The Pantry Staple Chef Michael Symon Uses To Clean Cast Iron Skillets

If you own cast iron pans, you know they need special care. It's not difficult but it does require a mindful approach. A well-seasoned pan is indispensable, and improperly cleaning it will quickly undo everything you did to achieve that beautiful black patina.

That patina is what makes the food resist sticking to the pan. First, know that washing it in soapy water or in the dishwasher (horrors!) will eventually ruin a cast iron pan. Thankfully, celebrity chef Michael Symon knows how to properly care for cast iron and shared a tip on Food Network's Instagram that will help you take better care of yours.

In the Food Network video, he is shown putting salt in a cast iron skillet and using an old dish towel to scrub the food particles from it while the pan is still on the grill. Once it's cleaned, he dumps the salt and adds about a tablespoon of cooking oil to re-season it before putting it back on the grill to heat and finish the seasoning process. As Symon points out in the video, this simple step and continuing to care correctly for cast iron will allow it to last for generations.

Cast iron pans are prized by cooks not only for their non-stick surface but also for their durability. With the right attention, they can actually get better the more you use them. Frankly, you can't say that about many other things in your kitchen.

Consider rescuing old cast iron pots and pans found at thrift stores or yard sales to add to your collection. Many people discard them once they start to rust, assuming the vessels are hopeless. The pans may look abused and beyond help, but with Michael Symon's salt trick and a few seasoning tips, you can get them looking like new with very little effort and money.

Whether you use a cast iron pan to make pizza or a Dutch oven for your favorite homemade bread now you know the secret to effectively and safely cleaning the cookware. It's such a simple process that anyone can do with an inexpensive item we always have in the pantry. Taking Michael Symon's advice will keep your cast iron pots and pans in shape for generations to come.