Secrets to cleaning cast iron to keep it NON-STICK

Want to learn my secrets to cleaning cast iron the fast and easy way? Even when things are stuck on (which once you get a good seasoning on there isn't very frequent but does still happen) you'll have it cleaned up in a jiffy without soap or a ton of scrubbing.
I cook almost everything with cast iron, from biscuits, pies, pancakes, pot pies, casseroles, cream of scratch soups, gravy, brownies, and of course meat, eggs, and veggies. It's truly the most versatile piece of cookware in our home and doesn't have to be a pain to clean if you follow these tips...
To get on the waitlist for the homemade wooden bench scrapers, sign up here: melissaknorris.lpages.co/wood...
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Links:
How to Wash a Cast Iron Skillet to Maintain Seasoning: melissaknorris.com/pioneering...
How to Season (or re-season) Cast Iron: melissaknorris.com/how-to-sea...
25+ Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Recipes: melissaknorris.com/25cast-iro...
Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Outdoor Campfire Cooking: melissaknorris.com/podcast/ca...
Chocolate Caramel Cinnamon Rolls: melissaknorris.com/pioneer-ho...
Sourdough Chocolate Bread: melissaknorris.com/sourdough-...
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Shop this Video:
Wooden Bench Scraper: melissaknorris.lpages.co/wood...
Cast Iron Dutch Oven/Skillet Combo: amzn.to/2GinVKe
Cast Iron Bread Pan: amzn.to/3mHVpBp
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Listen in to the top #10 rated Pioneering Today Podcast for Home & Garden for Simple Modern Homesteading Tips melissaknorris.com/podcast-2/
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My Books:
The Family Garden Planner: melissaknorris.com/planner
The Family Garden Plan: melissaknorris.com/family-gar...
Hand Made 100+ From Scratch Recipes: melissaknorris.com/handmade-book
The Made-from-Scratch Life: melissaknorris.com/made-from-...
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Howdy! I'm so glad you're here. I'm Melissa from Pioneering Today and a 5th generation homesteader where I'm doing my best to hold onto the old traditions in a modern world and share them with others.
Click any of the below links for FREE resources and training to help you on your homestead!
Homemade Sourdough Starter Series melissaknorris.com/learnsourd...
How to Pressure Can Series melissaknorris.com/pressureca...
Beginners Home Canning Safety melissaknorris.com/canningclass
For raising, cooking, and preserving your own food, come hang out with me on Instagram / melissaknorris
and Facebook / melissaknorris
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#castironcare #cleaningcastiron #howtocleancastiron

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thanks for watching! I hope this helps with your cast iron. To get on the waitlist for the wooden dough scraper (aka cast iron cleaner) and wooden bench knives go here melissaknorris.lpages.co/wood-product-waitlist/

[@georgeholder5076]

Hope I got on the wait list in time ---

[@TessC374]

I was going to reply and ask if you could sell me a wooden scraper also suggest you could sell them being I can't find one, You are Great, God has truly Blessed you. God Bless you Sister in Jesus Mighty Name 🙏❤

[@melissa101mel]

I went to the link but I can't find the wait list :/ Can you help me :)

[@LittleRapGuy]

Great video

[@arrrgoyle5695]

I hope he is still making the scrapers. Very informative. Thanks!

[@jenniferkluender9936]

Your husband needs to make those wooden pan scrapers a side business because I would buy one in a heartbeat and there's very many many people who are cast iron pan enthusiast collectors and lovers that would buy it too.

[@alfredneuman6840]

Soap and water ia a big YES on my cast iron..... 👍

[@georgiannalee1921]

I was raised with cast iron cooking the food and my father and mom always washed out cast iron in hot soapy water, and rinsed them and wiped them dry right away. It did not ruin their seasoned pan, and we're never rusty. For 16 yrs this is how my parents did it. My dad said you can get sick on uncleaned pans just wiped out because some old oil on pans gets spoiled.

[@sic-n-tiredtired4273]

Hmmm I've been using my cast irons for about the same amount of time 16 18 yrs. and have cooked and baked pretty much everything you can imagine in them and only my chili pot has seen soap and water once ( i let the wife make the chili that time 😉) other than that NO water ever. Scotch bright stainless steel scrubby or similar, wipe it out with a paper towel hang it up for next time. It's all in the temp of the pan when you start cooking.

