How To Clean A Frying Pan Like A Pro

Why it’s important to clean your frying pans regularly

So, what's the big deal? Why is it that keeping your fry pan and other cookware clean is such a big part of kitchen hygiene? Sure, you don’t need to stay compliant with a code of conduct like a professional restaurant, but it’s vital that you still keep cookware cleaning top of mind. Whether a cast iron pan, frying pan with a lid or the best non-stick frying pan in NZ, you must prioritise kitchen hygiene. Reasons you need to regularly clean include:

• Preventing nasty bacteria can build up that can make you sick
• Avoiding ruining the non-stick coating on your fry pan
• A dirty frying pan can make your cooking taste worse

Another pitfall to ignoring fry pan cleaning is that the longer you leave food caked on a pan, the harder it is to clean. Compare this process to how easy it is to simply clean your cookware regularly, and we know which we’d choose. 

How often you should clean your frying pans

Sure, sometimes you may want to reuse oil if there isn’t a long time between cooking in your frying pan or sauté pan. In saying that, it’s often seen as best practice to clean your fry pan each time after use. As well as this, it can be a good idea to clean your fry pan and remove dust if it’s been in storage and out of action for a long time. Regarding general cookware cleaning, some people find a cleaning schedule helpful, so they don’t forget anything or fall behind. 

Top tip: A kitchen cookware cleaning schedule can also be beneficial if you’re in a shared living situation. 

Helpful supplies for cleaning fry pans

At Briscoes, we make it easy to clean your favourite cookware and fry pans. Our kitchen cleaning products are all top of the line and will help you make small work of big jobs. Helpful cleaning supplies available at Briscoes include:

• Cleaning sponges
• Microfibre cleaning pads
• Sponge scourers
• Scrubbers
• Dish brush

You can view our selection of cleaning supplies online or in-store at your local Briscoes. If you’re choosing to buy a frying pan or other cleaning supplies online, you can rest assured that we prioritise fast and seamless delivery. 

How to clean forged aluminium, ceramic, induction and stainless steel frying pans

It’s time to get cleaning. Thankfully, most pans that aren’t cast iron, whether that be a stainless steel frying pan or induction frying pan, can be cleaned with this easy method. It’s important to note that before you clean any cookware or frying pan, you need to allow it to cool. Allowing it to chill down will prevent any warping in the cleaning process, which you don’t want. Once you’ve done that, get started with our handy step-by-step cleaning guide. 

Step 1: Rinse the pan

It doesn’t matter whether you’re cleaning cheap cookware or the best frying pan in the world. You’ll want to start by giving it a rinse. Using warm water, try rinse and remove any large bits of food or muck. This will make the following steps a lot easier.  If you’re in the middle of cooking up a feast, you may even want to give your pans a rinse and leave them aside to come back to clean properly later. Making time for this quick step while the pan and food is still hot can save you a lot of elbow grease later on. 

Step 2: Apply your cleaning solution

If you’re choosing to use a cleaning product, now is when you’ll want to apply it. If you want a home remedy, it can be a good idea to use vinegar and water. You’ll want to apply your cleaning solution generously. 

Step 3: Get scrubbing

Using a sponge scourer or cleaning pad, put in some elbow grease and get scrubbing. It’s not recommended to use steel wool if you can avoid it. Steep wool can sometimes scratch the surface of even the best frying pan or deep frying pan. 

Step 4: Give it a rinse

Using hot water this time, rinse off any loose muck and cleaning residue. Take the time to remove any visible bubbles or grime. 

Step 5: Dry

Finally, give your stainless steel frying pan or cookware a good dry. To do this, you can either use a good tea towel or leave it to drip dry. Another option to dry your fry pan is to fry with it for a short period of time. This can help to evaporate any leftover moisture. Whichever method you choose, don’t forget to dry the bottom of your frying pan as well. And, there you have it! Nice and clean. 

How to clean cast iron frying pans

Cast iron pans require a different approach to cleaning. This other cleaning method is so that you don’t ruin your fry pan’s seasoning. As when cleaning any other kind of cookware, you’ll want to allow your cast iron fry pan to cool down before starting to clean. In the instance of cast iron, cleaning while the cookware is still hot may cause the seasoning to crack.

Step 1: Rinse the cast iron fry pan

First up on the list is to rinse your cast iron fry pan. Cast iron pans are often seen as one of the best non-stick frying pans in NZ, but sometimes food or sauce can still be left behind after cooking. With cast iron cookware, it’s worth noting that you never want to submerge it in water fully. 

Step 2: Get scrubbing

Next, using a sponge or cleaning pad, get to scrubbing. You may choose to use a specialist cast iron cleaning paste or even coarse salt, but you should never use general dish soap or cleaning solution with cast iron. Often, most home cooks choose only to use hot water. Sure, cast iron is tough, but you want to avoid using steel wool for regular cleaning, as this can ruin the pan’s season. If you’re about to reseason your pan after cleaning anyway, what you clean with isn’t so much of an issue. 

Step 3: Dry the pan

Lastly, dry your cast iron fry pan with a tea towel or leave it to drip dry. Just like when cleaning other cookware, you may also choose to fry your cast iron pan for a short period of time to evaporate any remaining moisture. Now you’re all done!

Top tip: If you’re choosing to heat up your cast iron frying pan to remove any remaining moisture, it might be a good time to season your pan with another layer of oil at the same time. Read our guide on how to season a cast iron pan for directions. 

The range of frying pans at Briscoes

If you decide it’s time for a new fry pan after cleaning your cookware, look no further than Briscoes. If you’re looking for some of the best frying pans or best non-stick frying pans in NZ, we have an abundance online or at your nearest Briscoes store. We only supply leading cookware brands, including: 

• Tefal
• Brabantia
• Simon Gault
• Zip
• Hampton & Mason
• Stanley Rogers
• Kitchenaid
• Raco
• Flonal
• Jamie Oliver
• Scanpan
• Wiltshire

When you decide to purchase cookware online, you can shop in confidence with our Price Promise and fast delivery right to your door. 

Time to buy a new frying pan?

See, that wasn’t so bad. No matter the type of cookware you’re working with and how dirty it is, you can usually clean it. By following our handy step-by-step guides, you’ll help to prolong the life of your favourite fry pans. Plus, you’ll tick those vital food hygiene boxes. If you do think your frying pan is beyond repair, view the range we have available at Briscoes online. If you decide to buy cast iron, read our helpful guide on how to season a cast iron pan. This process is essential to get the best out of your cookware and to ensure it lasts the distance. If you need to stock up on cleaning supplies for the kitchen, view our wide selection of cleaning products, including brushes, sponges and more. We help you to maintain every room in your home, including where you cook.