How to Restore a Cast Iron Pan with Burnt-on Food Stains

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Quickly clean, season, or strip your cast iron skillet so its like new

Co-authored by Kadi Dulude and Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: June 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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Cleaning Burnt Areas

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Re-Seasoning the Cast Iron

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Stripping the Seasoning

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Tips

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Do you have burnt, stuck-on grime on your cast iron cookware? All you need to have it looking good as new once again is hot water, baking soda or salt, and a stiff scrub brush. In this article, we’ll tell you how to remove stubborn burnt food and rust stains from your cast iron, and how to re-season it with a neutral oil. We’ll also tell you how to strip the seasoning entirely if your pan doesn’t come clean with traditional methods. With the proper care and patience, your cast iron skillet can give you a lifetime of delicious and nutritious meals.

Getting Burnt Food off a Cast Iron Pan

Use hot water and a stiff brush to scrub away lightly burnt areas.
Spread baking soda or coarse salt over the base and scrub stuck-on stains.
Boil water in your skillet and scrub the area to lift stubborn burnt stains.
After the stain is gone, dry the pan completely and apply a thin coat of oil.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Best Ways to Clean a Burnt Cast Iron Skillet

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1
Scrub lightly burnt areas with hot water and a stiff brush. Boil water in the microwave or on the stove and carefully pour it into the pan.^{[1]
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Research source} Firmly scrub the burnt areas with a chain mail cast-iron scrubber or a stiff brush.^{[2]
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Research source} Repeat until the stain is gone.
- To remove rust, house cleaning professional Kadi Dulude recommends using “a brillo pad or any other metal scouring pad and water and soap to scrub off the rust,” then “wash it off.”
- Optionally, add a drop or two of dish soap as you scrub. Some sources say that dish soap strips away cast iron—however, modern dish soap is gentler than it used to be and the seasoning on cast iron keeps the metal safe.^{[3]
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Use baking soda or salt to scrub away stuck-on burnt food. Scatter kosher salt, coarse sea salt, or baking soda over the base of your skillet. Use a paper towel or soft scrub brush to scrub out any food stuck to the skillet. Give the cast iron a light rinse to remove any leftover salt or baking soda.^{[4]
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- Alternatively, add a little water to the baking soda to form a paste. Scrub the burnt area with the paste and a stiff brush.
- Baking soda can also help remove brown rust spots on your cast iron skillet.
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Lift away stubborn stains by boiling water in your skillet. Fill your skillet with around 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water and place it over high heat. After the water boils for about 10 minutes, Dulude says to gently nudge the stubborn burnt-on spots with a cast iron scrubber or wooden spatula.
- This method also works to clean enameled cast iron pots and pans.^{[5]
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  Research source} To clean the outside, use dish soap or baking soda, warm water, and a soft cloth or plastic scraper.^{[6]
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- Use plastic or wooden tools in your cast iron rather than anything metal. Metal spatulas and spoons can scratch the surface and strip away the seasoning on the pan.
EXPERT TIP

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional
Kadi Dulude is a House Cleaning Professional and the Owner of Wizard of Homes, a New York City-based cleaning company. Kadi has over 10 years of experience and manages a team of over 90 registered cleaning professionals. Her cleaning advice has been featured in Architectural Digest and New York Magazine.

Kadi Dulude
House Cleaning Professional

You can remove most burnt food by soaking the pan in water. Then use a cast iron scrubber to remove the burnt-on food. Always re-season your pan with oil before putting it away.
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Dry the skillet in the oven and apply a thin coat of oil. Wipe the surface of the cast iron down with a dry cloth to remove most of the excess water. Put it in a 300 °F (149 °C) oven for 1 hour until it’s completely dry. When the pan is still warm, pour 1 to 2 US tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of oil into the skillet and use a paper towel to spread it evenly over the surface.^{[7]
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- Any water left on your skillet when you put it away may cause it to rust. Make sure the skillet is completely dry before oiling it or storing it.
- Store your pan by hanging it up or stacking it inside other pans with paper towels in between them to prevent them from scraping the finish.^{[8]
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- Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point. Vegetable oil, canola oil, and grapeseed oil are best.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Re-Seasoning a Cast Iron Skillet

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1
Pour a small amount of oil and spread it all over the skillet. Pour 1 to 2 US tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of vegetable, grapeseed, or flax oil into the skillet and spread it all over the surface with a paper towel. Once the skillet is covered, use another paper towel to wipe away any excess oil.^{[10]
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- Cast iron is porous, which means there are small holes in the surface that absorb the oil, resulting in a smooth cooking surface.
- Make sure to spread the oil in a thin layer. If you leave too much oil on the skillet, it may become sticky.
- Colorful enameled cast iron pans don’t require seasoning. Follow the steps above to clean your skillet or pan, then you’re done!^{[11]
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Place your pan face-down on the top or middle rack of the oven with a sheet tray or tin foil on the rack below it to catch any oil drips. Bake the pan for 1 hour. This allows the oil to set into the surface and give it a non-stick quality.^{[12]
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Let the pan cool and repeat the seasoning process. After an hour, turn your oven off and let the cast iron skillet cool down. Repeat this process several times or as necessary until your pan has multiple layers of seasoning and the coating is non-stick.^{[13]
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- You’ll know your pan is sufficiently seasoned if you can fry an egg in oil or butter without it sticking to the surface.^{[14]
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- Store your skillet in a clean and dry place. Cast iron tends to rust very quickly, so make sure to keep it away from as much moisture as possible.
- If you’ve just stripped your pan, repeat these steps multiple times until a smooth finish develops on the surface.^{[15]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Stripping a Cast Iron Skillet

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1
Place the pan in a trash bag and spray it with an oven cleaner. If you picked up a used skillet with a ton of built-up grease and gunk, strip the surface to restore the cast iron. Place the pan in a heavy-duty trash bag outside, then spray it thoroughly with an oven cleaner. Tie the bag and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours.^{[16]
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- Stripping a pan is usually only necessary for badly rusted or burnt pans that won’t come clean with the methods above.
- If your pan is slightly rusted or burnt, scrub the surface with dish soap, warm water, and steel wool. This will not strip it down to bare metal but will give you a level surface to re-season.^{[17]
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Thoroughly clean the skillet with dish soap and hot water. Scrub the surface with steel wool or a stainless steel scrubber and dish soap until all the cleaner is gone. You may have to scrub and rinse the surface multiple times to make sure no chemicals remain.^{[18]
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- Some recommend using a sandblaster, lye bath, or electrolysis. However, these methods can be dangerous and unnecessary if you only strip 1 pan.^{[19]
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Dry the skillet completely, then re-season it. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away any leftover moisture on the surface of your skillet, before putting it in the oven to dry completely. After 1 hour, take the skillet out of the oven and follow the steps in the section above to re-season it.^{[20]
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- You can also dry your skillet on the stove. Place it over medium-high heat for around 10 minutes, or until all the water evaporates and the skillet is dry.

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Tips

Cook fatty foods like bacon or fried chicken in your cast iron cookware to build and preserve the seasoning naturally.^{[21]
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To maintain your skillet, try to avoid cooking acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus, and vinegar. These can strip the seasoning and make your food taste metallic.^{[22]
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Try not to touch your cast iron straight out of the oven or off the stovetop! It will be very hot, and you will likely burn yourself.

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