Your grandma lied — here's why you should be cleaning your cast iron with soap

Cast iron might be the epitome of traditional cookware, and with tradition comes the occasional urban legend. Chief among them, in this case, is the myth that you can't use soap to clean your cast iron skillet. And I'd like a word with whoever started it.

I've been using warm water, a gentle bristle brush and a dream to remove stains and cooking residue from my cast iron skillet for longer than I'd care to admit. I'd like to think I've got a good routine down — drying by hand and then rubbing in a light layer of neutral oil to maintain the seasoning.

But as it happens, I could've been cleaning my prized skillet with dish soap this whole time.

Can I use dish soap to clean cast iron?

I'd never questioned the logic that you shouldn't clean your cast iron with dish soap. As I saw it, the soap could strip your skillets of its precious seasoning, essentially ruining all that hard work and maintenance that I'd spent hours building and maintaining.

But when I asked Paul Bough, a chef at STAUB, for his advice, his response surprised me: "Yes, using a mild washing up liquid is ideal for cleaning cast iron cookware," says Bough.

Ideal? Did I hear that right?

In defence of our forebears, soap has come a long way since my Grandma was taught never to use it when cleaning cast iron. Modern dish soap is less capable of doing serious damage to your cast iron seasoning, especially if your pan has a good layer already built up.

How to clean your skillet

"After use," Bough advises, "once it’s cooled slightly, wash the cast iron with warm soapy water using a soft sponge or cloth."

However, if you've held off using your go-to scrubbing staples on your skillet, you're making the right move. Bough explained that while your cast iron can handle a little dish soap, you shouldn't be using overly abrasive cleaners.

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"Avoid harsh detergents or scouring pads," he says, "as they can damage the surface of your cast iron."

The most important thing you should never do with your cast iron is to soak it. Wash your pan by hand once it's cool enough to touch, then dry it off by hand. Leaving water on your pan will do more damage than even the strongest of dish soap.

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