In a good frying pan, everything is cooked perfectly - quickly and tasty, with even frying and an appetizing golden crust. Even the first pancake on it turns out not “lumpy”, but as expected. Every housewife and any professional chef will confirm this. Lovers fried foods They know that from time to time there is a need to clean the frying pan from carbon deposits.

The age of a frying pan can be determined at first glance by the thickness of the soot layer.

A layer of carbon deposits on the inside work surface frying pans are usually washed out after each cooking, but on the outside, which is in direct contact with the fire, it often accumulates for years, turning into a thick black crust.

Dangerous carbon deposits

Why is it so important to clean the frying pan from carbon deposits and why is it dangerous for your health?

Layer long-term soot formed from fats, soot, scale and metal oxides. In the photo - carbon deposits on a cast iron frying pan

The fact is that when a cookware covered with a layer of soot is heated, it releases harmful substances(peroxides and benzopyrene), which are considered carcinogenic. They, although in very small quantities, get into food (respectively, into the stomach), especially when it burns, and into the air (that is, into the organs respiratory system). Agree, the risk here is not justified. It’s better to work a little and clean the pan from carbon deposits.

There are several cleaning methods, the main ones being mechanical, chemical and thermal. Which one will be most suitable for your favorite frying pan must be determined depending on the material from which it is made.

When you are planning to clean a frying pan from carbon deposits at home, be sure to take into account the properties of the metal and coating, and the features of caring for them. Most often used on modern kitchens utensils made of cast iron, aluminum and of stainless steel coated with Teflon, enamel and ceramics. Let's take a closer look at the carbon removal methods for each of them.

A cast iron frying pan is considered optimal for quality cooking.

Cast iron is an environmentally friendly, heat-resistant and durable material

Heavy and durable cast iron cookware can withstand scraping with a hard metal sponge, rubbing with sand, grinding with a grinder, and even scorching with an open fire - a gas burner, a blowtorch, or a fire.

These methods can hardly be called suitable for cleaning a frying pan from carbon deposits at home. Some of them are too labor-intensive, others are riskily extreme, fraught with damage to the dishes themselves, manicure and all property in the event of a fire.

If you decide to use the method of firing with an open fire, then arrange this “pyrotechnic show” on outdoors, away from residential buildings. Take gas burner or blowtorch (they run on gasoline, kerosene or alcohol) and point a torch of fire at the smoked sides and bottom of the dish. The maximum flame temperature can reach 1100 ℃, so you need to burn quickly, without stopping in one place. Depending on its hardness and thickness, it will take only 5-7 minutes to clean off the carbon layer.

For reference: the melting point of cast iron is from 1150 ℃, stainless steel is 1800 ℃, and aluminum is 660 ℃.

Some people prefer to use natural abrasives, e.g. sand. You can use it for a long time and painstakingly to scrub off hardened dirt by hand or pour it directly into a frying pan and let it simmer over low heat for 2-3 hours. Please note that the smell will be very unpleasant, especially if you collect sand from the nearest sandbox, which is regularly visited by all yard dogs and cats. Therefore, sand is needed as clean as possible (river, etc.). After calcination, it will be enough to lightly tap the dishes so that the carbon deposits fall off.

Very fast and effective sand cleaning of all utensils can be organized for you at any tire service station where there is sandblasting machine, used to remove paint and rust from automobile parts.

At home, the easiest way to clean a cast-iron frying pan from carbon deposits is to use available products: vinegar, soda, salt, laundry soap and office silicate glue.

To clean off carbon deposits that have accumulated on the outside, you need a large container in which you can completely immerse the frying pan.

To clean a cast iron frying pan from carbon deposits, prepare vinegar solution in a ratio of 1:3, that is, 1 glass table vinegar for 3 glasses of water. It is poured into a container of large volume, which allows you to “drown” the frying pan in the solution, if possible, first removing the handle from it. The prepared container with the frying pan inside is placed on low heat and boiled for 3-4 hours. The progress of the process must be constantly monitored, preventing the solution from boiling away. Subsequent boiling with the solution helps eliminate the smell of vinegar that remains on cast iron cookware. baking soda(1 tbsp per 500 ml of water) for 20-30 minutes.

Vinegar vapors have a pungent odor and can cause poisoning in high concentrations. Therefore, all types of cleaning using vinegar must be carried out in a well-ventilated area or with the hood on.

A more caustic solution for boiling cast iron cookware with many years of soot is made from soda ash (pH 11) with laundry soap and silicate glue or with washing powder. The recipe is this: for a bucket of water (8-10 l) take 500 g of soda ash, 100 g of brown laundry soap shavings and 100 g of silicate glue. Instead of soap and glue, you can add 100 g of washing powder. All cast iron utensils that require cleaning are placed in this solution, poured into a large boiler, and boiled over low heat for 30-40 minutes. Then let it cool a little and rinse everything under running water, scrubbing off any remaining burnt marks with a stiff wire brush or sponge.

