I've heard that you're not supposed to wash a castiron pan... so how are you supposed to clean them then?

Question

I guess my mom and grandma must not have been traditional about such things, because I've seen them both wash castiron pans. I've read about "seasoning" from the pan being used, and that we're not supposed to wash it away. Also read that washing can result in rust.

I know that you're supposed to wipe them out with a paper towel, which works fine if you used plenty of oil and food didn't stick or burn. But what about when food gets stuck or burned on, or say someone left it sitting till the food traces dried? How are you supposed to clean that if not by washing?

Answer 1

Care and cleaning after seasoning
It is common wisdom that one should never use soap to clean seasoned cast iron cookware; this will immediately remove the oil, and 'unseason' the pan (or even, according to some cooks, leave soap residue that will poison the food). In fact, a very well-seasoned pan can tolerate dilute dish soap, and, for infrequently used pans, this may be preferable to leaving rancid grease on the cooking surface [1]. In general, however, regular washing with soap is not recommended.

There are several methods for cleaning seasoned bare cast iron cookware:

Scrub the inside with a tablespoon of a coarse salt, such as kosher salt and rub with a towel. Rinse with cold water.
Scrub the pan with boiling or near-boiling water and a stiff nylon or fiber brush.
Use veggie wash (milder than soap) and a stiff nylon or fiber brush.
Boil a solution of cornstarch or rice starch and water in the pan, tilting the pan to make sure the boiling liquid touches all the way up the sides. Then pour out the resulting grease-water-starch solution, and peel off what ever dries onto the sides of the pan. Rinse the pan in hot water.
In all cases, the cookware should be dried thoroughly after washing, and oiled lightly if not already very well seasoned.

For deep cleaning (before re-seasoning), some cast iron collectors also advocate soaking cast iron in a lye solution, or heating the pan in a self-cleaning oven or campfire. Both of these methods have inherent drawbacks, however. Lye can cause serious injury (inluding blindness) if handled improperly, and unevenly heating a cast iron pan may warp or crack the pan.

Care and Cleaning
Enamel coated cast iron can usually be washed like other cookware - with dish soap, or in the dishwasher. Because the enamel is prone to chipping, no hard surfaces (like a dishwasher prong) should be allowed to contact the enamel during the washing process. Some coated cast iron pots have spots of bare iron on their rims - these should be washed by hand and dried immediately. Many manufacturers recommend Bon Ami or Bar Keeper's Friend for handwashing enameled cast iron (however this kind of powdered cleanser should never be used on bare/seasoned cast iron).

Unlike bare cast iron, enamel coated cast iron typically can't be heated to a high heat, and therefore can't be used for seared or blackened dishes.

wikipedia.com

Answer 2

You really aren't supposed to wash cast iron but you can to get stuck food off if it's done fairly quickly with the hottest soapy water you can tolerate and dry with a towel, rub a little oil into the pan with a paper towel, and then put on the lowest heat on the stove for about 10-15 minutes to completely dry out and resist rust.

Answer 3

Carefully, and skillfully. It's true washing with water can cause rust because it is an iron pan. If you have food that a simple wipe down won't fix, you can wash it. Don't use soap, however, and make sure you dry it; don't let it air dry or it will rust. I've heard of people doing a very slight oil rub before putting them away, but I'm sure if you went into a better kitchen store, they'd be able to tell you all of your options.

Answer 4

It is perfectly acceptable, and actually necessary, to wash cast iron pans. Just remember to rinse them well and coat them with vegetable oil or olive oil to prevent rusting. And to add a little flavor to what you cook.

I'm with you -- my mother, grandmother, and wife do it, did it, and will continue to do it. Wash the cast iron, that is.

Answer 5

I wash my cast iron skillet with detergent, but not the outside or bottom, only the part I cook in then I rinse the entire skillet, if my oven is still hot I put it in and let the heat dry it, or I towel dry it, drying by heat is better.
never put it in the dishwasher.

Answer 6

if you dont wash it then the bacteria will grow and it will be gross. wash it first, then before you use it for the first time wipe the inside with cooking oil on a tissue. only wash it with a soft sponge. it should keep its shine and coating as long as you only use plastic or wooden utensils in it and never use a scourer.

Answer 7

sometimes i just wipe it out and sometimes i wash it
if you do wash it, put it back on the stove over heat to
throughly dry it

Answer 8

sounds dirty, don't use it