Class 112: The Myth of Soap & Water (Modern Care & Cleaning Truth).
The rule that soap ruins cast iron comes from the era when lye-heavy, homemade soaps stripped organic matter down to bare metal. Modern dish soaps are mild detergents formulated to lift free surface grease without breaking down polymerized iron bonds.
Proper Post-Meal Care:
● Wash Without Fear: Warm water and gentle soap wash away food residue without harming cured seasoning.
● Scrape, Don’t Gouge: Use a chainmail scrubber or stiff natural bristle brush for stubborn crust rather than abrasive steel wool.
● Evaporate Moisture Promptly: Never let cast iron drip-dry in a dish rack.
Place the washed pan back over low stovetop heat for 2 minutes to drive off moisture, followed by a pea-sized drop of oil wiped across the surface.
Explore traditional home goods: Kearney Family Farm
What is the single biggest kitchen myth you were taught growing up that you eventually had to unlearn? For us, the panic over a drop of dish soap near cast iron definitely tops the list.