Cast iron question

[leechlake]

for whatever reason I've been using a cast iron pan a lot lately, couple months.  When done I wipe it out and put it in the spare oven.  I've heard the theory on germs etc is that you heat it up before putting food in and that kills stuff.  If that's so then why not do the same with other frying pans?  If I just wiped out a teflon pan and heated it up next time same deal right?

Nobody gets sick from the cast iron around my house so why don't I treat the other pans the same?

[Walleyehooker]

I don't use cast iron to much but I do wash it when done. I just try not to use soapy water and just hot water. Then when dry I spray or put a little oil in it to coat it so it doesn't rust. I'm sure its OK just to wipe it out if not that dirty or doesn't smell. You never hear of people washing their BBQ or smoker between uses do ya.

[LindellProStaf]

Right or wrong I put a little water in my pan and heat it up so the food comes off easily. I then dump it in the yard and the dogs lick it up.    I then wipe it out with one of those green scratcher pads.  Then I used to wipe the pan with olive oil since that is what I use most of the time.  It always got kind of sticky.  I have read recently to not use olive oil when seasoning or lubing the pan, just when cooking.  So I guess use veg oil to season when in not in use mode.   I am not the guru on this by any means so someone else may have better info.

[delcecchi]

You only need to use water if something is stuck to the pan.  And there is no real reason to wash non-stick pans either in my opinion.  Of course if you stack them the top one gets grease on the bottom and that's a mess. 

[ThunderLund78]

I dunno, LeechLake.  First you're knocking crusty bits of meat off your grinder from the last grind three weeks ago, now you're putting pans away dirty.  Sounds like you're inviting Sam and Ella over for supper! 

But seriously, yeah, you can get away with a lot less than you think - especially with cast iron.  But I know I don't scrub my waffle iron or panini grill very hard because i don't want to drench the electrical components.  Just a warm wet towel after use and again before use it next. 

As far as seasoning a cast iron pan, I think they say to avoid olive oil because it has a low flash point - so if you throw it in your oven at 500 degrees with nothing but olive oil you're definitely gonna get smoke and could get a blazing inferno.  Something like peanut oil might work better.  But after it's seasoned you can certainly wipe it down with Olive Oil to keep the moisture out

 

[roony]

Once they are properly seasoned I don't think it hurts a bit to wash them when necessary. Mostly I just use my cast iron pans for frying greasy foods so mine stay pretty well seasoned. I like using lard to season cast iron. 

 

[Dotch]

Lard or bacon grease (same thing basically) is what the oldtimers used. 

[gunner55]

A couple of frying pans & a dutch oven here. We usually have both lard & a little bacon grease around 

[jmd1]

i got away from true cast iron and went with enamel coated cast iron.  Weight 900 lbs but man do they cook good and clean up is a breeze. i actually just throw them in my dishwasher get the crud off and then throw a drop of bleach in hot water and get the stains out.  LaCruset does not approve of this method but it works.  I did learn last night that with my huge chicken fryer, i can't get 6 bone in pork chops to fry good, next time 3 and 3.  Lessons learned.  

[smurfy]

boars wife uses cast iron ALOT............. cant you tell by his spelling!!!!!!!!!

only thing I got in cast iron is one of then dutch oven kinda things my wife insisted we needed that's been seasoned and then never again used. its that big kettle thing you can use on a fire. that's a dutch oven thingy right???????

[lovebigbluegills]

Yes sir, that's what a Dutch oven is, or a Dutch oven is also when you fart under the covers, then pull them overy your wife's head, aka covered wagon.

After I use my cast iron pans I wash them out with hot water only, dry with a towel, then spray in and out with Pam and wipe it in with a paper towel.

[Cooperman]

If you have baked or cooked on food stuff, you can use kosher salt or aluminum foil with water as an abrasive without removing the patina.

[smurfy]

3 minutes ago, Cooperman said:

If you have baked or cooked on food stuff, you can use kosher salt or aluminum foil with water as an abrasive without removing the patina.

Now that's interesting!

[delcecchi]

I had heard the salt, but not the aluminum foil.

[Bobby Bass]

Use cast iron pans here pretty much on a daily basis. All we ever do is wipe them out with a paper towel and every great while add a little water then wipe that out. I think the secret to keeping them clean is you wipe them out when they are still warm. When using water we put it back on the burner to warm and evaporate the water and make sure the pan is dry.

[RebelSS]

11 hours ago, delcecchi said:

I had heard the salt, but not the aluminum foil.

Haven't you ever cleaned yer grill grates with a piece of balled up foil? Works great! 

[smurfy]

5 minutes ago, RebelSS said:

Haven't you ever cleaned yer grill grates with a piece of balled up foil? Works great! 

heck NO! who cleans grill grates. only makes the meat stick to it and less flavor!!!!!!!!!!!

I found the best way to clean them was let them sit out in the grass overnite. the dew does a superb jog softening the crud  to clean off. the rest the pressure washer gets!!!!!!

[leechlake]

"the best way" is leaving the grill on.  Little respect please.

[SkunkedAgain]

To the OP's question, you can.

I often leave non-stick pans out and will re-use them. If I sauteed something like garlic and onions in some oil, the residual just gives flavor to the next thing that I cook. Sugary glazes or sauces will get a hot towel rinse, and if it's bad I'll wash the pan with soap and water.

My cast iron just gets (in order of severity): 1) a scrape with the spatula, 2) a wipe with a dry towel, 3) a wipe with a wet towel followed by drying on the burner, 4) if absolutely needed a light wash without using any scratchy sponges, followed by a re-seasoning if needed.

Edited March 15, 2016 by SkunkedAgain

[smurfy]

15 minutes ago, leechlake said:

"the best way" is leaving the grill on.  Little respect please.

yep LL, you got that grill cleaning down to an art form!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RebelSS]

16 minutes ago, leechlake said:

"the best way" is leaving the grill on.  Little respect please.

Yes Sirree. Couple hours on HIGH will get that crud right offa there. 

 

[leechlake]

the 5 days left on over Christmas was really overkill I'd have to say.

[Dotch]

And we wonder why there's global warming...

[RebelSS]

If you look at the flames closely, you can see Elvis. No, wait....it's just Smurfy. 

[leechlake]

46 minutes ago, Dotch said:

And we wonder why there's global warming...

I like to think I single handedly brought an early end to Winter.  Prove me wrong