Many people swear by cast iron cooking. They love the heat capacity of the heavy-duty pan as well as the seasoning that just gets better with age. But others are turned off by the fact that you can’t just throw the pan in the dishwasher or leave it out to dry when you are down with it.
Don’t let the cast iron skeptics deter you from the joy that is cooking with cast iron. It is not at all difficult to clean a cast iron pan after use – just follow these simple instructions.
- Using a sponge or stiff brush (not steel wool), wash the pan under hot water. Do not use soap.
- If there are food bits stuck on the pan, sprinkle some kosher salt and continue to scrub with your sponge to remove them.
- Dry the pan thoroughly with a lint-free kitchen towel or a paper towel. Make sure it is completely dry before moving to the next step.
- Get another kitchen or paper towel and some vegetable oil. Using the towel, apply a thin layer of oil to every surface of the pan, buffing it in the process.
- Store the pan in a dry place.
