The Truth About Cast Iron Pans: 7 Myths That Need To Go Away

[mrjarrell]

I found this article rather interesting and a different look at what I've been told over the years. Unlike many people I actually have washed my seasoned pans in soap and water and had nothing at all happen to them. Still well seasoned and cooking like champs. Myths are made for busting, I guess.

The Truth About Cast Iron Pans: 7 Myths That Need To Go Away | Serious Eats

 

[cook5oh]

There is a great video on netflix about cooking with cast iron. It's from the show Good Eats with Alton Brown.

 

[451_Detonics]

My cast iron pans do get washed gently with soap and water and keep their seasoning just fine. My oldest pan belonged to my great grandmother and I know that is pure lard seasoning in the bottom...lol. My Grandmother would make me cheeseburgers fried in lard with that bad boy. Currently I have 4 in various sizes the largest being a #13.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I can't say that I completely disagree with the article, but there are bits and pieces where it's clear the author doesn't fully understand cast-iron and/or the science behind it...

 

[hooky]

I avoid soap and I'll continue to do so. I honestly don't see the need for it anyway.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I avoid soap and I'll continue to do so. I honestly don't see the need for it anyway.

Yeah, we've been meaning to talk to you about that...

 

[chezuki]

Yeah, we've been meaning to talk to you about that...

Pink eye sucks.

 

[hooky]

If it keeps me from catching pink eye, soap avoidance is where it's at.

 

[dusty88]

Why would you use soap and water in cast iron? High cooking temps will destroy microorganisms more reliably than any soap will.

Soap is used on pans to break down and loosen debris; with cast iron it easily wipes off anyway.

 

[Brian Ski]

Couple stories I ran across about cast iron. One guy said his Mother in law shows up when he was not around. She said she cleaned them filthy pans... Had to scrub them really good with steel wool to get em clean... Don't know why he let them get that bad.

My buddy said he had a nice big antique fry pan that he loved. Wife was using it on the stove and got busy with the tv. She said when she came back it was really HOT. She tossed it out in the snow.

 

[hooky]

Couple stories I ran across about cast iron. One guy said his Mother in law shows up when he was not around. She said she cleaned them filthy pans... Had to scrub them really good with steel wool to get em clean... Don't know why he let them get that bad.

My buddy said he had a nice big antique fry pan that he loved. Wife was using it on the stove and got busy with the tv. She said when she came back it was really HOT. She tossed it out in the snow.

My wife soaked one in the sink overnight. I still love her, but even after all the water that's gone under the bridge (or down the drain), it's occasionally a point of contention at home.


There's another cast iron thread on here where people have said they've cracked their garage sale cast iron after throwing it into the fire to clean it. Thermal shock is a biatch.

 

[Mrs Evilwrench]

I love my cast iron! My mom has a couple that are older than I am that look like they always have! We had a gas oven and mom would always put the cast iron pans in the oven to dry completely with the pilot light. Even though I have an electric stove now (that I totally despise!) I will heat the oven to 300 or so and then put the cast iron pans in to really dry. I will wipe them down with some oil sometimes just to keep them seasoned.