[@dirtymike3329]

Completely agree. It’s not that complicated

[@karenvanausdall5904]

Dry your cast iron on stove top. I always use dawn dish soap when I clean my cast iron then dry atop the stove.

[@fionaatieno1535]

I also wonder about other people's cast irons. My mom has a cast iron tawa and we wash it with soap and water although there are times we can leave it oily and some rare times when it has been left with just a wash for too long, the thin rust just comes off easy on washing with steel wool and it's smooth AF. I think the whole point with cast irons is too not leave them alone too long without oiling and get a good quality without the pores and grizzly look.

[@donloughrey1615]

@@karenvanausdall5904 Agreed. In the 50s my mom dried hers on the stove she said that is the key. I do the same. Clean them while hot, a couple drops of Dawn and water, dry on stove. Oil if needed.

[@kellybesse4625]

I’m fortunate enough to have been given cast iron (in excellent condition) from two of my great grandmothers through my grandmothers. I’ve just started cooking in them regularly. It brings me so much joy to hold my family history in my hands and be able to use them in a meaningful way to care for my family!

[@sandygrogg1203]

Someone actually left three Lodge skillets…and a smaller one …in an apartment we lived in years ago…I added a small round, handled griddle.

[@bettinagordon2348]

I was given a ci grill pan from my great grandmother in Switzerland which had been handed down thru the generations. I treasure it so much.

[@janeserovy666]

The older cast iron are also worrh $$$. You probably wouldn't part with them for any amount of $$$.

[@brightantwerp]

Nowadays you can use soap to clean CI. In the old days there was lye in the soap, which does remove the seasoning. There is no lye in soaps anymore, so it's save to use. Afterwards you can dry the it on the stove and oil it while still hot, if needed. I love the scraper! Great idea.

[@stevelavalette6898]

@@repentofidols I agree, I use dish soap with zero issues. It's important to dry it after you clean it. I heat it dry on the stove then coat with a super thin layer of oil.

[@georgeholder5076]

As a youngster , I was told "Never clean cast-iron with anything you wouldn't put in your mouth / and eat"

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

I don’t get the mercury comment

[@jamesSmith-fl5wv]

What kind of oil

[@stevelavalette6898]

@@jamesSmith-fl5wv it really doesn't matter. Coat it very lightly while still warm. Than wipe it almost dry.

[@jims1942]

Finally ... someone gets it! :) That is 'almost' exactly the way I've been cleaning mine for over 50 years, and It works great. (We've been married 59 years.) = Difference = Before I do anything else I use paper towels to wipe out any excess grease/food, etc. then just throw them in trash. I use a (plastic type?) spatula instead of the wooden scraper in the bottom of the skillet to scrape out the stuck on stuff while it still has the HOT water in it on the stove top. I use a stiff brush and hot tap water to scrub as needed. (YES even a couple drops of soap ONLY IF needed = NO it will NOT hurt the pan or seasoning, just don't over do it.) Sometimes the little blue scratchy sponge if needed. I use paper towels to wash it and to dry it. I never use the dish cloth or towels for cast iron. When done put it on a stove burner on medium-low for about 5 or 6 minutes to make sure it's hot and dry. Then wipe out the inside with a paper towel pad with a couple drops canola oil on it while it's HOT, Do Not use too much oil. I KNOW this method works well because I've been doing mine for over 50 years. I have 5 cast iron skillets and a dutch oven, four of which I got USED over 50 years ago from my parents and I've been using them every since. They all still look better than new! :)

[@tugaroocrab]

I’ve been married 53 years and inherited cast iron skillets. I do the same thing.

[@weissblau]

My cast ironware, older than the 73 I am, look much better than I do.

[@daisycouchfarm2464]

I had a love-hate relationship with cast-iron in the beginning but now that I understand it more it’s really all we cook with

[@MelissaKNorris]

I can totally see how it can be frustrating if you don't know how to care for them properly thanks for sharing!

[@marissaboomin]

I love this comment because right now I’m mad at my cast iron but it seems like once I can learn to use it best, I’ll use it for everything.

