How to Season and Clean Cast Iron

In order to have a well-maintained cast iron arsenal, the cast iron has to be taken care of. This is no small task. I mean, do you wash it with soap or no soap? What’s the best way to season it? Everyone, even your Aunt Matilda, has their opinion. It’s time to breathe deep… we have your back. When you purchase your new cast iron cookware, it’s perfectly ok to use a mild soapy water mixture to complete the first wash. However, that is it. Just once. You want to avoid any harsh soap and those nasty scouring pads after this first washing as they will remove the seasoning you have been working so hard to create. And that also means that you stay clear of that dishwasher. “Seasoning” on a pan is the method of using fat or oil that gets baked into the iron. Yes, I said baked into the iron. When you do this, it helps to create a natural non-stick coating. The more you use it, the pan will become even more seasoned. While some pans are labeled “pre-seasoned”,  I still recommend that you season them in your home anyway. This will just help create a stronger seasoning. With a new piece of cast iron, I highly recommend that you start off with cooking foods that contain a high-fat content (like bacon) to help improve the seasoning and solidify the non-stick surface. Cast iron cookware is awesome for anything from creating a pan-seared steak to making crispy edge cornbread. Note: Don’t store any food in your cast iron cookware. The food contains acid that can break down the seasoning surface you worked so hard to achieve. Never let your cast iron soak. You can wash it, preferably while it’s still warm by using hot water and a sponge or if needed a stiff non-metal brush to remove any residual cooking residue. If you find that you have some tough stuck-on food, you can use a cup of kosher salt in the warm skillet and use a kitchen towel (that has been folded in half) to scrub the pan with the salt. When done just toss the salt out and rinse the pan with hot water. Not properly drying your cast iron will cause it to rust and that will destroy your seasoning. Moisture is your mortal enemy. So after you clean or just rinse, you will need to dry it extremely well and place it on the stove top over a low flame. This will allow it to dry for a few minutes. Then use a cloth or a paper towel and begin to rub it with a little shortening, lard or bacon grease. Allow to heat for 5 to 10 minutes more, then remove it from the heat and allow to cool. To finish, use another paper towel and wipe to remove any excess grease. Always keep your cast iron cookware in a very dry place with the lid off to avoid rusting. If you do see rust appearing, scour your pan with some steel wool to remove it and then you will need to re-season your pan. Kitchen Kneads is your one-stop shop for quality grains, flour, kitchen appliances, and other ingredients. Kitchen Kneads is your one stop shop for quality grains, flour, kitchen appliances and other ingredients. We are Utah’s premiere baking and cooking resource! Questions?
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