How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet (Yes, You Can Use Soap)

Cast iron isn't fragile. Cleaning it takes three steps, wash, dry, and oil, and yes, a little soap is fine. Here's how Lodge, the cast iron maker, says to do it.

1. Step 1: Wash

Let the pan cool down. Then hand wash it with warm, soapy water and a brush or sponge.

2. Stuck-On Food?

If food is stuck on, simmer a little water in the pan for three to five minutes. Let it cool, then push the food off with a pan scraper.

3. Don'T

Don't let it soak in the sink, and don't put it in the dishwasher. Both can make it rust.

4. Step 2: Dry

Dry it right away, and dry it completely, inside and out. Water left sitting on it is what causes rust.

5. Step 3: Oil

Put a few drops of cooking oil in the pan, and rub a very thin layer all over with a paper towel. Wipe off the extra. If oil runs when you tilt the pan, it's too much, and it will feel sticky.

6. Found Rust?

Got rust? Scrub it off with soapy water and a metal scouring pad. Dry it, rub on a thin coat of oil, and bake it upside down on the top rack at four fifty to five hundred degrees for one hour, with foil on the rack below. Let it cool in the oven.