Clean a Grill Pan

With grill pans, you can get the fun grill marks without the mess of firing up a big outdoor grill. Grill pans can get a little messy, though, so you do need to figure out how you're going to clean them. They come in two main varieties, cast iron and nonstick, which need to be cleaned in different ways. Also, take steps to prolong the life of your grill pan by doing things like avoiding the dishwasher and not using steel wool to clean it.

Steps

Washing a Cast Iron Grill Pan

1. Pour off any excess grease. While the grease is still warm, pour it off into another container or the trash. Don't pour grease down the drain, as it can lead to clogs. Getting rid of the grease first will make it easier to clean. You can even wipe down the pan with a paper towel, being careful not to burn your fingers.
2. Make a paste of hot water and salt. To clean off the gunk, add a bit of hot water to a small handful of salt in the pan. Kosher salt works well because of the big flakes. Spread it out across the pan using a scrubber brush.
   • You can use soap on some grill pans, but doing so may strip off some the seasoning you've created on your pan.
3. Scrub the pan down. Using a nylon brush, rub the salt mixture into the pan. The salt mixture should take off any big clumps of grease or food debris. You may need to apply more salt if your pan is especially dirty or rinse out the salt and start again.
4. Rinse and dry. Rinse the salt out of the pan using hot water. Use your scrubbing brush to make sure it's rinsed out well. Pat the pan dry, or set it back on the stove on a low heat to air dry. It should be thoroughly dry to prevent rusting.
5. Reestablish the seasoning. Seasoning is the layer of oil you build up on a cast iron pan that acts as a nonstick coating. Once it's dry, rub a bit of cooking oil into the pan to reestablish the seasoning. Remove any excess oil.

Cleaning a Nonstick Grill Pan

1. Pour off the grease. Like cast iron, your nonstick grill will be easier to clean if you pour off the grease first. Throw it in the trash or another container (to throw away later). Grease shouldn't go down the drain because it can cause clogs.
2. Scrub the grill pan with a nylon scrubber. Use warm water with dishwashing soap to clean your grill pan. Make sure to only use plastic or nylon brushes and scrubbers. You can also use a dishrag. Scrub it down, and then rinse it clean. Because the surface is nonstick, you should be able to clean it fairly easily this way most of the time.
   • Some people suggest letting it cool first before using water, as the heat difference may damage the surface.
3. Soak it to loosen stuck-on bits. If you're having a hard time getting your grill pan clean, try submerging the cooking surface in warm water with dishwashing soap. Leave it to sit for at least 30 minutes, though overnight may be more effective. Use a nylon scrubber to clean the grill pan once it's been soaked.
4. Boil vinegar for oil residue. If your nonstick pan has a residue on it, vinegar may be able to help. Pour boiling water with a 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) of vinegar on top of the grill pan. If possible, let it sit with the vinegar on it. The oil should slide off the pan, and then you can clean it normally.

Prolonging the Life of Your Pan

1. Skip the dishwasher. Both cast iron and nonstick skillets are not dishwasher friendly. A cast iron pan may rust in the dishwasher, as it can be stripped of its protective seasoning. While some nonstick skillets can go in the dishwasher, it will wear down the nonstick coating more quickly.
2. Avoid metal utensils on nonstick pans. Metal utensils can scratch the surface of a nonstick pan. Instead of metal, use plastic, wood, or silicone with your grill pans to help the coating last longer. However, metal is fine to use on cast iron.
3. Don't use steel scrubbers. When washing your grill pan, you may be tempted to reach for steel wool to clean the pan more thoroughly. However, like metal utensils, steel wool can damage the coating on your grill pan, both cast iron and nonstick varieties. Stick to nylon scrubbers.
4. Avoid acidic foods on cast iron in the beginning. It takes a little time to build up a true seasoning on your cast iron skillets. While you're still building it, don't cook acidic foods like tomatoes or beans in your cast iron skillet. Once you have a good, non-stick surface on your surface, acidic foods are fine.
5. Don't use high heat with nonstick pans. While cast iron grill pans can take high heat, most nonstick grill pans aren't meant to go to high temperatures. If you want to cook something on a high temperature, stick to an outside grill or a cast iron grill pan.
6. Finished.

Sources and Citations

See also

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