[@ljshoreslokal]

Great video!! I use paper towels to wipe out any left over food or grease, lodge plastic scrapers to scrape any tough food bits, splash water in the pan and wipe out clean. Let the pan stay on the medium heat to dry completely and then wipe on some Crisco and let it cool down. I love cast iron!

[@johnl119]

I have been using my cast iron for years and it is so so smooth, functions just like a non-stick pan. And I wash it with regular dish soap every time I cook in it. This is what I do after I wash it, I place it back on the heat for 10 mins on med-low heat so that all the water dries off and it's pores open and then I add a few drops of oil in the pan and spread it All over the pan, everywhere and then once cooled I store it. So the moral of the story is that you can wash it, but after you do it has to dry completely and then apply some oil and then store it. Works like a charm and is very smooth and clean for the next use

[@jaimegasca9556]

What oil you use

[@jaimegasca9556]

What oil you use

[@jaimegasca9556]

What oil you use for your cast iron pan

[@johnl119]

@@jaimegasca9556 Olive oil, the same one I cook with

[@sydneyevan1333]

Thank you!

[@jamestaylor5143]

I founded a chain mail pad (sold by Lodge) for scrubbing and it works quite well for stuck on foods.

[@johnterry8958]

Well, if you cook something with garlic and other intense flavors and don't use dish detergent, the next time you cook your brownies or whatever, they're gonna absorb the leftover flavors. I go ahead and use dish detergent and immediately dry the pan, and usually give it a very light oiling afterwards. No issues so far.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Sorry, I cook meat with onions and garlic, clean the pan as shown and then bake brownies without any cross over of flavor. The pan is clean without the soap and with a good seasoning it doesn't absorb flavors.

[@jims1942]

I agree with you Melissa, never a problem here either. ... (besides, what's wrong with garlic and onion flavored brownies?) :)

[@RayMrRobert]

This is proper cast iron cleaning. I use. Stainless pad for cleaning with Dawn power spray then I dry and coat the pan. I make quick and convenient cleaning and my seasoning always performs well for me.

[@tinabohren881]

My grandmother told me to boil water with a drop of dish soap after cooking with something spicey. Then rub a little oil. The hot opened the pores in the iron and released the spice. I made the mistake of making peach cobbler after spicey garlic sauce. BUT my grandmother always kept a pan just for pies.

[@joycej9415]

Use a small drop of soap on my cast iron pans and don't submerge in water, just rinse thoroughly. They have been working perfectly for me for 52 years!

[@michaelmiller9452]

A cotton shaped into a bag, filled with salt works great. I've also used a clean fairly 3M green scrubby wih hot water for seriously stuck on stuff.

[@mylittlerebornlove8851]

This method you shared is the best! It has left my cast iron in the best non-stick condition than ever before! Thank you for sharing!

[@melissa101mel]

Loved, loved, loved this video!! I've always been afraid to cook certain things because of the cleaning aspect and fearing having to reseason my pan. Thank you!!!

[@Viggen-vert]

God love this traditional wife and home maker.

[@frazeejr]

I've been using the salt scrub technique whenever necessary, but I really like this idea of using the wooden scraper...so I just finished placing myself onto the waiting list. I've also been stepping up my game when it comes to seasoning the cutting boards and wooden utensils, so I'll just add the dough scrapers to my standard regimen. Your sourdough starter blog and video is about to lead me into a whole new set of adventures.

[@despicabledavidshort3806]

Lol, you put yourself on a list to get simething you don't need from someone making money from it 😅

[@MrJamesw1958]

If you season it right in the beginning your go to go. Mine was preseasoned and I used steel pads to strip out what they had done and started from scratch. That was over ten years ago and I wash it every time I use it. It still works better than any nonstick pan.

[@shayladawson6268]

I have a mug of hot water to pour into pan right after cooking. Using a wooden spatula is also very useful 👌 thx for your video.

[@mirawind9126]

This is honestly one of the best ways I've seen someone not wash their pan and I appreciate it. I do wash and reseason my pans just because I'm a freak about the gems but this is pretty great. Two small things, one it's always a good idea to not just wipe out the water because the cloth will leave some behind but to reheat the plan until it steams and then stops streaming so you've removed all the water. Two while the dough scrapers are great there's also cast iron safe chain wool for when things are just too stuck (like burnt bbq chicken)

[@robinwoodard7898]

My dogs would lick that up outside and any other animals

[@frankcampos1251]

I think the ultimate point is that she’s trying to sell the wood scraper her husband makes 😉

[@johndonahue4777]

Make a paper pattern to match the inside corner of pan. Transfer to any thin scrap of wood and cut out with a coping saw available at Home Depot for little or nothing. Cut off fuzz with a quarter sheet of garnet paper and you have a 'Custom Pan Scraper'.

