Cleaning Cast Iron Cookware

Since cast iron needs an extreme high heat to melt the iron, brass was used in the first ‘cast iron’ pots and pans. Through the years people learned how to raise the heat and pour iron in molds that were made of sand. The first cast iron pots usually had three legs and feet because they would sit in the hearth of the kitchen. If one is lucky to have old cast iron pots and pans, say from grandma, hold on to them and use them. They are the best when it comes to cooking and will last a life time or beyond.

Many of the older cooks that know how cast iron cookware is will use nothing else. The newer cooks or beginners are sometimes afraid of it. If it does not have Teflon coating on it they discard it. Too bad, maintaining and cleaning cast iron cookware is so simple. If one is lucky enough to have the old cast iron handed down, it has already been cured. So there is no reason one cannot cook in the cast iron. Food doesn’t stick any more than any other pot or pan. There is an adjustment though; cooking with cast iron cookware is a bit different than with other cookware.
In the old days, people would use the cast iron for a week or so before cleaning it. They would throw it into the fire and let all the grease stick to the cast iron, this was a way to cure it as well as clean it. Today we do not have open fires to cook in so there are a few different ways to clean it. 

Cleaning cast iron cookware is easy. Never ever use soap and hot water to clean it. You cannot put in the dishwasher; all of these methods will rust the cast iron. Remember cast iron is pretty absorbent. There are as many different cleaning cast iron cookwares as there are cooks, almost. If frying foods let the pan cool and then pour off the grease, then you can wipe it clean or use coarse salt. This will work, but there are other ways cleaning cast iron cookware that many use.

If you use soap cleaning cast iron cookware, some say you will have to re-season the pot or pan. Others have used soap and water on it and never had a problem with re-seasoning it. Some will use paper towels to soak up any access grease. One can use a Teflon scrubber and warm water to clean. Then sit it on the high fire to dry it. Remember cast iron rusts so you must get all of the moisture out and off of it.  Using the high heat kills any bacteria if one is so concerned about that.

Cleaning cast iron cookware is so easy; unfortunately many will not buy cast iron because they can’t put in the dishwasher or are afraid will stick. Yes it will stick, but like any other cookware it comes off, easier than one might think.