Residual　plastic　deformation　induced　in　low-carbon　steels　usually　demonstrates　anisotropy.　Eddy　current　method　is　applicable　for　the　residual　plastic　deformation　evaluation.　However,　it　is　difficult　to　efficiently　evaluate　both　the　principal　strain　direction　and　magnitude　of　residual　plastic　deformation　with　the　conventional　eddy　current　method.　To　solve　these　limitations,　a　novel　method　of　oscillatory　rotating　eddy　current　(OREC)　was　developed　and　successfully　applied　in　characterizing　the　anisotropy　of　residual　plastic　deformation　in　low-carbon　steels.　The　parameters　of　eddy　current　response　obtained　under　different　frequencies　were　extracted　to　characterize　the　plastic　deformation　and　then　the　characterization　performances　of　extracted　parameters　were　compared.　The　compound　voltage　signal　and　real　part　of　the　impedance　could　better　characterize　the　residual　plastic　deformation　than　the　imaginary　part　of　the　impedance.　It　was　found　that　the　angle　of　the　major　axis　of　the　selected　8-shaped　patterns　measured　with　OREC　was　a　good　indicator　of　the　principal　strain　direction.　As　the　residual　plastic　deformation　was　increased,　the　length　of　the　major　axis　of　the　8-shaped　patterns　monotonously　increased　despite　its　sensitivity　to　the　plastic　deformation　was　frequency-dependent.