Your cast iron can last for over 100 years—if you treat it right. To help save your skillet, we've rounded up the products you should be using to clean cast iron.
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If there’s one thing that Taste of Home editors agree on, it’s that the Scrub Mommy (3 for $15) is the best cast iron cleaning tool. Use the stiff side to scour off stuck-on gunk, then flip it over to the soft side to wipe it all clean.
Clean every nook and cranny with one of these polycarbonate pan scrapers (2 for $10). Each of the four corners is designed to fit into a different spot—there’s a rounded corner for pans and a pointed one for griddles, for instance. It’s as handy as these must-have cast iron accessories.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Ringer ($24) looks more like a medieval knight’s armor than something you’d find in your kitchen. The stainless steel chain mail links provide the scrubbing power necessary to remove any leftover grease or grime from when you made.
Soap on cast iron?! Gasp! But fear not—the popular warning is actually an urban myth. The oil that you use to season a skillet is so well-bonded to the pan that detergent won’t hurt it. Bonus: The Caron Doucet soap ($12), specially formulated to clean cast iron, is also 100% natural and free of parabens and synthetic foaming agents.
Ah, here’s a product you can feel good about. Because not only is this cast iron brush ($8) a pro at polishing your pans (thanks heavy-duty bristles and sturdy scraper!) but it’s also made with BPA-free recycled plastic.
You know you aren’t supposed to soak your skillet (even though it’s one of the top mistakes people make when cooking with cast iron). But how are you supposed to get those dried pieces of last night’s one-pan pasta off the bottom? Easy—with one of these bamboo scrapers ($15). They won’t scratch the surface and have anti-microbial properties. Win-win!
Carpenter meets cook with this handy hack. The brush attachments ($30), which come in six varying sizes and shapes, clip right into a standard drill so you can get more cleaning power with less effort. Want more lazy-chef tips and tricks? Did you know you should use your cast iron skillet on the grill? Yep, find out more here.
Hey, sometimes your cast-iron cookware needs a little exfoliating, too. The coarse grains of sea salt in this cast iron scrub ($13) remove even the most stubborn residue while the coconut oil base helps strengthen your skillet’s seasoning.
Everyone knows the secret to good cast iron is the seasoning. To keep it smooth (and more importantly, non-stick), re-season your cookware as needed with the super convenient Crisbee Stik ($15). Not sure where to begin—or how to know if you need to re-treat your pan? Follow this step-by-step guide on how to season cast iron.
No soap, no problem with this heavy-duty brush ($27). The rows of stiff bristles are ideal for anything from cast iron pans to griddles to grill grates.