To remove a slight layer of carbon deposits, it is recommended to use Activated carbon. The frying pan is slightly heated and moistened with water, the coal tablets are crushed and sprinkled on contaminated surfaces, left for 1 hour, and then washed off with a sponge and dishwashing detergent.

Mechanical and thermal methods cleaning along with carbon deposits removes the greasy non-stick layer from cast iron cookware. It is recommended to restore it to avoid further sticking and burning of food.

Aluminum cookware is the lightest and quite practical, but sensitive to aggressive acids and alkalis.

Hard scourers and brushes, coarse abrasive powders leave scratches and burrs on the aluminum surface

A quick way to clean a frying pan old carbon deposits– find a household man “complete” with an angle grinder with a special attachment (petal end circle).

More real and safe method– weak alkali baking soda(pH 8.1). If there is a small layer of soot, heat the pan a little, moisten it with water and evenly cover it with soda. Leave for 30-40 minutes on the cooling burner. If you need to clean the outer sides and bottom, turn the pan over and do the same. Then rub the softened dirt with a soft sponge or rag and rinse well under running water.

A dense layer of soot requires longer exposure. You need to prepare a solution from soda (1 tablespoon per 250 ml of water), immerse the dishes in it and boil for at least 30 minutes.

Baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide to the consistency of a liquid slurry will help effectively clean a frying pan from old carbon deposits. This mixture is applied to all surfaces of the heated frying pan and left to cool completely for 5-10 minutes. Mechanical cleaning is carried out with a soft sponge. If all accumulated deposits cannot be wiped off immediately, the procedure should be repeated.

Beautiful shiny dishes made of stainless steel quite often suffers from burning food. So the carbon deposits on the frying pan have to be removed inside and out.

High-quality stainless steel frying pans are made with a multi-layer (sandwich) bottom, in which the inner layer consists of aluminum, copper or other metals, and the outer layer is made of steel

The easiest way to clean a steel surface from carbon deposits is to use salt, soda or activated carbon. Remains of burnt food should be covered with an even layer of salt or soda, left for 2-3 hours, and then the softened dirt should be wiped off with a sponge. You can also use crushed activated carbon tablets. They are scattered on burnt surfaces, lightly moistened with water and left for 15-20 minutes. They cope better with carbon residues powder products for dish washing.

To clean the frying pan from the outside, you will need to boil it in an acidic solution. Prepare a large container, pour water into it and add vinegar (100 ml per 1 l) and citric acid (50 g per 1 l). Immerse in solution dirty dishes and bring to a boil. After simmering for 15-20 minutes over low heat, remove the pan and rub off the carbon deposits with a hard sponge. You shouldn’t try to clean it all at once, just loosen the density so that the acids can penetrate deeper. Place the pan back and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. To completely remove many years of carbon deposits, 2-3 boiling cycles with intermediate mechanical cleaning may be required.

When using household acids and alkalis, do not neglect your own safety. Wear gloves and ensure the room is ventilated.

Features of cleaning coated cookware from carbon deposits

To summarize, all non-stick coatings are very capricious and do not tolerate rough measures. They should not be rubbed with metal or hard sponges, exposed to sudden temperature changes, or treated with aggressive chemicals.

Teflon

Teflon-coated pans quickly become unusable even with very careful handling. If you use them constantly, then just buy them once every six months new frying pan, as, in principle, is recommended.

When cooking food in Teflon-coated containers, you need to mix food with wooden or silicone spatulas.

By definition, carbon deposits should not form on non-stick Teflon. But anything can happen, so take the following recipe into account. Prepare a solution of 3 liters of water with 200 g of dishwashing detergent and 3 tbsp. l. soda ash. In a large container where the frying pan fits, set the container filled with the resulting solution to boil for 30 minutes. Then let it cool slightly and rinse the cleaned pan well with hot running water. After removing the deposits, be sure to wipe the Teflon-coated dishes dry with a soft cloth.

Using the same technology, you can boil a frying pan with regular soda. Thoroughly dissolve the baking soda in water (1 tbsp per 500 ml), dip the burnt dishes into the solution and boil for 20-30 minutes. Remaining dirt is wiped off with a soft sponge liquid means for dish washing.

If you often need to clean the outside of the frying pan from carbon deposits, buy special anti-carbon foam, which is sold in household chemical stores. According to the instructions, it is stirred in a certain amount of water, whipped into foam and applied to the outer surfaces of Teflon dishes. After 15-20 minutes it is washed off under hot water, lightly scrubbing away the burnt residue with a soft sponge.

Ceramics

Ceramic-coated cookware has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years.

