The Best Scouring Tools for Cleaning Your Cast Iron Pans
Whether you're restoring a hand-me-down or keeping a brand new pan in mint condition, every owner of a cast iron pan needs a trusty scouring tool to deal with burnt bits and gritty scraps of food left on the pan. Whether your cast iron pan is pre-seasoned or not, most foods will leave behind a residue that you'll have to clean, and cast iron isn't quite as easy to clean as stainless steel. Enter the scouring tool. Designed to help you clean and care for your precious cast iron pan, the scouring tools we've chosen are all resilient, and with some elbow grease, they'll help you blast through those burnt bits on your pan. These tools promise to restore your cookware to pristine condition without destroying flavorful buildup — and all this at a price that can't be beaten.
The Ringer Original Cast Iron Cleaner
Meat meets its match
The Ringer’s original cast iron cleaner is a whole new take on the typical donut-shaped scouring tools of the past. While disposable alternatives appear to be made out of inferior materials, this one’s stainless steel composition won’t unravel or deteriorate so easily. This metal scrubber is not intended to strip the seasoning off skillets but rather remove persistent crumbs and burnt bits without the need for harsh cleaners. As such, it is free of sharp edges and can clean everything from delicate ceramic to decades-old pans with a flavor profile that’s truly one of a kind.
Pros:
- Made in Canada
- The metal construction won’t promote bacterial growth
- No soap required
Cons:
- The links may be too large for finer detailing
Gainwell Stainless Steel Chainmail Scrubber Set
Fight through fat
The scrubber set by Gainwell looks like a standard pot cleaner, but looks can be deceiving. We love this cleaning pad for stickier situations because of the tightly-knit links in the interior that allow for more precise scrubbing. This tool fits perfectly in the palm of your hand for larger jobs and can be combined with the included wooden brush for quick cleans. If you’ve been using your skillet for apple pies, fried chicken, or omelets, and you just can’t crack through that stubborn residue, Gainwell’s versatile cleaner will work wonders on new and antique cooking gear alike.
Pros:
- Four inches in total diameter
- It can easily be stored on hooks
- Dishwasher-safe materials
Cons:
- The wooden brush is poorly made
Herda Cast Iron Skillet Cleaner
The grip that keeps giving
Buildup and burnt crumbs don’t have a chance when Herda makes its way to the sink. One of the biggest problems with the steel dish rag design of skillet cleaners is the difficulty of use. While these products rarely need soap unless you have extreme patience, applying too much pressure on these links for stubborn stains can easily scrape off the seasoning. The cast iron skillet cleaner by Herda has a silicone core that’s resistant to bacteria and allows you to scrub with confidence and less exertion. Each link has eight contact points, cleans effortlessly in the dishwasher, and allows you to clean hotter pans before gunk and grease have a chance to solidify.
Pros:
- Available in five colors
- Free bamboo washcloth included
- Easy to grip comfortably
Cons:
- The silicone insert cannot be removed
Eing Cast Iron Cleaner
Scrubbing made simple
If you’re working in a high-volume kitchen that has burners blasting all day long, you might need some reinforcements. Eing’s cast iron cleaner is an affordable option for commercial cooks looking for a compact cleaner. While brushes or washcloths may feel more familiar, having a rust-resistant tool that is this easy to sanitize is a game-changer. All in all, Eing’s cleaner will revolutionize how you clean every non-coated pan, pot, or bowl in your pantry.
Pros:
- Incredible quality for the price
- Flexible enough to safely clean glass
Cons:
- It may be too small for some adult hands
Full Circle Tenacious C Cast Iron Brush
A skillful skillet scraper
Getting leverage while cleaning a cast iron skillet just got a whole lot easier thanks to the Tenacious C cast iron brush. Most cleaning solutions for skillets are made of stainless steel because of the metal’s impressive durability. Full Circle has taken a different route, preferring nylon’s softer touch for all your waste washing needs. While these bristles can be a chore to clean after particularly messy meals, the sturdy bamboo handle and secondary scraper more than make up for this by cutting down on exertion and overall cleaning time. We’re confident that this brush will restore cast iron cookers to their former glory when burnt cheese or scorched eggs try to taint your perfect pan.
Pros:
- Replaceable brush head and handle
- Plastics and nylon are free of harmful chemicals
Cons:
- The bristles will melt if the surface is too hot
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any foods that should not be cooked in a cast iron pan?
Cast iron cookware is a popular option for countless personal-sized meals, delectable desserts, and steaks of every stripe. In short, if you don’t want your recipes leaving an imprint on future flavorings, don’t use a cast iron skillet. As far as specific cuisines, we’d recommend avoiding fish outright because of the delicate nature of the skin. Furthermore, before the pan has been thoroughly seasoned, you should avoid foods that are prone to sticking and burning, such as eggs, at all costs. This will ensure a smooth surface that cooks evenly once it is fully coated.
What are the most popular cast iron pan recipes?
While the recipe list for cast iron pans is virtually limitless, some dishes are ideal for cast iron. Any meat that would traditionally benefit from being thoroughly cooked or grilled will find a second home in cast iron pans. Aside from cooking meat, cast iron’s heat tolerance and even heat distribution make it an ideal metal for cooking the perfect personal pan pizza.