[@johndonahue4777]

Or just throw a cedar shim in the sink and use the butt end on your pans. Cost 10¢)

[@gerardreed613]

Great tutorial, I'll be doing 4 pans this weekend thanks.

[@BobPulgino]

If dish detergent removes your seasoning, it wasn’t seasoning - it was grease. Proper seasoning won’t be affected by soap.

[@CitizenKate]

I'm confused... if the seasoning is formed on the surface of the pan from polymerized oils or fats (a.k.a. grease), and you keep dissolving any grease from the pan after each use, how does the pan become seasoned?

[@AVoiceForThePeople]

Never put soap on a cast iron. It will eventually get into the pores

[@AVoiceForThePeople]

@@CitizenKate you put it on high heat either in the oven or on the stove top to open the pores. When the pan is hot put your fat or oil on the pan. It will go into the pores and also create a layer of oil. When you are cooking always keep the heat low to medium at max

[@BobPulgino]

@@AVoiceForThePeople if your cast iron is properly seasoned there will be no “pores”.

[@BobPulgino]

@@CitizenKate This is the whole point - when grease becomes polymerized, it isn’t grease anymore and soap won’t dissolve it.

[@matth2868]

That's one way. Hot water from the sink and chainmail will do it. Then reheat to dry thoroughly and coat with a thin layer of cooking oil. Avocado is best for that. Otherwise if you use them often, I use mine daily, you can get away with just wiping it out. Some say that's dirty. Maybe it is but how often do you clean your grill with soap and water, or scrub the grates? That oil is good for the nonstick feature. I've found that's the best way that works for me anyway. Chainmail is worth its weight in gold when it comes to cleaning cast iron.

[@tinab7791]

I warm all of my heavy pans, cast iron or not, prior to cleaning. It was something I learned from a chef and it's amazing.

[@cathyc1268]

I enjoyed your video and look forward to viewing others on your channel. I am new to cooking with cast iron and truth be told, new to cooking anything that involved more than 3 ingredients or 3 steps. However, last year with more time at home, I become somewhat obsessed with trying to find the very best way to cook steak (indoors) and it didn't take long to discover that a cast iron skillet was the best bet. So now, after many youtube videos, mistakes, blunders, and the occasional ouch burns, I cooked a flat iron steak and received my first "wow" from my skeptical family! Now, I'm going to look beyond steak to further my cooking adventures but first I'll review your advice and tips because I suspect that I'm doing something wrong during either or both the cleaning, seasoning steps. Thanks for your help and have a wonderous day!

[@tomduncan3822]

Just now learning about cleaning and seasoning pans. Thank you.

[@alicenakajima6014]

I am glad I ran into your channel. I love how you present the information, slowly and clearly. Thanks for the great tips. Also, can you share what you use over the handle to prevent burning your hand?

[@MelissaKNorris]

It was a gift from a reader but these are silicone ones on Amazon amzn.to/3cEmNy7 *affilaite link

[@davidmorgan7591]

Wash the damn thing and mild soap and water. Dry it completely over a low flame. Then wipe with a mixture of beeswax and lard. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and it works great!

[@chelseacompestine1059]

Thank you so much for this video. I’d love to be on the list for the wooden dough scraper!

[@stefanie_jones]

We use a brush that looks like a circular whiskbroom to clean our cast iron. The broom maker at the country fair sells them and they work really well. Use the bottom for most things and the top for caked on stuff.