Ceramics are suitable for all types hobs– gas, electric, induction

It is recommended to care for ceramic coating using special detergents and a soft sponge. If you need to clean the frying pan from carbon deposits, then if you have a dishwasher, entrust this to it by turning on the recommended mode. Those who do not have a dishwasher will have to do boiling. For ceramics, the same solution with detergent and soda is suitable as for Teflon dishes (3 liters of water, 200 g of dishwashing detergent, 3 tablespoons of soda ash or 200 g of baking soda). You need to boil for 20-30 minutes, watching how the soot lags behind. Then rinse the pan well under hot running water, avoiding a sudden temperature change.

Enamel

Dishes with enameled coating They are used primarily not for frying, but for other methods of cooking - stewing, boiling, simmering.

Enamel is very sensitive to mechanical stress - shocks, falls, scraping with hard brushes and sponges.

Basic cleaning products for enamel cookware salt and soda are considered. It is recommended to soak burnt-on food residues with them overnight, and then clean them with a soft sponge and detergent.

It is better to keep the dishes clean regularly than to waste time later cleaning the frying pan from carbon deposits that have settled on the surface. long years thick black crust

Follow the recommendations for caring for various types of coatings, wash thoroughly after each use all remaining grease, inside and out, and wipe the frying pan dry. If you are wondering how oven cleaners are used or sewer pipes To clean a frying pan from carbon deposits, watch some of the many videos on the Internet.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Home improvement expert and handyman culinary masterpieces(according to relatives and friends). Got used to relying on common sense, everyday experience and women's intuition.

Found a mistake? Select the text with the mouse and click:

Sooner or later even the most the best housewife you have to face such a problem as cleaning a frying pan from burnt food. Often, cleaning pans is not as simple as washing other dishes.

So how can you quickly and easily clean a frying pan from carbon deposits? The choice of cleaning method for a frying pan directly depends on what type of material it is made of.

As a rule, this is not very difficult to do, since even if food burns on it, the special non-stick coating will prevent it from sticking to the surface of the pan. To clean the frying pan, you just need to soak it in warm water and then rinse it.

Remember that Teflon-coated pans cannot be cleaned using aggressive abrasives, wire hard washcloths and so on. All this can lead to damage to the coating.

How to clean an aluminum frying pan?

This is a little more difficult to do, since aluminum is very sensitive to mechanical impact material. In addition, he is afraid of alkalis and acids. That's why many detergents can easily damage the frying pan.

The same applies to wire scourers and abrasives. How to clean an aluminum frying pan? You can try using regular baking soda.

How to clean a stainless steel frying pan?

You can use table salt. Take 1/2 cup of salt, pour into a frying pan, spread evenly over the bottom and leave for a couple of hours. After this, wash the pan. Burnt food should be easy to wash off after such a procedure.

In addition, you can use activated carbon. You need to take several charcoal tablets, crush them into powder and sprinkle the resulting powder on all burnt areas. Pour some water on top. Leave the frying pan for ten to fifteen minutes, then wash it thoroughly.

How to clean grease from a frying pan?

If there is a thick, old layer of fat on the frying pan, you can try cleaning the frying pan with laundry soap. For this purpose, you need to take a third or half of a piece of soap (this directly depends on the size of the frying pan) and grate it on a coarse grater. Fill the frying pan with the resulting soap shavings and fill it with boiling water.

To enhance the effect, you need to put the frying pan on the fire and boil its contents for fifteen minutes. In addition, you can try cleaning the pan with vinegar or citric acid. Simply pour some water into the frying pan and add citric acid or vinegar.

After that, put it on the fire, bring the water to a boil and boil for ten to twenty minutes. Then drain the water and rinse the pan thoroughly. This method is not suitable for aluminum pans!

How to clean pans made of cast iron?

If it happens that you burnt food in a cast iron frying pan, then you need to clean it immediately, before it has time to cool down. Otherwise, it will be quite difficult to remove the contamination. How to clean a frying pan from carbon deposits?

You can use the following method. Place one or two tablespoons into the pan table salt and fill them with vinegar until the bottom is completely covered. After this, bring the contents of the frying pan to a boil over high heat, add a quarter cup of baking soda and reduce the heat to medium. When almost all the liquid has evaporated, remove the pan from the heat and rinse it well with water.

You need to clean cast iron frying pans without fanaticism, since the thinnest layer of fat that forms on such a frying pan acts as a non-stick natural coating. If you have cleaned the frying pan until it shines, then after the first cooking, heat the frying pan with vegetable oil.

In order for you not to have to try to clean the frying pan every time, it needs proper care. When the dishes are dry, remove all remaining oil from them. It must be washed immediately after preparing food in hot water using a nylon sponge.

After washing, be sure to wipe it dry. In such a situation, there is no need to use special detergents. Remember that cast iron pans should not be soaked in the dishwasher.

How to clean stubborn grease from an old frying pan?

Very simple. Add two to three drops of any dishwashing detergent to a cold frying pan. Next, you need to pour hot water into the pan and wash it with a nylon sponge. After that, rinse it warm water, wipe dry and spray oven cleaner onto the surface.

