These sturdy skillets last forever, but they require a bit more care than stainless-steel or nonstick pans.
Chances are you may have acast-iron skilletyou inherited from your grandparents collecting dust and rust in your cupboard.
But these skillets may seem intimidating to the uninitiated.
Photo:Getty Images. EatingWell design.
After all, they are heavy, require seasoning and need a bit more care compared to other pans.
Is It Safe to Use Soap on Cast Iron?
One question a lot of cast-iron newcomers have is whether you could use soap to clean it.
To answer this question, I reached out to Kris Stubblefield, chef at Lodge Cast Iron.
However, you also need to be careful how much soap you use.
The lye in the soap can strip away the seasoning on your cast-iron cookware.
Simply wash the cookware with warm soapy water.
Heres a simple tutorial.
One thing you should always avoid is washing cast-iron cookware in the dishwasher.
The prolonged exposure to moisture and intense water pressure are too harsh for cast-iron cookware, Stubblefield explained.
Start by giving it a proper cleaning.
Rub the oil all over the skillet, inside and outside.
Stubblefield recommends heating the oven to 500F and keeping the pan in the oven for 1 hour.
Then turn off the heat and let the pan cool.
With regular use and care, your cookware shouldnt need to be re-seasoned.
Overall, cast iron is pretty easy to maintain and can be a useful addition to your cooking arsenal.