[@regenranch]

This was super helpful! We love our cast iron, but have never really nailed down how to clean them properly without having to re-season semi-frequently. We also use the plastic dough scraper (it was actually the scraper to clean off the pampered chef stones), we'll have to look into a wooden one! So smart! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@anthonyfootball80]

When you 1st got your cast iron did it smell when baking/seasoning it? I seasoned mine for the 1st time and it kind of gave a strong smell

[@katiegleaves3792]

@@anthonyfootball80 yes, it is common for new cast iron items to have a "factory coating" on them, whether or not the item is labeled as "pre-seasoned," and it will smell strange the first time or two it is heated. Most pieces come with some info/instructions on the packaging, advising to at least rinse the item in very hot water and apply a thin coat of oil before cooking with it for the first time. For example, my Lodge pre-seasoned pan said that the oil they use for protection during shipping ("the factory coating") may smell funny, but is safe and will diminish with use" but I can't speak to that on any other brands. If you know the brand of pan you have, but it didn't come with info/instructions, you could check their website for more information. Hope this helps.

[@anthonyfootball80]

@@katiegleaves3792 yeah it's a lodge I was guessing the smell will go away ... thanks for replying!

[@janetbattaglia8869]

I would love to purchase a scraper! I am currently using the plastic type. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful/informative videos!!

[@sheilaboomershine7142]

I have a square of stainless chainmail to scrape up stuck on food. I use it with hot water and it works great. Got it from Amazon.

[@doyleholloway1818]

I now have 12 cast iron skillets .. sizes from small one egg skillet to a big heavy 14 inch one. Ive used the plastic scraper and also kosher salt to clean them with good luck from both ways.. nothing like a nice tri tip steak cooked in a cast iron skillet ...

[@suzannefronzaglio2427]

My dad built a cabin when I was a young child, and we went up to the mountains to stay at the cabin every summer. There was a lake for fishing and lots of nature to explore. He had remodeled my mom's kitchen in a new house we moved into, and took the old kitchen metal cabinetry up to the cabin and installed it there. Mom had an old style white porcelain sink and counter at the cabin too. But...we didn't have running water yet. So dad always brought up large water storage containers, and plenty of cleaned out milk jugs.....and he'd drive down the road from our cabin to a natural spring that had a long pipe coming out of the ground, and we would fill all the water containers up. Subsequent water trips were made by myself and my brother and sister to the spring with the milk jugs. We all helped doing the dishes, and the water would drain out of the sink by the pipe, straight under the cabin (no basement. Had concrete block pillars). Dad got Mom a cast iron skillet, and they used it now and then. So one night it was just me doing the dishes, and I looked to see if there were any dirty skillets in the stove. I saw the cast iron skillet and thought it looked "greasy". I proceeded to wash and scrub that "dirty" skillet and get all of the greasy feel off of it. I think my parents had gone to the store or a drive. Later when they came back, my mom saw the skillet in the rinse rack.... realized I washed it. And had to explain to me that the cast iron skillet was supposed to be shiny and greasy looking. Lol, they both let out a heavy sigh.... saying "we just got the skillet perfect!". It was a new thing for them. And me too, I was 12 and had no idea. They weren't mad at me. They told that story now and then, and laughed about it later.

[@nickbushta282]

*not learned about that yet..... sorry

[@MelissaKNorris]

Love your sharing ❤

[@garycasper2929]

@@nickbushta282 don't have to be sorry... Just shut your trap and rather add a cast iron story of your own.

[@JacksonWalter735]

Your parents were so kind. I did something similar when I was young while my parents went grocery shopping. One of my chores was doing the dishes and I saw a greasy looking skillet on the range so I decided to clean that as well. My parents weren't happy at all especially since it was a skillet that once belonged to my great grandmother. My mom told my dad what I did and he hit me with a belt to the point where I had welts on my back. I quickly learned not to do something dumb like that ever again and that lesson has always stuck with me 😬

[@pattyshelbrack9967]

Tf Trapping

[@gtsbarbecueandcuisine4837]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing!

[@annahimes830]

This really helped me!!

[@teresacarter8577]

Good morning from Georgia. I have really enjoyed watching your videos. I have binged watched them all. I continue to learn something new after each video. Look forward to receiving a cast iron wooden scraper. Just like you the plastic ones do not last very long.

[@MelissaKNorris]

Thrilled to have you here! So glad to hear the videos have been helpful too!

[@mf3610]

Helpful video! Thanks

[@sharonmcmann-morelli4896]

where can i find a little brush like you have ? you made it looked so easy thanks 👍🏼

[@gardennonsense]

You really inspire me thank you for all the hard work in the videos

[@MelissaKNorris]

Appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoy the videos!

