Tools 101: Cleaning Cast Iron with Matt Crawford

If your cast iron pan is in rough shape, don’t despair, and certainly don’t throw it away. Join Matt “Sasquatch” Crawford as he shows you how to properly and thoroughly clean your cast iron pan so that it’s ready to cook another day.

CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

Cleaning your cast-iron is an easy two-step process.

How To:

• Take a small spatula and remove any cooked-on food that are willing to come off easily
• Add some warm water to the cast iron (stick with us) and let it soak for 20 minutes
• With the small spatula try removing the cooked-on food that was able to loosen with the soak
• Pour out the water
• For the stubborn pieces, use steel wool or a chunk of foil and make a ball
• Add some canola oil to the cast iron
• Add some salt. Salt works as an abrasive
• Scrub with the foil ball or steel wool
• Dry completely with hand towel
• Now it's ready to be seasoned.