Care of Cast Iron Cookware

This BSR skillet needs care and seasoning

Maintaining cast iron:

·         Allow skillet to fully cool before washing it. You can use a little dish soap and a sponge or soft nylon scrubby- don’t use steel wool or chainmail. Don’t soak in water, and don’t wash in the dishwasher

·         Cast iron is prone to rust so dry it thoroughly- one way is to heat it on the range for a few minutes to dry it completely. After drying, coat the pan in a very thin layer of neutral oil (like canola, a couple of drops is all you need). Using a paper towel rub the oil all over the inside and outside of the pan including the handle

·         Store cast iron bone dry, and don’t stack damp cookware on top of it

Restoring/re-seasoning:

·         Over time and with a lot of use, there can be carbon build up on the skillet, especially on the outside. The safest way to strip a skillet down to bare metal is with oven cleaner (if you don't have a lye-bath, that is)

·         Any rust spots can be scrubbed with a solution of 50% vinegar and water, dry and re-season the skillet immediately after removing rust

·         To re-season (or add an additional layer of seasoning):

1.       Wash it well with detergent,

2.       Put it in the oven at 200 for 10 minutes to dry and "open up"

3.       Rub it all over with Crisco or neutral oil, wiping off all excess well with a clean lint-free cloth

4.       Put it back in the oven upside down at 325 for 15 minutes, take it out and wipe it well with a clean cloth again, then returned it to the oven upside down at 375 for 2 hours

5.       Repeat this seasoning process at least two more times if starting from a stripped surface

Preserving:

Cast iron is extremely durable, but there are three major things to avoid: 

• Thermal shock: Never immerse a hot skillet in water or add a significant amount of cool liquid to a hot skillet. This can cause cracking or warping. Let the skillet cool before washing it
• Significant overheating: There is a myth that crusty cast iron can be cleaned by superheating it in a fire or by putting it through a self-cleaning oven cycle. Very high temperatures such as these can cause permanent heat damage. 
• Try to avoid dropping- this is how handles break off (not to mention it's really bad for your toes, too)