Maintaining Cast Iron Without Soap
Soap breaks down the polymerized oil layer you have worked to build. By relying on heat and mechanical friction, you keep the cooking surface slick and protected against rust.
Heat is your best cleaning agent.
Clean the pan as soon as it stops being too hot to handle, but while it is still warm to the touch. This makes loosening stuck bits much faster.
- stiff-bristled brush or chainmail scrubber
- lint-free cloth or paper towels
- neutral oil (grapeseed or canola)
- stove burner
What goes in.
- 1 tbspcoarse kosher salt (for stubborn grit)
- 1 tspneutral cooking oil
Evaporating the invisible moisture
Never air-dry cast iron. Placing it over a low flame for two minutes ensures water trapped in the pores of the iron is gone, preventing oxidation.
The method.
Scrub the surface
Under a stream of hot running water, use your brush or chainmail to scrub the cooking surface. If there is stuck-on food, pour a tablespoon of kosher salt into the pan and use a folded paper towel to scour the spot.
Rinse and wipe
Rinse away the salt and debris with hot water. Immediately wipe the pan dry with a towel.
Apply the thermal dry
Place the pan on a burner set to low. Leave it there for about two minutes. You will see the surface turn from a dull gray-black to a deep, uniform matte color as the water vanishes.
Oil the surface
Remove the pan from the heat. Add a tiny drop of oil and use a paper towel to buff it into every inch of the interior. Wipe away all excess oil until the pan looks clean and not greasy.
When it doesn't go to plan.
If you see a light dusting of rust, use a stainless steel scouring pad to remove it, then repeat the seasoning process.
Never soak cast iron in a sink; it will rust within minutes.
The pan should look dry and matte, not shiny or wet, when you put it away.
The ones that keep coming up.
What do I do if I accidentally used soap?
Do not panic. If you used a small amount of mild soap once, it will not strip your seasoning. Just rinse it thoroughly, dry it over heat, and re-oil as usual.
How do I know if the pan is clean enough?
Run a clean white paper towel over the interior. If it comes back clean, you are finished. If it shows black residue, give it another quick scrub.
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