[@Defofone]

Thanks for the tips! I appreciate how you’re being careful with your plumbing. No one likes it when the toilets don’t flush well because grease has solidified in the drain on the way out of the house.

[@PokemonLoverHeather]

Those wooden scrapers are genius! I’ll have to see if we can make some. I had a plastic one and I kinda melted it too. 😅 Thanks for the tips.

[@katiresnick9539]

You can totally use soap!!! You just have to dry right away, thoroughly, and then apply a thin layer if oil before you put it away. Easy peasy. (I use olive oil because I can't have vegetable oil. But you can use whatever oil you like.)

[@MelissaKNorris]

I prefer to not use the soap so I don't have to oil it every time. Oil is more expensive and it cleans fine without the soap. I'm happy you've found a method that works for your cast iron though :)

[@thejim3501]

Usually don't use soap, but do sometimes. If the soap removes the seasoning, it isn't seasoned properly.

[@cbarnes9808]

Didn't think it was a good idea to use olive oil that u shld use caster oil. 🤷‍♀️

[@marthahubbard9463]

There are several ways to clean cast iron. I’m 67 years old and have experience in seasoning cast iron and caring for my own. You can use soap, but don’t scrub with steel wool, and dry immediately and grease with crisco, which is best in my opinion. You can use boil method, which is good too. If food isn’t stuck, just wipe down with a paper towel and store in dry area. The best advice I can give is to use your cast iron skillet often to seal the seasoning. Don’t make it complicated. Just use it, clean it, dry thoroughly, and lightly grease with crisco.

[@badassbees3680]

@@marthahubbard9463 exactly

[@michaelvitale4029]

Chain mail. Ordered it from Amazon. Best thing ever.

[@bjrudder8538]

Love your videos. Great information.

[@DeeMoback]

Thanks for the instructions

[@MelissaKNorris]

You bet!

[@scottborders1844]

Thanks for the video and happy easter😀😎🙌

[@MelissaKNorris]

Welcome and same to you!

[@candywong4697]

Thank you for your sharing and I from Hongkong

[@Alex-B2357]

Team husband here: thanks for looking after for our drain pipes!

[@adventurerhoades]

Nice job. Handy scrappers your husband is making

[@wickedbird1538]

😊😊My wooden spoon set has a spatula that works nicely for cleaning my pan. Thanks for the video. I see some ideas to add to my plain salt&oil scrub. ❤❤

[@whiskeywomanwhisks]

TRUST ME when I say as Melissa said-Do not put grease down drain!!! We’ve had plumber &septic work 3 times in 1 month- we don’t dump grease down drain but apparently the previous owner dumped ALot of grease-it’s a nightmare and expensive!

[@amysgardenstead2879]

I got a stack of rusty cast iron pans at an auction. I put them in the wood burning stove under the evaporator while making maple syrup. It burns all the yuck and rust right off. I wiped them down and seasoned them and they shine. I have been using soap but I love the wood scrapper and hot water trick. Thank you so much!

[@1339su]

Good tutorial techniques. 👌🏼👏💞 Thanks. For second-time water from your kitchen faucet, I think it is better to use that to boil your kettle. I like 💕 that knitting handle for your cast iron pan

[@southtexasprepper6605]

Thanks for this vid, I have a lot of cast iron pans and this is a very useful video!

[@MelissaKNorris]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fisherman2359]

This woman is making this way more harder than it needs to be.

[@deckgun31]

If you have a better solution, please share with us all.

[@derekaragon5252]

Nice job😊

[@carljorgensen2813]

Good information thank you.

[@MelissaKNorris]

You're welcome

[@wowtv101]

Thank You So Much !!!!

[@debbielewis3986]

I've been reading up & I have been following a guy called cast iron cris who absolutely says its a myth that you can't use soap h rather disgusting to not clean it. Once its been seasoned, it becomes a solid. He does this for a living!

[@pamelaferry1797]

Thank you so much .

[@janellrohring8945]

Thank you!

[@johnNJ4024]

I've been using cast iron for years and love it! It's surprising how many people don't know how to properly care for and clean cast iron cookware. My girlfriend introduced me to your channel and you make great videos. Thank you for sharing and your time and effort!

