How to Clean and Care for Your Roasting Pan

Keeping your cookware clean is important, and not just for aesthetic reasons. While this is true of all types of Cookware, Carbon Steel in particular performs best when it’s in good condition. By regularly and thoroughly cleaning your Carbon Steel Cookware, you can keep it free of rust, sticky patches of oil, and discoloration to ensure it is  performing its best.

Our Roasting Pan in particular is often subject to high temperatures and a variety of different ingredients from meat to vegetables. For this reason, it may need more than just a cursory wipe down after each use. To make sure nothing builds up on its surface, learn how to keep your Roasting Pan clean by following the instructions below.

How to Clean a Carbon Steel Roasting Pan

Depending on what type of mess you’re cleaning out of your Roasting Pan, there are different methods. While some can be wiped away, others require a thorough cleaning with boiling water. No matter which method you use, make sure your pan is fully dry before you put it away.

Level One: Wipe it Out

Carbon Steel develops a natural non stick surface the longer you use it. Because of this patina, you don’t clean your Roasting Pan with soap and water in the same way you might if it were stainless steel or aluminum, as it will damage the seasoning. Instead, start by wiping out the inside of your pan with a paper or kitchen towel. This should remove most of the oil as well as any loose bits of residual food.

Level Two: Salt and Oil Scrub

If there’s a bigger mess in your pan, you can scour it with salt and oil. Combine two tablespoons of coarse salt with two tablespoons of a neutral oil to create a thick paste. Using a paper towel, scrub this mixture around the surface of the pan, paying special attention to corners where food may have stuck. Once you’ve thoroughly scoured your pan, dump out the scrub, and wipe it clean with another paper or kitchen towel.

Level Three: Use Boiling Water

For messes that just won’t budge, it’s time to introduce water to the equation. Place your pan on the stove and pour in enough water to cover the bottom. Bring the water to a boil and using a Wooden Spoon or silicone spatula, gently scrape up the burnt bits. Pour out the water and return your pan to the stove over medium heat to allow it to dry. All of that scrubbing may have affected the layer of seasoning, so apply a thin coat of oil (we like grapeseed) to the pan and let it heat for one minute.

Last Resort: Steel Wool

When even the boiling method fails, you can scrub your pan with steel wool. This will strip the seasoning from your pan, so only use it on the most dire of spots when all else fails. After using steel wool, make sure to coat your pan with oil and reseason it.

How to Maintain Your Roasting Pan

Carbon Steel requires some specialized care, but once you learn what to do, it’s not difficult to maintain. In addition to keeping your roasting pan clean, here are some more tips on how to keep it in the best shape possible.

Manage Rust Spots

If you notice your pan developing rust spots, don’t be alarmed, these can be easily cleaned. To prevent rust, make sure you thoroughly dry your pan after each use. However, if you live in a more humid climate, this is just something you’ll have to contend with from time to time. Follow along with this helpful video to see how to remove rust.

Store it in a Dry Space

Even if you cook with your pan frequently, we do not recommend storing it on the stove as it can easily get splattered with oil or other ingredients. When you’re not using your pan, it should be stored in a dry place to prevent rust formation, such as in a kitchen cabinet.

Cook With it Properly

To ensure your pan stays in good condition, make sure you’re cooking with it properly. Acidic ingredients such as citrus, tomato, vinegar, or alcohol will strip the seasoning from Carbon Steel. If you’re deglazing your Roasting Pan, make sure you do so with stock and if you want to add an acidic component to your roasted vegetables, do so after roasting.

Now that you know how to care for your Roasting Pan, you can cook with confidence, knowing that even if your pan develops rust or you accidentally strip the seasoning, you have the tools to fix it.