My once black cast iron skillet is now dark silver on the inside. Have I ruined it?

the bottom of my pan is now a dark silver instead of black. the inside sides of the pan is still black. I used brillo pads to clean it and now I fear I have ruin this pan as well as another that have been passed down from generations to me. Can they be repaired?

cast-iron

Best Answer

It sounds like you may have scrubbed the seasoning off your pan. It is not ruined, but will need to be re-seasoned. As you can see on the right (if accessing the site on a computer), where it says "related", there are a number of links to questions and answers about cast iron seasoning. If you are accessing the site on another device, you can search for "cast iron care", or "cast iron re-seasoning" using the search bar.

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Quick Answer about "My once black cast iron skillet is now dark silver on the inside. Have I ruined it?"

It is not ruined, but will need to be re-seasoned. As you can see on the right (if accessing the site on a computer), where it says "related", there are a number of links to questions and answers about cast iron seasoning.

Why did my cast iron turned silver?

2. Re-Season the Pan. Now that you have successfully removed the rust, if the raw cast iron is showing (you'll see a dull silver color) you must re-season your pan. Seasoning is a curing process through which the pores of the iron are sealed with oil, which is why cast iron functions a bit like a non-stick pan.

How do you know if your cast iron skillet is ruined?

If a crack appears in your cast iron pan, it's time to ditch it. Even a hairline crack will expand and contract when heated and cooled, and ultimately the pan will split\u2014a potentially dangerous situation if it happens during cooking! Plus, cracks are difficult to clean and may harbor bacteria and rust.

How do you restore a silver cast iron pan?

Cast-iron pans should be treated with care since there is a chance that you could damage them permanently if you don't take the right precautions.

Why is My Cast Iron Sticky? And How to Fix It!

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

Images: Caleb Oquendo, Sebastiaan Stam, Rui Chaves, Monstera