Removing stubborn oil residue from an iron tawa is essential for maintaining its surface and preventing sticking. An effective method involves using heat, salt, and lemon.
Simple Method for Cleaning Oily Iron Tawa
Here is a straightforward way to clean oil buildup from your iron tawa using common kitchen ingredients, based on a traditional cleaning hack:
- Prepare the Tawa: Place the iron tawa on your stovetop and begin to heat it on a low flame. This gentle heat helps loosen the oil.
- Add Salt: While the tawa is warming up, take salt and spread it generously over the surface of the warm tawa. Let the salt sit and heat through.
- Prepare the Scrubber: Once the salt feels warm, take a knife and pierce through a lemon, fixing it well onto the knife or a fork handle for easier handling.
- Scrub with Lemon: Use the lemon, held by the knife, to scrub the tawa, moving the lemon around over the warm salt. The abrasive nature of the salt combined with the acidity of the lemon helps lift and remove the oil and grime.
This process utilizes the heat to loosen residues, the salt as a natural abrasive, and the lemon's acidity to cut through grease, leaving your tawa cleaner.
Why This Method Works
Heating the tawa expands the metal slightly, helping to release stuck-on grime. Salt acts as a non-scratch abrasive, and lemon juice contains citric acid which can help dissolve grease and lift stains. Scrubbing with the lemon also helps distribute the salt effectively across the surface.
Post-Cleaning Care
After scrubbing, discard the salt and lemon. You may rinse the tawa under hot water, scrubbing gently with a brush if needed. It is crucial to dry the tawa immediately and thoroughly to prevent rust. After drying, it is highly recommended to apply a thin layer of cooking oil and heat the tawa slightly (a process known as seasoning) to protect the surface from moisture and maintain its non-stick properties.
