Cast Iron Cookware – In the culinary world, chefs and cooks use cast iron in the form of pots or pans to prepare a wide variety of dishes.
Historical records trace the origin of cast iron cookware back to the 6th century BC in mainland China. Skilled artisans would create cast iron pans by pouring molten metal into sand molds.
The cast-iron style wok lost its prestige with the trend of non-stick pans made of various materials, including aluminum. However, due to concerns about the environmental impact of non-stick materials in pans, there is a growing resurgence of interest in cast iron.
The various advantages of cast iron make this cookware have a very high market price. One of the advantages of cast iron is that the existing cast iron material can form a non-stick coating by itself after several uses.
Another plus, a cast iron skillet can also retain heat longer than a regular skillet. People often use this skillet in the process of baking various cakes and breads.
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How To Clean Cast Iron Cookware
Even though cast iron is known for its high durability and resistance to environmental conditions, it still requires proper treatment to prevent rust from forming. Also so that the non-stick coating does not decrease in quality.
According to The Spruce, here are some tips for caring for a cast-iron skillet:
1. Wait Until It Cools Down
After use, cast iron pans will usually retain heat for a long time.
Do not wash the pan while the heat is still trapped in it. Place it first in a safe corner of the kitchen, let the pan lower the temperature little by little.
Splashing water or submerging a hot cast iron skillet in water can cause the surface of the pan to crack due to the drastic difference in temperature.
2. Remove Leftover Food With a Tissue or Plastic Spoon
When the temperature of the pan is not excessively hot, use a dry tissue to clean any remaining food residues that may be stuck to it.
If there are stubborn particles, gently remove them using a plastic spoon or knife.
Do not scrub the pan with metal kitchen utensils as this can damage the non-stick coating.
3. Scrub With a Sponge and Hot Water
If a significant amount of food residue remains stuck to the pan after its last use, it indicates a decrease in the quality of the non-stick coating on the surface.
Never immerse cast iron in the sink as this will damage the structure of the iron.
4. Rinse With Warm Water
Immediately rinse off soap and any remaining food particles using warm water. Then, immediately dry using a dry cloth.
Never let the cast iron cookware dry on its own by aerating.
Drops of water that do not dry immediately can trigger the birth of rust.
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5. Regenerate The Non-Stick Coating
If a substantial amount of food residue remains stuck to the pan after its previous use, it suggests that the quality of the non-stick coating on the pan’s surface has deteriorated.
You can increase this quality again by applying a vegetable oil such as olive oil to the surface of the pan. Then heat the pan on low heat for 10 minutes. Just cool and store the pan in a dry cupboard.
Repel Rust on Cast Iron Cookware
If the rust is already lodged, you can remove it this way:
1. Remove rust using a plastic knife. Continue scrubbing until the rust layer is completely removed, and then proceed to wash the cast iron cookware.
2. Clean using a paste mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. Apply the paste to the surface of the pan, wrap in plastic, and leave for up to 24 hours. Rinse with hot water, dry with a clean tissue.