This could potentially hurt your health by eating raw materials that have burnt oils or even causing an allergic reaction.
The second is when the pan begins to show signs of wear and tear. This includes fretting, spotting, general darkening of the surface, and possibly rust. All of these affect the durability of the pan and what kind of recipes you can use it for.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to remove paint from a cast iron skillet. Baking soda and water is one of our favorite tricks to try.
Use apple cider vinegar
There are many ways to remove paint from cast iron cookware. Some of these include using chemical cleaners, strong acids or chemicals, or baking soda and water. None of these work very well for really hard stains, though!
One of our most helpful tips is to use white vinegar to get rid of greasy food residues and leftover natural oils in the pan. When applied with a brush, it works beautifully to scrape off dried up oil and crusty bits that have accumulated over time.
Once you’ve washed the pan out thoroughly, apply some vinegar onto a paper towel and rub the surface of the pot to loosen any remaining dirt or grease. Then wipe it clean with the cloth. Repeat this process as needed until you no longer see any wetness or drops of acid when holding the pan up to a light source.
Note: Do not put the pan into the cleaning solution before washing it, otherwise the acid may etch the metal too much and prevent it from lasting meaningful amounts of use.
Use a scrub brush
A scrub brush is a tool used in many different types of painting or cleaning projects. They are usually made of nylon or plastic and have very soft, porous bristles that scrape away any residue or leftover materials.
A scrub brush is perfect for removing dried paint from cast iron cookware- which can be tricky!
That’s why it is important to use a strong brush and pull out all the brushes as quickly as possible to avoid leaving too much dirt behind.
After using your scrub brush, rinse off under running water until the water runs clear. If you run into issues getting this process done correctly, try using a slightly heavier wash bottle first and then moving onto the lighter one.
Once everything has been cleaned, let these items dry thoroughly before putting them back together.
Use steel wool
One of our favorite ways to remove paint from cast iron is using steel wool. Steel wool comes in different shapes, sizes, and textures of paper-like material.
You can use it to scrape or buff away dried food bits or burnt onto foods like grilled meat or pasta. It also works well for removing baked-on cheese or butter from your cooking surface!
In fact, some people even use steel wool as a way to restore lost shine to cast iron cookware. You just need to work carefully so you don’t scratch or damage the cooktop surface.
The trick is to hold onto the pan while rubbing the steel wool across the affected area. This keeps the pan stable and helps you get better results.
Use cream of tartar
A very popular way to remove paint from cast iron is using a product called cream of tartar. This can be found in most grocery stores as a baking ingredient for recipes or alone to mix into water to create an acidic solution.
When mixing cream of tartar with water, it will foam up and quickly disappear. The acid in the cream of tartar helps dissolve some types of metals such as iron.
After applying the cream of tartar onto your pot, let it sit for one hour before washing it under warm water. If needed, use a soft cloth to wipe away the excess cream of tartar and water.
Once you have cleaned the pan, dry it off and apply a thin layer of vegetable oil to prevent any additional rusting.
Use lemon juice
For those who have painted their cast iron skillet or grill griddle in either olive oil or butter, it can be tricky trying to get rid of that paint!
Olive oils are known for being very thick and hazy, which makes them difficult to remove. If you try using heat alone to melt off the paint, the grease in the oil may burn instead! This could potentially ruin your pan.
The best way to remove greasy paints from cast iron is by using acid. A common choice is adding some lemon juice to the pot and mixing it around with a wooden spoon until it bubbles and froths up. Then, use a paper towel to pull down any excess foam and wash off the leftover acids in the pot.
Use salt
For people who have very old, worn-in cast iron skillets that are no longer in use, their paintwork can start to come off. This is particularly true if you have to wash the pan with hot water or soak it in liquid for cleaning.
If this happens, then what do you do? You need to either leave the pan as is or try your best to scrape away the damaged layer of paint. But unfortunately, most recipes and tricks only work if you know how to remove newer layers of paint!
So instead, we will discuss one simple trick that anyone can perform to get rid of thick, hard baked-on oil or melted fat from any surface. And while this may not be useful for removing thinner layers of paint, it is perfect for getting rid of thicker oils like sooty burnt fats.
The trick is to stir the item in question containing the grease with a half cup of pure sea salt until all the grease has soaked up into the salt. Then, rinse thoroughly under running water and see what kind of effect you want to achieve.
Your goal should be to completely dissolve the salt in water and to expose new, lighter metal underneath.
Use rubbing alcohol
For someone who loves to cook, having a nice sturdy skillet is very important. You can spend lots of money buying new ones if you are careful with your current one.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to remove paint from most any type of cast iron pan. One of our favorite tricks is using rubbing alcohol and warm water!
We will discuss how to use this solution on a certain type of painted cast iron pot in this article. But first, let’s talk about what types of alcohol and what kind of pans it will work for. –> Read more here…
How To Make A Corning Ware Ronde de Salade In Reheating Spray Oil
There are many different brands of spray oil that can be used to scrape off dried-on grease or food. They all seem to work well but some do not include warnings about smoking.
Some people say that these chemicals burn like gasoline while others claim they evaporate quickly. Either way, make sure you know what you are working with before trying to re-season your pan.
The thing about cooking with cast iron is that once you wash it, it goes through several cycles to regain its soft, hazy luster. This process usually takes anywhere from weeks to months depending on the person doing the cleaning.
Removing excess oils and dirt will also help prevent the metal from rusting.