Aside from the menacing mandolin slicer, almost no other kitchen tool comes with as many rules and regulations as cast iron pan. There are seasoning rules, usage rules, and the biggest of them all – the No Soap rule.
But the rules are meant to be broken, and we don’t just break the ground rules when it comes to washing cast iron pans, with the help of two seasoned cast iron experts we actually go ahead and throw that rule correctly. outside the window.
Daniel Gritzer , in my opinion, is the most erudite man to learn on the subject of cast iron care, and I have done so. Gritzer’s in-depth work on this topic because the Serious eatingwhere he was the culinary director, changed the way I think and write about cast iron care.
According to Gritzer, the best way to clean a cast iron pan after cooking in it is to wash it by hand with soapy water and a scrubbing sponge.
Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap ($7.67; amazon.com)
Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Sponge ($5.48; amazon.com)
Gritzer explains the science behind his advice to never use soap on a cast iron pan so as not to mess up the pan’s seasoning, if that sounds like a radical departure from the notion. old. “The seasoning is Not he said. “It’s a coating of lipids that has been polymerized (eccentrically when transformed into a plastic-like coating). It is not greasy, has no burning smell, is not thickened by burnt food debris. Good seasoning is smooth, clean, non-sticky and dry to the touch. ”
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In his Article on cleaning cast ironGritzer noted that, “When those classes [of seasoning] As it accumulates, the pan becomes increasingly protected against rust (in its unpainted state it quickly works just by sitting outside) while developing the non-stick properties that make cast iron so useful. ”
Buried in there is a word that will replace “soap” in your vocabulary Things to avoid when cleaning cast iron, and that word is “rust” (but don’t worry if your pan is rusty, we help is available for below). While soap won’t hurt your cast iron pan, water will cause the metal to rust, and that’s something you shouldn’t use on cast iron pans. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use water at all, but it also means you shouldn’t do the following things after washing a cast iron pan:
Put pans in the dishwasher Pans in water Let the pans dry after washing
As a final point, dry your cast iron pan immediately after washing, with a dark dish cloth (dry the cast iron pan once with a white dish towel and you will quickly see why the pan is darkening). is the better choice for the job!) or by placing it over a low flame to dry. If you choose to heat-dry, go ahead and brush the pan with a small amount of oil, which will coat another thin layer of the seasoning that protects your pan.
DII Cotton Terry Dish Towels, Pack of 6 ($10.14; amazon.com)
For a second opinion, I turned to Adam Feltman, a collaborative brand director for Lodge Cast Iron, who echoed Gritzer’s advice to use soap and water to wash cast iron pans. (If you are looking for a new cast iron skillet, Lodge is our pick for the best overall cast iron skillet.)
“Wash your cast iron cookware by hand and feel free to use a little soap if you like,” says Feltman. “For sticky foods, our pan scraper and scrub brush are a big help.”
Lodge Polycarbonate Pan Scraper, Pack of 4 ($9.90); amazon.com)
Lodge Care Exfoliating Brush ($9.49; amazon.com)
He also emphasizes the importance of drying cast iron thoroughly after washing, saying, “Quickly dry the pan by hand with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.”
If you still feel that avoiding soap on cast iron is the right choice for you, then fine – the scrubbing brush and scraper that Feltman recommends can be used to clean cast iron pans without soap. These medieval-looking chain letter washers are also an option for those who choose soap-free or for those who like to add a touch of Renaissance Faire flair to their dishes. .
“I’ve used chain mail filters and they work well for burning debris, but I don’t think they’re really necessary,” says Gritzer. “Rubbing salt well over the heat can also remove that crumb.”
Hulless Chain Mail Scrubber ($9.99; amazon.com)
Feltman also likes the string mail filter. “They can be very helpful in removing trapped food. The Lodge has one of our very own, perfect for the heavy lifting,” he says.
Lodge Scrubbing Pad ($19.9, original $24.99; amazon.com)
Cast iron experts like Gritzer say that the best way to care for cast iron pans, as well as with baked goodssimply use it.
When it comes to seasoning cast iron pans, there are a lot of confusing rules for how to wash. Gritzer, who also wrote extensively about how to process cast iron, prefer vegetable oil, canola or corn oil for work. Using the pan regularly will also enhance its seasoning, especially because, as he points out, “every time you cook in a pan with some kind of fat, you’re going to have to add more seasoning.”
Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil, Pack of 2 ($12.23; amazon.com)
If you’re new to cast iron seasoning, Feltman recommends the Lodge’s Spice Care Kit, which he says “contains everything you need to get the job done.”
Lodge seasoned cast iron care set ($19.90; amazon.com)
How to restore and remove rust on cast iron pans
Now that we’ve established that water, not soap, is cast iron’s real enemy, what can be done if a part of cast iron cookware gets rusty? First, don’t panic.
“Gang can be defeated, so don’t shy away from it. Yes, there is some chance you could damage the seasoning, but that can be fixed. The pan itself will last a lot of misuse, so go ahead and use it – no need to treat it like crockery,” says Gritzer.
Feltman agrees, “Cleaning and caring for cast iron is extremely easy. Can’t ruin your pan.” This holds true even when the dreaded rust shows up: “We have rust removers that can get it working again in case water gets into it,” says Feltman.
Lodge Rust Eraser ($24.99; amazon.com)
Lodge offers a simple three-step process for restoring a rusty cast iron skillet:
Wash: Scrub rusty pans with warm soapy water and steel wool. Wash and dry hands completely.Oil: Brush a thin, even layer of cooking oil onto the cookware.Grill: Place oven cookware upside down on the top rack. Bake at 450 to 500 degrees F for one hour.
Scotch-Brite stainless steel scrubber, 3 packs ($1.76; amazon.com)