After this procedure, wrap the frying pan in plastic bag and leave it like this overnight. In the morning, rinse off the product and wash the pan with dishwashing detergent.

How to clean frying pans from a thick layer of carbon deposits?

If there is thick carbon deposits on your frying pan, then you should know that during the heating process, it releases very harmful substances that can lead to cancer and other diseases.

In order to give the frying pan its previous appearance, you need to place it in a container filled with 10 liters of water with silicate glue (eighty grams) and washing soda(one hundred grams). Boil for ten minutes. You can replace soda and glue with grated laundry soap.

After the solution has cooled, you need to wipe the dishes with steel wool.

How to clean a ceramic coated frying pan?

A characteristic feature of this type of cookware is that during heat treatment the food does not burn and retains almost all minerals and vitamins. You need to wash these pans with extreme care.

Before first use, a frying pan with a ceramic coating should be thoroughly washed and dried with a soft towel. After this, put 4-5 tablespoons (tablespoons) of salt into it and heat it thoroughly.

To prevent the formation of microcracks in the coating, do not wash the frying pan in cold water, allow sudden temperature changes. These pans should be washed with a soft sponge in warm water with the addition of non-abrasive detergents.

On 04/14/2015

How can you easily make cast iron cookware “Teflon”?

Cast iron cookware is an unsurpassed champion in the quality of cooking - fried potatoes, pilaf, baked bread, pizza, borscht, porridge, chicken tabaka, etc. are obtained ideally due to thermal inertia and uniform distribution heat flow. But cast iron cookware fell out of use due to two serious drawbacks - food sticks to cast iron + cast iron rusts (note that the massiveness of cast iron cookware is not a drawback, but an inevitable property, just like all zepter-like inertial vessels with the same properties).
It turns out that you can get rid of these shortcomings of cast iron yourself, for mere pennies, you can restore your cast iron cookware and in one day make it ideal, with a beautiful, environmentally friendly protective anti-corrosion and non-stick coating better than Teflon:
The secret is very simple - you need to apply a thin layer of drying vegetable oil to clean hot cast iron (linseed, hemp, poppy seed, walnut, tung are suitable, but in no case sunflower or olive!), then carefully heat the dishes. That's all!


Depending on the quality of the cast iron surface, 2-3 coats may be required. Fans of cast iron restoration manage to apply up to 20 layers, achieving mirror shine and deep black color.
Before moving on to the description of the process, we note what this gives us:
- food will never stick to cast iron cookware again and everything will go like clockwork literally of these words;
— unlike Teflon, which is perceived with caution by some due to the possible release of harmful compounds, only natural food ingredients are used here;
— unlike Teflon coating, which, if damaged, cannot be repaired on its own, here you can “heal” scratches at any time and apply additional layers;
— you don’t have to wash the dishes, you just need to wipe them with a paper napkin (in Soviet time pans that had not yet cooled down were wiped with newspapers) and then, to control, wiped with a napkin moistened with a drop of sunflower oil. If the control napkin is clean, you can fry some sweet pies immediately after the fish, there will be no smell;
— the coating turns out to be moisture-heat-resistant and during cooking or steaming it can only fade temporarily, so you can also forget about rust forever.

You will need to do the following:

1. clean the dishes from soot (an old layer of burnt food and burnt fat) or from factory paint/oil if the cast iron cookware is new;
2. clean the dishes from rust;
3. Apply an anti-corrosion non-stick coating to clean, dry, hot cast iron - grease the cast iron with drying oil (linseed, hemp, poppy seed, walnut) and carefully calcine it in the oven.

There are three important things to remember when working with cast iron:
— cast iron does not tolerate very sharp heating and cooling and can crack;
— cast iron is a porous material;
— the real color of cast iron that you should strive for when cleaning dishes is gray:

NATURAL COLOR OF CAST IRON

COLOR AFTER 1-2 LAYERS OF OIL


1. cleaning cast iron from carbon deposits/factory oil

Cast iron cookware can be cleaned of carbon deposits with alkali (oven cleaner) or pyrolysis - burning off organic residues, which leaves only ash. This can be done by firing on a fire, gas or electric burner, but it is most convenient in an electric oven on self-cleaning mode.
The intensity of the smoke and smell during burning depends on the amount of soot, but in any case, you need to take care of good ventilation of the room, and even better, do this not at home but in the country.
We remind you once again that cast iron can crack if it is heated sharply (subjected to temperature shock). Jack Hinkle, an experienced cast iron restorer and author of articles about this method, burned over 700 carbon deposits in his oven. cast iron frying pans and cauldrons of priceless antique and personal value (some of the cauldrons are so precious and rare that they are worth tens of thousands of dollars!). He writes that firing cast iron in an oven is completely safe and if you find a crack AFTER firing, it means that it was there BEFORE firing, and was simply invisible under a layer of burnt fat and dirt.

