My Mother-In-Law Taught Me How To Clean Cast Iron Pans and Her Simple Hack Is Honestly Life-Changing

If you’ve ever Google-searched “how to clean XYZ pan,” the internet will instantly flood your results with an overwhelming amount of feedback. It’s enough to make you a skeptic. Which method rings true? Which of these results is a paid product push? Which of these is safe to potentially ingest after cleaning? HOW much is this?! The list goes on. Before you know it, your search has been redirected by the Googlesphere, and you’re suddenly shopping for new pans, wondering how on earth you got here.

When it comes to cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, I’ve realized that more often than not, the most trustworthy, reliable, simple, and straight-to-the-point answers we can find come from asking the experienced home cooks in our lives what they would do. When it comes to cleaning cast iron, my mother-in-law had it right all along, and her tried, and true solution isn’t some expensive spray or sponge from Amazon or the latest and greatest state-of-the-art bottled chemical. To remove stubborn bits and food stains from your cast iron pan, you need just two things, and both of them are likely already hanging out in your pantry. Looking for a new cast iron pan? Discover some of the best cast iron skillets.

To Soak or To Scrub?

This can be a controversial topic, and rightfully so. We all want to care for our beloved cast iron, and when it comes to this method, it’s a little bit of both. First you soak, and then you scrub. However, we’re not talking about long-term soaking followed by an hour of elbow grease. My favorite part about my mother-in-law’s method, in addition to its simplicity, is that it still allows the pan to season over time, as opposed to prolonged use of soap suds and aggressive scrubbing, which can prevent seasoning. Learn how to season a cast iron pan like a pro.

The Best Way To Remove Food Residue From Cast Iron Pans

The great news is, this way is also an easier, more natural, and more budget-friendly way. Let’s break down my mother-in-law’s tried and true method below:

Here’s What You Need

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Lukewarm water

How To Remove Those Stubborn Bits and Stains

1. For safety purposes, allow your cast iron to completely cool after cooking. Once cooled, leave it on the stovetop or transfer the pan to the sink.
2. Pour baking soda directly over the food bits. Cover them generously, so a small mound of baking soda sits over each section.
3. Pour a few drops of white vinegar over each mound of baking soda, and then immediately fill the pan with a thin layer of lukewarm water—just half an inch or so. This will dilute the white vinegar a bit, making it less aggressive on the surface of the pan while also helping to loosen things up.
4. Allow the pan to sit for 20 minutes. Using a damp, non-abrasive sponge or scrub brush, gently work in circles to loosen and remove the soaked areas. Do not add water to the pan for this step, and rinse and re-dampen the sponge as needed. Once the bits are all loosened and removed, rinse the pan in warm water, gently scrubbing with the sponge for a final rinse. Dry the pan completely with a kitchen towel, and return it safely to storage.

The Bottom Line

Save yourself an overwhelming Google search, forget about elbow grease, and clean your cast iron in a safe, simple, reliable, and economical way. Instead of using harsh chemicals or scrubbing to the point of scratching, all you need to remove those stubborn food bits from your cast iron pan is baking soda, white vinegar, and lukewarm water. All hail the home cooks before us who never had the internet to rely upon and continue to pave the way through trial and error and good old-fashioned kitchen wisdom and experience. Learn more about removing stubborn, baked-on food.