Cast iron pan flaking

Cast iron pan flaking - Tasty sausages in frying pan on table

My cast iron pan has started to give off tiny black flakes after 3 months of use. Are these dangerous in any way? Are we ingesting iron? There are patches on the skillet that are now a little lighter than their surrounding areas.

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Best Answer

That is just the seasoning - the nonstick carbon that is formed after years of use - coming off. If big pieces are dropping in your food or you are freaked out by it, simply give your pan a good scrubbing with some steel wool and soap then re-season it.

To season the pan:

  • Take a paper towel and soak a bit of oil into it
  • Coat the inside of the pan with oil
  • Put in a 250F over for about an hour
  • Repeat each day until it has a nice shiny non-stick coating once again

Remember not to wash the pan with soapy water if you want the pan to stay non-stick. If there are bits of food in it from frying or such. Scrub it out with hot water and some coarse kosher salt, just nothing like steel wool, non-stick safe scrubbers are OK.

Adam



Pictures about "Cast iron pan flaking"

Cast iron pan flaking - Cast Iron Skillet on Table With Species
Cast iron pan flaking - White Papers in Iron Pan
Cast iron pan flaking - From above of frying pan with uncooked egg yolk and white placed on table near scattered shells in kitchen


Quick Answer about "Cast iron pan flaking"

  • The most common reason for the side wall of cast iron to flake is oil running down onto the bottom of the skillet during the seasoning process.
  • To remove flaking from cast iron, rub regular old table salt all over the skillet with a lint-free cloth.


    • Is it safe to use a cast iron skillet that is flaking?

    Flaking. The Cause: Occasionally, the seasoning on your pan may break down and leave black specks, especially if the cookware is not well-seasoned, but it is not harmful in any way.

    What is the black stuff coming off my cast iron pan?

    They are most likely carbon deposits. This happens due to overheating of fats and oils. Using an oil with a low smoke point will carbonize at high temperatures and cause residue from the pores of your pan to rub off onto your food. While unappealing, they won't hurt you in such a small amount.

    How can you tell if cast iron is ruined?

    4 Signs It's Time to Let Go of an Old Cast Iron Pan
  • It's cracked.
  • It has a hole in it.
  • It's warped or wobbly.
  • It's covered in dust.



    • Cast Iron Seasoning Flaking | How to Fix Seasoning Flaking on Cast Iron



    More answers regarding cast iron pan flaking

    Answer 2

    Wash it as much as you want. The non stick isn't going to come out unless you let it rust. Wash it, heat it on high, put some oil in it, and put it away. Nuff said.

    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Milan, Engin Akyurt, Eva Elijas, Klaus Nielsen

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