If there is an option for length of self-cleaning time, then set it to at least 2 hours. Then the cleaning will end, but the door will still be closed with an automatic lock until the temperature in the oven drops from 600-700 C to 100-250 C, depending on the brand of the oven. When the lock opens, leave the dishes in the oven to continue to cool slowly to room temperature (you can with the door open to make it faster). When the cast iron has cooled to 30-40C, you can brush off the ash and begin removing rust.
2. Cleaning from rust

If there is very little rust, you can clean it off with a metal utensil cleaner with abrasive powder; if there is a lot, treat it with sandpaper or a wire brush. After mechanical cleaning recommended chemically suppress all possible pockets of rust, remembering that cast iron is porous. Acids will help us here. Sometimes acetic or oxalic acid (a component of descaling and cleaning products) is recommended, but it is most convenient to use orthophosphoric acid as a proven means for cold phosphating of ferrous metals.
Phosphoric acid is the main component of drugs that can be found at keywords phosphating impregnation for metal, anti-corrosion rust converter, phosphating rust modifier for treating steel, cast iron, galvanized and aluminum surfaces before application paint and varnish materials. Phosphoric acid creates protective layer from corrosion by converting rust into a protective phosphate film (cold phosphating), forming a chemically bonded layer of insoluble phosphate salts of iron, zinc and manganese. If anyone is confused by the technical purpose of such products, we can recommend two ways - either buy pure orthophosphoric acid, or use drinks such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and the like that contain the permitted food supplement E338 is the same orthophosphoric acid, which is called an “acidity regulator” or an acidifier. If heated slightly, enough Coca-Cola will remove all the rust.
After removing the rust, you need to wash off the remaining acids from the cast iron in clean warm water, turn on the oven to maximum (usually 250C in household ovens) and, while it is not yet heated, immediately put the cast iron there. After the cast iron has warmed up with the stove and is guaranteed to dry out, you can proceed to the application procedure and begin calcining it with drying oil.
3. Applying a protective non-stick coating of drying oil to cast iron cookware.
Drying oils unlike all others vegetable oil and animal fats form a hard film when dried, like varnish or enamel. So in a frying pan you need to heat the same drying oil that you will also find in the oil paints that painters use to paint their pictures, and after a while the paint dries forever on the canvas and it becomes hard and shiny. And, of course, painters use the same drying oil in paint when they paint walls, metal, and wood. oil paint drying into a shiny durable coating, smooth to the touch.
There are several edible drying oils you can find in grocery stores: flaxseed, poppy seed, butter walnut and tung nut oil (tung). Any of them will create a beautiful smooth black coating on the surface of the cast iron, and if you apply more than 5 layers, it will also be shiny. And if the frying pan is smooth, and you apply 20 layers, then in the bottom of the frying pan you can look at yourself as if in a black mirror.

You can use ordinary drying oil from a building materials store, but only natural one, consisting of linseed oil with the addition of turpentine, and not drying oil-like products made from sunflower oil with white spirit, i.e. finding oil is not a problem.

After the cast iron has been heated to absolute dryness for an hour at a temperature of 200-250C, it is removed and greased with a drop of drying oil on the grate. If the cast iron is very smooth, then a drop will be enough for a whole frying pan.

Only if the handle has intricate parts and grooves, it will be possible to apply more oil there with the tip of a rag or a brush made of natural bristles (the frying pan is hot, you cannot use a synthetic brush).

It is extremely important to apply the oil in a thin layer so that the cast iron is almost dry and shiny. If you oil cast iron so that it looks “wet”, it will dry out in patches and then may “peel” In fact, several thin layers of oil are better than several thick ones! Therefore, we wipe the excess dry before calcining the freshly applied layer.

Then you need to put the oil-lubricated cast iron in a hot furnace and calcinate it at the maximum temperature, which for household ovens is about 250C.

Why in the oven? You can, of course, calcinate it over an open fire, electric or gas burner, but in this case it is difficult to comply temperature regime- you can either burn the oil or underdry it, but in the oven this process is more convenient. There are adherents of natural drying in the sun, in the open air, where ventilation is intense and ultraviolet radiation contributes to polymerization. But this process is long, akin to art, and not everyone will be able to use it, so calcination in the oven is the easiest and most reliable way.

The duration of calcination depends on the oil used. For example, tung oil polymerizes in 30 minutes, but linseed oil needs to be calcined longer: 1 hour, then turn off the oven and leave to dry for two hours at a decreasing temperature.

To apply the next layer, heat again to maximum, lubricate, leave for an hour, cool for two hours, etc. During this time, the coating on the cast iron will brown and become completely dry to the touch. Or, on cast iron of a different quality, different age, porosity and composition, it will remain practically unchanged. But already the third and fourth layers of calcined oil will completely change appearance and the quality of the coating inside and outside of cast iron cookware. The fourth layer is a deep black chocolate color.