[@MelissaKNorris]

My pleasure! Happy to have you here!

[@aquaseahorselove3939]

I have a friend with an old cast iron pan. She told me she hates it because everything sticks to it. I asked her when was the last time she seasoned it. She said, she doesn’t need to season it because she bought it preseasoned. She had it for years and never seasoned it. I had to explain to her that she still needs to season the “preseasoned” pans. LOL

[@rchuso]

I can do that going forward, but previously I've just cleaned the pan with the next meal. ;-)

[@debgersh5555]

That's funny...and more common than one would think

[@izzysmith2435]

Great video! I instinctively cleaned mine like this and a bamboo scraper. Has worked fantastically. Much better than all the other videos that make it look so tedious and daunting. DID YOU KNIT THOSE HANDLE COVERS?? I need to know where you got them and what they are. I don’t want silicone covers.

[@OutnBacker]

I pretty much do what she shows in the vid: hot water to lift the residue, easy scrape with a steel spatula, toss it in the garden. While the pan is still hot, I wipe it out with paper towels, then apply a thin coat of fresh oil. My pans live outside under a roof over my patio cooking area, so they are subject to PNW moist air. No rust that way. If there is fond/residue from bacon, or other high stickiness foods, I make sure to keep the pan very warm/hot and scrape out the bulk of it before adding hot water - which I always keep on the side. Cracking a cast iron pan really isn't an issue unless the pan is extremely hot (way over fired, near red hot) and you pour in cold water. Very few people will do that because recipes and common sense cooking call for more moderate temps. But, it can happen. The real and common problem with pouring cold water on hot iron is that it fractures the seasoning layer and you can get flakes of polymerized oils actually coming up off the iron (applies to carbon steel pans as well). You will be able to see bare areas of the pan as a tell tale sign. 1)Always use pre-heated water to clean. 2)It is safe to use a steel spatula to scrape. 3)modern detergents are far milder than they were in the 1960's, and a little can be used with a soft pad. 3M/Scotchbrite scrubbers not recommended. 4) There is no superior oil. Just use ordinary vegetable oil for seasoning and preserving. The mystic lore has over taken practicality, which is the basis for the use of iron and steel cookware.

[@merlenebledsoe1808]

I would like to be notified when you have some wooden scrapers avaliable

[@Boilermedman]

Nice video content. I like the idea of a wooden scraper, especially handmade ones. A chainmail scrubber is great also, and will last as long as your iron. If I see the dull finish, I'll wipe an oily cloth around the surface, then wipe it off with a dry towel. This will take care of any deep scrapes in the seasoning layers until it builds up again.

[@robertjackson1407]

Thank you 😊

[@christopherjreihing]

I don’t use soap and I never get left over flavor in the next dish. When I scrape and rinse my skillet after cooking meat I put it on dog food, they love it :)

[@woodsie5796]

I've been using cast iron all my life. Mom kept it all seasoned well and never let us kids wash it. I learned early on to listen and learn. If you have a little "something" still stuck on, you can use salt. Pour a little on the area and use those arm muscles. Sometimes, the place is so small I just use my finger.

[@woodsie5796]

By the way, I inherited some of her Griswold!!

[@carnicavegirl7214]

I always put a cup of boiling water in it while it’s still hot and then clean the bottom with my tongs and paper towels.. very easy

[@FtLivingRoomHomestead]

Lol, I needed this!

[@MickenzieL]

Thank u for this video. GOD BLESS

[@MelissaKNorris]

You're welcome! Same to you!

[@joannesmith6819]

I don't have access to a handy woodworker, and my Pampered Chef pan scrapers work excellent [but NEVER when the pans are still hot]. I've been using them for as long as I've been using cast iron - about 25 years - and they work just fine. They're also cheap and easy to come by. Major stores have knockoffs that I'm sure will work well, too. Even if my cast iron does not look like it needs oiled, I still oil them as part of the cleaning and drying process; I use my cook top for heat. I've been using coconut oil for most of these years, however recently as an experiment I've been using avocado oil and it works just as well [noticed no difference]. Some cheap veg oils can make your pans sticky.

[@tixximmi1]

I'll also add a bit of oil at the end. But thanks for the info. Love those dough scrapers.

