Cast Iron Pan Care: 5 Tips For The Pan

Cast iron pan: the right care makes the difference

You have to take good care of a cast iron pan so that you can use it in the kitchen.

• Clean your cast iron skillet properly. So that the natural non-stick layer is not damaged, you must not use detergent or coarse brushes, for example.
• Clean your cast iron skillet immediately after use to prevent leftover food from drying out. A cast iron pan does not belong in the dishwasher and should therefore always be washed by hand.
• Only use a soft sponge or a brush with natural fibers and warm water for rinsing.
• Never shock your hot cast iron skillet with cold water. In this case, the iron would warp and the pan would no longer lie straight on the hob.

Properly pre-treat the cast iron pan: the seasoning

Before you can use a cast iron skillet, you need to season it.

• To prevent your food from sticking to the cast iron pan, you must season the pan. This creates a natural non-stick layer.
• Seasoning is only necessary for cast iron pans that are made of raw material.
• Enamelled cast iron pans can be used immediately. Burning in is not necessary in this case.
• There are different methods to help you season a cast iron skillet. You can find out what these are and how to proceed in our article on the topic of branding cast iron pans.
• So that the non-stick layer is not damaged, you should not only clean the pan well but also store it properly.
• Wrap the pan in the newspaper, for example. This protects the burnt-in layer from dust and rust.

Using cast iron pans correctly: This is important

In order for your pan to last as long as possible, you should use it correctly.

• Never place a cast iron skillet on a hot stovetop. Heat the pan slowly.
• Cast iron pans are suitable for all types of stoves. This includes the induction cooker and the grill.
• Enamelled pans, however, do not tolerate more than 260 degrees Celsius.
• A cast iron skillet works best over medium heat. It stores the heat very well and heats up to the right temperature even with a small flame. Therefore, avoid the highest flame, as the cast iron pan will get very hot in this case.
• In order not to damage other pans and your cast iron pan, it is best to stack them with stacking protection for pans.