Now, in cast iron that has been well calcined with oil, you can cook anything for many years, including baking, boiling, frying, and grilling. The only thing that cooking and braising in cast iron will do, says Greg, author of a wonderful blog about cast iron utensils, baking and cooking in it, is that the protective layer may tarnish. But shine, of course, can be easily restored by calcination with several layers of oil, if shine is so strongly needed for aesthetics.
source apxiv.ucoz.ru

A cast iron frying pan is a time-tested assistant! She rightfully occupies important place in the kitchen. In order for this useful item to serve you for many years, you need to properly care for it. Housewives often receive kitchen utensils as a dowry from their mother or grandmother, and along with it a thick layer of soot, soot or fat. Over time, it becomes more and more difficult to clean the pan. Nevertheless, there are ways that will help restore it to its original appearance.

Types of contaminants and means to get rid of them

Today, despite the variety of nonstick products available, cast iron frying pans are still very popular. They are characterized by high strength and ability to retain heat. The carbon deposits obtained naturally act as a non-stick layer and protect the product from corrosion. However, sooner or later there comes a time when it becomes necessary to clean the pan.

Grandma's time-tested methods for cleaning cast iron pans will give them their pristine appearance.

The method for cleaning cast iron cookware depends on the type and complexity of the dirt. These include:

  • excessive layer of soot;
  • rust formation;
  • accumulation of burning;
  • stuck food residues.

Wash old frying pan at home you can use abrasive detergents, household chemicals and rubber gloves. The stores offer a large assortment of potent reagents, but not all of them can cope with serious types of pollution.

It is worth noting that to get rid of old pollution much more difficult than from fresh stains.

Grandma's time-tested methods of cleaning dishes are no less effective than modern powders, gels and sprays. Moreover, they are safe for health and can save your money. family budget due to its low cost. Sandpaper, sea or table salt, sand, acetic acid and silicate glue will help you shape your cast iron frying pan attractive appearance.

Ways to Clean a Cast Iron Frying Pan

Before you clean your cast iron skillet, determine what type it is. Dishes can be coated or uncoated. Today there are the following types of this kitchen utensils.

  1. Classic. They are not distinguished by beauty and grace, but they are safe for human health, reliable and practical. Suitable for all types of stoves, as well as for cooking in the oven. They are not afraid of abrasive detergents in the form of a metal sponge.
  2. Enameled. They come in white or cream color. To prevent rust, the enamel coating is applied in several layers. Such cast iron cookware does not require preparation before first use; it just needs to be washed in warm water. At proper care she will serve long time. Since enamel is a fragile material, temperature changes and metal blades can lead to its destruction.
  3. In this regard, do not place the frying pan on a hot stove, use a wooden or plastic spatula when cooking, and do not use powders or sponges made of thin steel wire when cleaning.

Non-stick. Since cast iron rusts from moisture, objects made from it are coated with a non-stick layer, which helps protect the cookware from moisture. Such frying pans have the same advantages as classic ones, but are much more expensive. To avoid damage to the coating when cooking, you must use utensils made of wood or silicone. Important: you should distinguish enamel coating from ceramics! Enamel is. heat resistant paint Ceramic coating

consists of silicone and carbon components and is considered more environmentally friendly.

Types of cast iron frying pans - gallery “Grandma’s” frying pan will last for decades Enamel coating gives cast iron a more attractive appearance Non-stick coating

protects the product from moisture and rust

Wash or clean There is an opinion that cast iron products cannot be washed using modern detergents. It is based on the fact that there is a thin layer of fat on the surface of the pan. Since household chemicals remove all types of contaminants, the cast iron frying pan is also destroyed. However, at the moment it glows and the oil heats up, a new substance is created - a stable polymer that penetrates into upper layer

metal It is due to this that a cast iron frying pan that does not have a coating has non-stick properties. As for cleaning, using a stiff brush is an undeniable advantage of this kitchen utensil! You can safely use any means without fear of damaging the surface. As noted, modern cast iron skillets may have various coatings

. Each of them requires a different approach when cleaning.

A metal sponge will help you clean a cast iron frying pan until it shines.

What products can be used to clean cast iron frying pans - table Type of cast iron frying panHow to clean Type of cast iron frying panCan
it is forbidden Teflon coated frying pan
Soda, dishwashing detergent.
They can be used together, for example, in the form of a solution.
With abrasives,
with caution with acetic acid Frying pan with ceramic coating Suitable gentle cleaning agents: laundry soap They can be used together, for example, in the form of a solution.
, soda using a soft cloth or sponge.
Enamel coated frying pan Laundry soap, liquid dishwashing detergent, soda, solution with the addition of silicate glue. Firing over an open fire is prohibited; use acetic acid with caution.
Frying pan without cover Can be cleaned using dishwashing detergents, alkaline detergents, and abrasives. After cleaning, it is recommended to restore the natural non-stick properties using vegetable oil.

