How do I clean my cast iron after cooking?

[Noel]

Hey y'all -

Sorry for the newbie question!  (I did a search of the forum but didn't find anything.)  After cooking in a well seasoned skillet how I do I clean it?  No need to restore the piece, its great!  I just don't want to mess it up.  I fried in it tonight and there are little bits of food on the bottom.  I have read not to use soap or a scouring pad or else it will mess up the seasoning.  How do I clean it and gets these bits off the bottom of the pan?

Thanks and again sorry for the very basic question!

Noel

[Roger Barfield]

Heat it up with water in it until it boils that will usually do the trick.  I use a plastic vegetable scrubber to clean my cast iron.  Just light scrubbing and hot water.

[Noel]

Rodger - Thanks so much!!  I will try that!

Noel

[moosejaw]

I use a plastic scraper to get the stuck food off, then use a washcloth to clean it......if it is super greasy, then a do add a drop of dish soap.  It takes off most of the grease, but leaves enough to keep the pan coated.  

Sometimes I do put some hot water it in and set it on the stove to soak a bit.  Makes the cleaning a little easier.  

[Steve_Stephens]

Noel, I do use a metal spatula to scrape off food stuck to my skillets and also will soak a pan in hot to warm water if needed.  The plastic scrubbies also work well.  After getting stuck food off I just wipe the pan with a paper towel all over to spread any remaining grease thinly.

Steve

[Scott Sanders]

Noel,

I use an antique metal mesh Pot Scrubber and hot water......very very rarely with maybe just a drop of mild liquid detergent, and scrub lightly.  Let the pot scrubber do the work and not heavy muscles.  Always lightly re-oil your pan after washing and drying.  Check out the post in the Cleaning and Restoring section under Pot Scrubbers that I just posted.  You will find some pictures there.

Scott

[bims]

Noel,
I never clean mine with water.  I wipe it out with a paper towel and scrape out the rest then I put a little peanut oil in it and rub that around.  If there is ever anything really stuck it will carbonize with future uses and just add to the patina.  When I used to clean them with water food would sometimes stick now food never sticks to my skillets.  This method sounded really strange to me when I first heard about it but it works amazingly well.

[maloney108]

Noel,

If I can get away with it, I just wipe it out with a paper towel and a little oil.  If there's crusty bits stuck to it, I keep the pan warm, pour boiling water (a good excuse to keep a cast iron kettle on your stove?) to rinse it out, then us a 'paste' of kosher salt and veg oil to scour the stuck bits with a paper towel - another quick rinse with boiling (or just good & hot) water and a quick towel off and it's back on the hook waiting for next time. By the way, kosher salt is softer than regular table salt, so it doesn't scratch the seasoning.

There are many good ways to clean CI.  Try everyone's suggestions and pick which one works for you.  It sounds like you know what NOT to do and that's the important part.

Welcome to WAGS!

[Troy_Hockensmith]

I use te Water the boil if food is stuck but IMHO I believe Simcha has probably nailed it on how the old timer really did it. I also believe that has alot to do with why they tell you to make sure the pan is heated prior to use.

 My egg skillet hasn't seen water in years. Gets wiped out with a paper towel and I drop the eggs in. Let them sit till they start turning white and just shake the pan around and they don't stick at all.  I also have that milled bottom skillet I got from Steve which I fry potatoes in. It hasn't seen water in years either but it doesn't stick at all.  

[Noel]

Thanks y'all!!  :)  I sure appreciate all the suggestions.  I have been trying the "boil the water" method - that definitely gets it clean and most foods don't stick too much but my scrambled eggs stick quite a bit.  I am probably not pouring the water on it immediately after cooking though.  (Eating first! :) )  So I should try hot water immediately and possibly the salt "scrub".   Thanks so much!  Everyone has been so kind and helpful! :)

Noel

[HarleyDawg]

I wouldn't pour the hot water on it as soon as you are done cooking, the water will not be as warm as the pan and it might make it warp. Do you use cooking spray after you pre-heat the pan before you add the ingredients?

[Jeff Friend]

 ;D ;D ;D

[Noel]

Josh - Thanks for your reply.  :)  I do not use cooking sprays.  I go with the real stuff so butter for eggs and some oils for other things.  But I don't use tons of any of it.

Jeff -  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  I have one of those skillet cleaners!  I haven't tried that yet!

Noel