Help with cast iron?

Question

Help! I have a cast iron griddle for stovetop use and I don't know how to clean it. Apparently it came already seasoned but it's a real bear to clean! Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Any time you use your cast iron griddle or pans, you should wash it in hot soapy water, then dry with paper towels. Then put it on a heated burner for a couple of minutes to make sure it's completely dry. Then, while the pan is still warm, coat it with vegetable oil and let it set for a few minutes. Then wipe out the excess oil with paper towels. It's a good idea to put a couple of dry paper towels on the surface before storing it to absorb any water that might get on it. One word of caution, never, never, never allow your hot cast iron cooking equipment to come into contact with a large amount of cold water. This could crack it.

ETA: I know some of the other posters said never to use soap. But as the best friend of a professional chef, the health department would shut down a restaurant if their pans were not cleaned with soap. Soap will not harm your griddle. In fact, if the food and oil residue is not washed out, and you don't use your griddle daily, the residu will go rancid in a couple of days. You don't want that junk in your food or in your body. For skillets and griddles used daily, soap is generally not required.

Answer 2

In cast iron keep your salt and other hard spice to minimum until there is adequate bottom coverage. Or else you may require re-seasoning. I use soap, with the same end result. I have to re-season but not every time. Definitely oil but only very lightly. Re-seasoning does not take that much effort when considered against the health issues. Heat on stove to dry, I thought was a given. I really like my cast iron. Try every suggestion until you find the best results for your particular usage.

Answer 3

We just go one too! Even though it came seasoned, we re-did it for our own peace of mind. We put about 4 tablespoons of oil in the pan and wiped out the entire insides of it with a paper towel. There was still a small layer of oil in the cast iron. Then, we put it upside-down in the over with a baking tray below it, and heated it up to 450F. It doesn't stick at all!

To clean it we just use water and steel wool - no soap because that could take the oil out of it. It a bit of elbow grease sometimes, but with the seasoning that we did nothing (and I mean nothing!) sticks to it at all!

Answer 4

I know all the stories about handling of cast iron....I have used(and enjoyed) cast iron for MANY years. I wash it in HOT soapy water dry it well and put a Little oil on a paper towel and wipe it on the inside of the pan. Yours might have come "seasoned", but sometimes you have to season it again. Good luck and enjoy....

Answer 5

Whatever you do, DO NOT EVER wash it with soap or put it in the dishwasher. I have an ancient cast iron skillet (it was my great grandmother's) and all I do is wash it in plain, hot water and scrub it with the scratchy side of the kitchen sponge. If food is stubborn and sticks, letting it soak in hot water is fine--that won't ruin the seasoning. Any kind of soap or cleanser, however, WILL. This skillet has to be at least 70 years old and it works like it's coated with teflon. :)

Answer 6

NO WATER EVER!
If you want to keep your pan seasoned and get the GREAT flavors of cooking in cast you never "clean" the pan.
After use you wipe out immediately with a dry paper towel or dry rag(It should be hot) scrape it out if need be.
Before you use it add a touch of oil heat it up hot and wipe it out with dry paper towels(Heat Sanitized).
Hope this helps!

Answer 7

While it's still REALLY hot wipe over it with a wet towel, be careful!!!), and rinse with water. Never use soap on cast iron. Before you put it away wipe it down with oil or shortening to keep it seasoned. :) Hope this helps.

Answer 8

solid iron and stainless-metal is the finest.i do no longer use non stick some thing.if you're speaking about club aluminum then its as sturdy as solid iron.if you're speaking about the skinny aluminum its a waste of money.club aluminum is as heavy as solid iron.both are straightforward care once its pro(solid iron)Sprinkle a tiny volume of salt after installation grease and earlier foodstuff for non stick cooking of maximum some thing.

Answer 9

salt small amount of oil and paper towels
no water it will cause it to rust
and we know from Neil rust never sleeps
and when you put it away place a clean paper towel on the inside of the pan and a small amount of oil on the pan