How to get rid of rust and long-term carbon deposits

Rust and carbon deposits are the most common stains on cast iron cookware, especially after many years of use. But even the oldest corrosion and multi-layered blackness can be removed at home using simple means.

If your cast iron frying pan has lost its appearance, don't worry, it can be washed!

There are several tools for cleaning a frying pan from carbon deposits:

  • silicate glue;
  • washing powder;
  • acetic acid;
  • metal brush;
  • roasting over an open fire.

To remove rust you can use:

  • sandpaper;
  • special solvent.

Preparation of adhesive solution

Silicate glue is included in a homemade cast iron frying pan cleaner. To prepare this cleaning solution, take:

  • a pack of baking soda weighing 500 g (you can also use soda ash);
  • 1 bar of laundry soap 72%;
  • 2 packs of silicate glue.
  1. Put a bucket of water on to heat up. You can use another container, the main thing is that the frying pan fits into it.
  2. Place a coarsely grated piece of laundry soap into a bucket.
  3. Add soda and glue to the soap solution. Mix everything thoroughly.
  4. Place the frying pan in the bucket of solution.
  5. Bring to a boil and “cook” the pan for a quarter of an hour.
  6. Turn off the heat and cover the bucket with a lid. Let the pan sit in the cooling solution for another hour or two.

Cleaning a frying pan using PVA glue and soap is an effective but labor-intensive method. After using it, wash the frying pan under running water using dishwashing detergent.

Instead of silicate glue, you can successfully use PVA glue. Of course it's two different types glue. First of all they differ chemical composition. Silicate glue is water-alkaline solution lithium, sodium, potassium silicates. PVA is polyvinyl acetate with water.

Grandma's good way to clean a frying pan using soap - video

How to clean dishes with washing powder, vinegar and soda

Washing powder, acetic acid and soda are found in every home, so these tools are the most accessible.

For the first method:

  • pour a little powder into the pan;
  • fill with hot water and leave for half an hour;
  • Rub the softened fat with a brush or sponge.

For the second method:

  • fill the frying pan with acetic acid;
  • leave for several days out of the reach of children;
  • Remove carbon deposits under running water using detergent and a stiff brush.

The disadvantages of this method include the presence unpleasant odor vinegar and ineffectiveness, it is unlikely that you will be able to completely get rid of fat.

For the third method:

  • pour baking soda into a frying pan and add hot water;
  • boil for 20 minutes. This will help soften dried and burnt fat;
  • After cooling, scrub the contaminated surface with a brush.

How to remove old grease with a wire brush

You can involve your beloved man in cleaning the frying pan! To do this he needs to use grinder or a drill with a brush attachment. You should not use this method in an apartment, since fine particles carbon deposits will fly everywhere and you will find them for a long time in the most unexpected places. It's better to do this outside or on the balcony. You should also protect yourself: wear a respirator and goggles to avoid damaging your face and eyes.

To clean a frying pan using this method, you need to:

  • prepare equipment: drill, special brush attachment, grinder;
  • wear protective equipment (goggles, respirator);
  • fix the frying pan (for example, by stepping on it with your foot);
  • turn on the equipment and remove carbon deposits;
  • Wash the dishes under running water and dry.

Ask your spouse for help!

How to remove carbon deposits by firing

Cast iron cookware can be fired over a regular fire. When going on a camping trip, take a frying pan with you. If the product has a non-cast iron handle, remove it. Place the frying pan in the fire for 15 minutes, remove it from the flame with a stick or other suitable device. Let the dishes cool and remove carbon deposits with a knife.

This method can be considered highly effective, however, it also has disadvantages:

  • Suitable only for frying pans with a removable or cast iron handle;
  • The method cannot be used for coated pans.

When baking cast iron pans at home, use the oven. Place the dishes in the oven upside down, set the temperature to 200°C and do not forget to turn on the hood

Please note that using methods such as mechanical cleaning brushing, firing over a fire, cleaning with soda, vinegar and a solution with glue are the safest for your health, since they contain a negligible amount chemical substances or do not contain them at all. On the contrary, cleaning with a rust converter, oven cleaner, or even washing powder will leave its “traces.” Be sure to rinse the pan thoroughly after cleaning under running water! This will help get rid of residual household chemicals.

How to remove fat from outside

To clean the outside of the pan, you can use soda solution or washing powder. Pour the product into large capacity, pour boiling water, immerse the frying pan. Leave for 1-2 hours depending on the degree of contamination. In hot water, the burnt fat will soften and can be easily removed with a stiff brush. In some cases, you can use a knife and cut off the carbon deposits in much the same way as you peel potatoes. The effectiveness of this method is controversial. It is possible that the procedure will have to be repeated or additional measures taken to completely remove fat.