[@MelissaKNorris]

I do if it still does look shiny

[@AMXSShirt]

Thanks 🙏 love my Wagner. I do prefer a gas stove. We ditched the elec a few years ago. CI and gas go together like peas and carrots. 😊

[@vinceoneal31]

Hey Melissa, love your video. Quick question for you, what kind of handle covers do you have on your pans? I have the red silicone ones that are useless. I noticed yours don't move around or slide or come off, where did you get those?

[@johnniebullard7496]

I use salt from time to time but mostly do as you are doing,. i Love the wooden tool and in your comments I saw where a lady is using a wooden spoon that too was an ah ha moment (I can do this) its all about the simple things. I absolutely LOVE your dish drainer. where did you get it from?

[@stephaniemckenzie3552]

I will occasionally use soap and a gentle scrubbie for stuck on stuff, my cast iron is still wonderfully non stick. I always thoroughly dry it and oil it after. It is my understanding that the nonstick seasoning is bonded to the pan, you would need to use something very rough to damage the seasoning. I never let my pan sit and soak in water, that is extremely damaging! I have found cast iron extremely easy to clean, most of the time I just wipe it down and it's good to go, I think people make it more complicated that it needs to be!

[@goldencalf5144]

You are right. It's ok to use soap as long as it's non lye based, which most dish soaps are these days. I think a lot of people confuse seasoning with residual oil left in the pan. Dish soap removes the liquid oil but doesn't affect the solid seasoning. So long as the pan is lightly oiled after cleaning, it's fine.

[@jimwortham8634]

Thanks for posting you did good main thing hot pan hot water spray good to go

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@AbundantAcresHomestead]

LOVE cast iron ❤️ Simple to use and clean

[@inadollard6672]

Thanks❤

[@Rachels123]

I have a small stainless steel spatula. I rounded the corners and keep the edge sharpened. First I scrape the food loose, the i sprinkle pan with salt and with a paper towel wipe out the rinse with clean water. Dry or heat to dry.

[@uh_oh_letsgo99]

Apparently I just need to come to your house to eat some delicious food. Thanks for the video!

[@robbinporter402]

I always make an aluminum foil bowl to put my grease in. When it cools, I put the bowl of grease in a zip lock baggy and put in the trash.

[@confederatehero751]

I never dreamed I'd be watching a video about how to wash dishes.

[@vinquinn]

I have some old (30 /40 years) cast iron pans. They are not just seasoned, they have a shiny layer on them that looks like baked enamel. You can clean them any way you want and you will not hurt them. Soak your newer pans in hot water and scrub them out, wipe on a little oil and blast them with heat until they smoke. Just keep at it and you will be all set. You don't have to baby them.

[@fayiznalu8411]

Please let me know when you get more wood scrapers, I like to try it on my iron pan. I like your videos. Thank you.

[@jomancini6549]

Thank you for a much need how to clean iron pots can you also dry the pans on a low heat is it safe?

[@digitalpunkdiva2894]

If your pan is properly seasoned gently scrape it while it's still warm, rinse, wipe down and place on low heat until dry. I always give a wipe down with a drop of oil so it's ready for next use. Also if your pan is full of grease let it get cold then wipe it out with a paper towel rinse the crumbs and heat the pan on the burner until dry. You can absolutely use a drop of dish liquid to break up and emulsify excessive grease. As others have pointed out lye is no longer used in dish detergents now. Just make sure its rinsed well and dried properly.

[@lesfogerson1092]

I use hot tap water and a bamboo brush; good to go.

[@ozelhassan8576]

You are a amazing and Industrious Lady.

[@michaelcolloton6971]

I have a few wood and bamboo spatulas that also work really well for those sticky bits. You can get a pack of 3 for about $3.

[@nooralli5933]

Love it

[@KevinNeustadter]

Thanks for this video. Off topic, I like your cabinets. Were they the Oak variety that you repainted or re-stained? I also like that counter top you are working on.

[@carfvallrightsreservedwith6649]

Wood shims from a hardware store work too. Cheap. Cut back enough to get the rigidity you need and sand the bevel on the scraping end. Can improve its longevity by coating with linseed oil (not boiled linseed oil since it is in contact with food surfaces).

[@vickiebazemore]

I just got some cast iron cookware and it has rusted what do you recommend for cleaning the rust to bring them back?