Help me save my cast iron skillet

[PolymerSkywalker]

I've been thinking about getting a cast iron skillet. My parents have had one as long as I've been alive, it seems. I know they can't go in the dishwasher, so I guess I'd have to clean it with a brush and soap. Then you put oil in it and put it back in the oven. But, make sure you take it out whenever you go to preheat the oven the

Skip the soap imho. Soap is tricky for cast iron, it will cause more issues than good it will do.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Skip the soap imho. Soap is tricky for cast iron, it will cause more issues than good it will do.

So how do you clean it?

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

So how do you clean it?

Wipe it out. You should rarely ever need much more than that once it is seasoned properly.

I gave the example above, but I have iron skillets that have only been wiped clean for 20+ years. Soap and water is the enemy of iron skillets. If you want to use soap and water you should buy modern cookware and give your cast iron stuff to someone else.

If you want to save your iron skillet or clean some bad stains, you need to use an abrasive. Brillo, steel wool, salt, stainless steel scrubber, or sand paper. Then reseason well. A properly seasoned cast iron skillet will only need to be wiped clean 95% of the time.

 

[dizneegirl]

You can use soap on cast iron, but you generally don't need to, or want to, wash it every time you use it.

It's common to scrub with some kosher salt if you have something that needs it, but generally, once the pan is seasoned, it'll wipe up easily between uses. If you need to rinse, it has to be dried thoroughly so it doesn't rust.

I've got a single burner griddle I don't think has ever been washed since I started using it.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Wipe it out. You should rarely ever need much more than that once it is seasoned properly.

I gave the example above, but I have iron skillets that have only been wiped clean for 20+ years. Soap and water is the enemy of iron skillets. If you want to use soap and water you should buy modern cookware and give your cast iron stuff to someone else.

Just wiping something out won't clean it. You have to have soap, like Palmolive, to clean it. There's not ever a time when we cook something that we don't run it through the dishwasher or antibacterial soap with brush and water.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Just wiping something out won't clean it. You have to have soap, like Palmolive, to clean it. There's not ever a time when we cook something that we don't run it through the dishwasher or antibacterial soap with brush and water.

Then you don’t need cast iron, because your cleaning method will be disastrous for cast iron cookware. Buy modern cookware instead.

 

[sam_gordon]

Again, I will never follow your “rules” on how to use a free message board.

Well, to me, reading a thread so one sees updates and knows what's been discussed isn't a "rule", just good practice. But, hey, you do you "Hoss".

 

[Genie+]

So how do you clean it?

Hot water when things get stuck on.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Hot water when things get stuck on.

So you don't actually clean it? I think I'll just stick with modern where I can use actual soap and not just wipe it out and leave all the food germs in it.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Then you don’t need cast iron, because your cleaning method will be disastrous for cast iron cookware. Buy modern cookware instead.

We have modern. We just bought some fancy set around Christmas for like $250. So hopefully that lasts a while

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

You can use soap on cast iron, but you generally don't need to, or want to, wash it every time you use it.

It's common to scrub with some kosher salt if you have something that needs it, but generally, once the pan is seasoned, it'll wipe up easily between uses. If you need to rinse, it has to be dried thoroughly so it doesn't rust.

I've got a single burner griddle I don't think has ever been washed since I started using it.

Perfectly said

 

[Psymonds]

So how do you clean it?

I just use hot water and a scrubby sponge and then I dry it out, throw it on the stove with some oil and then put it away. I will use brillo if one of the kids gets something burnt it in, then re-season

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

We have modern. We just bought some fancy set around Christmas for like $250. So hopefully that lasts a while

If you want to wash with soap and hot water after every use, that modern cookware is a good purchase. You should be good to go.

 

[focusondisney]

Just wiping something out won't clean it. You have to have soap, like Palmolive, to clean it. There's not ever a time when we cook something that we don't run it through the dishwasher or antibacterial soap with brush and water.

With your germaphobe issues, cast iron isn’t for you. It should rarely be washed with soap. And never be put in the dishwasher. The heat when cooking kills any bacteria.


Edit.. if you want the performance of cast iron but a different cleaning method, there are ceramic coated cast iron brands like Le Crueset. It has the heat retaining capacity of cast iron, but you can clean it with soap after every use.

 

[Psymonds]

So you don't actually clean it? I think I'll just stick with modern where I can use actual soap and not just wipe it out and leave all the food germs in it.

Hot water (above 170) will sanitize, and if you scrub out all the bits and food with a sponge, then what's left is pretty sanitized. I also throw it back on the stove for a sec with some oil for seasoning, and heating it for even a minute above 200 will kill almost anything.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When we're camping and the dutch oven gets disgustingly dirty, we either turn it upside down over the fire, or put live coals in it and burn out the residue, then lightly oil it using a paper towel.

At home if the cast iron gets too yucky I put it in the self-clean oven, then wipe out any ash with a paper towel and re-season it with oil.

Or we cheat and use a disposable aluminum foil insert.