Cleaning with new household chemicals

Cast iron is valuable for its environmental friendliness; it is characterized by the use of “grandmother’s” methods. However, we live in the 21st century and it is wrong to avoid discussing this method. Almost all detergents labeled “anti-grease” can easily remove carbon deposits. However, dishwashing detergents are not very effective. It is better to use oven cleaning products, for example “Shumanit”:

  • Apply the product to the pan according to the instructions on the package;
  • leave it for 1–2 hours;
  • remove softened carbon deposits;
  • repeat the procedure if necessary.

Sandpaper and modern remedies for rust stains

To get rid of rust stains, treat them mechanically:

  • take sandpaper of various grain sizes;
  • first use a larger one - rub it on the affected areas of the pan;
  • Gradually move to finer sandpaper, treat the rust stain until it disappears;
  • Wash the pan with your usual detergent and dry it well.

Please note that this method will not work on coated pans.

Use different types of sandpaper for cleaning. Gradually move from coarse grit to finer grit

Methods for cleaning frying pans from carbon deposits can be effective in removing rust. For example, cleaning a frying pan with soda. If you add laundry soap dissolved in water to the soda and immerse the frying pan in the boiling solution, this will remove rust stains from the dishes.

Also, to remove corrosion stains, try using special means- rust converter:

  • Apply the liquid to the dishes for a few minutes;
  • rust will be removed plain water after exposure to the product.

Thousands of housewives around the world are wondering how to clean a frying pan from carbon deposits. In ordinary daily worries, we do not notice how the dishes lose their pristine shine. Of course, this can be avoided by thoroughly cleaning the pot or pan after each cooking. But in our time this is quite problematic.

Nagar is a complex of old deposits of fat and soot. Together this dangerous mix highlights a large number of carcinogens when exposed to high heat. It is not always possible to wash the dishes after cooking, and then each layer of oil or fat accumulates on the previous one, which forms a thick deposit.

Scientists have proven that the dirty layer of accumulated oil can cause gastrointestinal cancer. So cleaning kitchen appliances should become a mandatory procedure in every home.

Cleaning cast iron cookware

Until the 21st century, women used mainly cast iron utensils. Some families still have such frying pans. They are considered durable, and the food turns out much tastier than in other saucepans. But often such pans are covered with a thick layer of soot, and it cannot be washed without special products.

Enameled coating

Enameled dishes are very popular among housewives. During cooking in it, food does not acquire foreign odors. Besides enamel pans and the stewpans have a beautiful appearance.

A noticeable drawback of such utensils is the formation of burning on the outside of the product. If it is not washed in time, a carcinogenic coating is created that releases harmful substances when heated. So how can you clean the outside of a frying pan from carbon deposits without ruining the enamel coating?

How to clean carbon deposits from aluminum frying pans

There are some difficulties with such products. Due to the fact that aluminum is considered a soft metal, it should not be rubbed with iron brushes or used with abrasives. The surface will lose its shine and become covered with scratches.

Stainless steel is simply irreplaceable in everyday life because it does not oxidize and does not corrode. Over time, the metal begins to darken and takes on an unkempt appearance. To prevent this from happening, learn in advance how to clean a frying pan from carbon deposits and grease and give it a new life.

Cleaning a ceramic frying pan

Dishes made from baked clay are suitable for cooking in the oven or microwave. Such dishes should be carefully looked after.

Teflon coated pans

They are considered the most affordable and convenient in cooking. When using it is not possible stir food with a fork, spoon, etc. metal appliances. Only a wooden spatula will do. Teflon is quickly damaged even by coarse salt. It is better to throw away pans with severe scratches immediately, as they release harmful substances during cooking. How to clean such dishes?

How to avoid stubborn stains on kitchen utensils?

Quick cleaning products

  • Bagi Schumanit.

It is sold in the form of a gel or liquid. Designed for washing gas stoves, tiles and grill. The product will help get rid of old deposits on the pan.

The alkaline substance (alkali) is volatile and extremely harmful to the human body. When using, you must wear gloves and a respirator. Ventilate the room. It is better to clean dishes outdoors. Don't neglect safety precautions!

Apply the product to dirty surface utensils and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then wipe with a damp sponge or cloth. If the dishes are not completely clean, the procedure can be repeated. Rinse the container afterwards big amount water and leave in the open air for a day until the harmful substances completely evaporate. The effect of Schumanite is visible immediately after you clean the pan from heavy carbon deposits.

  • Sewer pipe cleaner.

Aggressive and very effective mixture will cope with everything old raids on the dishes. Pour the liquid at the rate of 100 ml per 1 liter of water. To avoid chemical reaction, the composition must be poured into water, and not vice versa. Immerse dirty dishes in the solution for half an hour.

After this treatment, the dishes look like new.

Safety precautions:

Attention, TODAY only!



This article is also available in the following languages: Thai

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