Cleaning Grease Off Your Iron Pan: Easy Steps

Cleaning grease off your cast iron pan can be a tricky task, but there are a few methods you can try. Firstly, you could try heating the pan and pouring out the grease, then cleaning it with hot water and a non-scratch sponge or scrubber. Alternatively, you could try using an abrasive cleaner such as salt or baking soda, or a chemical cleaner such as Bar Keepers Friend, Comet, or Ajax. If the grease is particularly stubborn, you might need to use steel wool or an oven cleaner, but be aware that these methods may require you to re-season your pan afterwards.

Use boiling water

Boiling water is one of the simplest ways to clean your cast-iron pan. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

• Fill the pan with water: Depending on the size of your pan, partially fill it with water.
• Bring the water to a boil: Place the pan on the stove and turn the heat on to bring the water to a boil.
• Scrub away the grease: Using a spoon or spatula, carefully scrub the grease and any food buildup off the pan. Be cautious to avoid burning your hands. If you need something more abrasive, a wire grill brush can be used.
• Repeat as needed: If there is still grease or food residue on the pan, repeat the process until everything is removed.
• Dry the pan: After removing all the grease and food buildup, dry the pan completely before putting it away.

Using boiling water is an effective and straightforward method for cleaning your cast-iron pan. It is important to be cautious when handling the hot pan and to ensure that it is completely dry before storing it.

You can also try other methods like using salt, chemical cleaners, or oven cleaner to remove tough grease buildup. However, keep in mind that using some of these methods may require you to re-season your pan afterward.

Try salt

To clean grease off your cast iron pan, you can try salt. This method is considered the best way to clean a cast-iron skillet.

Firstly, allow the pan to cool down slightly, but not completely. Then, generously sprinkle coarse kosher salt over the surface of the pan. Next, add a small amount of hot water to the pan. The water will cause the salt to stick together and form a paste-like texture. Use a sponge or a folded paper towel to scrub the salt around the pan, ensuring you get in between the ridges and all around the sides. Finally, rinse the pan with hot water to remove any remaining salt and debris. Repeat the process if necessary.

This method is effective as the coarseness of the kosher salt provides an abrasive cleaning solution that helps to remove stuck-on particles.

Use a nylon scrub pad

If you have grease build-up on your cast-iron pan, there are several methods you can use to clean it. One method is to use a nylon scrub pad with a chemical cleaner such as Comet or Ajax. First, apply the chemical cleaner to the pan. Then, use the nylon scrub pad to scrub the grease away. If the grease is still not coming off, try using steel wool instead of the nylon scrub pad.

Another method is to use salt. Sprinkle salt over the pan and scrub with a nylon scrub pad. The salt will provide extra abrasion to help break through the grease build-up. You can also add some cooking oil to the salt, which will help to freshen the grease build-up so it can be removed more easily.

If the grease build-up is severe, you may need to use stronger cleaning methods. One option is to use oven cleaner. Spray the oven cleaner on the outside of the pan and place it in a large Ziploc bag for a couple of hours. Then, remove the pan from the bag and scrub it with a scrub pad. Make sure to remove all of the oven cleaner before re-seasoning the pan.

Another option for severe grease build-up is to use a lye bath. Fill a tub with water and add lye, always adding the lye to the water and not the other way around. Put your iron pan in the lye bath for a couple of days. Then, using rubber gloves, remove the pan from the bath and rinse it off. Scrub the pan clean with a nylon scrub pad or steel wool.

Finally, you can try using a self-cleaning oven cycle. Place the pan in the oven and run the self-cleaning cycle. Once the cycle is finished, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool. The extreme heat from the cycle will burn away the grease build-up. However, this method will completely strip the pan, so you will need to re-season it before using it again.

Apply a chemical cleaner

If you have a lot of grease build-up on your cast-iron pan, you may need to resort to stronger cleaning methods. In this case, apply a chemical cleaner such as Comet or Ajax and scrub with a nylon scrub pad. If a stronger scrubber is necessary, try steel wool.

Firstly, fill your sink with hot water. Place the skillet in the sink upside-down. It’s ok if it’s on an angle. Then, carefully pour the hot water over the outside of the pan. Using caution not to burn your hands, scrub off any food or buildup on the pan with a wire grill brush. Repeat as necessary until all of the food is gone.

Next, pour salt over the pan. Scrub with a soft cloth or scrubber. The salt will provide the extra abrasion needed to break through the buildup. You can also add in some cooking oil with the salt, which will help to freshen any grease buildup so it can be removed more easily.

Finally, apply a chemical cleaner such as Comet or Ajax and scrub with a nylon scrub pad. If the a stronger scrubber is necessary, try steel wool. Clean the pan completely with soap and water after the buildup is removed. Dry the pan completely and re-season with corn oil or melted lard.

Re-season with corn oil

To re-season your iron pan with corn oil, start by washing your pan by hand with a small amount of soap and warm water. If there is stuck-on food residue, use a pan scraper or a nylon brush to remove it. Rinse the pan under warm water and ensure that you dry it promptly and thoroughly with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.

Next, rub a very light layer of corn oil onto the surface of your pan. Use a paper towel to wipe the surface until no oil residue remains. Make sure to coat the pan lightly and buff away any visible greasiness.

Finally, place the pan on a burner set to high heat and leave it for a couple of minutes until the pan is heated through and lightly smoking. This final step will prime the pan for its next use by laying down one bonus layer of protective seasoning.

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