Iron metal is continuously smelted in an electric arc furnace having three electrodes energized with three-phase current. Solid material rich in iron metal is continuously fed into a zone of the furnace hearth proximate two electrodes generating long and strongly radiating arcs and molten metal is continuously discharged in a zone of the hearth proximate the third electrode generating a short arc of limited radiation. This method is useful for continuously processing scrap-iron or pre-reduced solid material in the continuous production of steel.