If you are an experienced home cook, you know that there are certain kitchen utensils and tools without which you wouldn’t be able to create delicious meals that your friends and family can enjoy. Apart from a proper knife, a casserole, and a good cutting board, you definitely need a proper skillet as well.
While there are hundreds of different models on the market, it is the cast iron skillet that seems to be the best choice. These pans have been becoming widely popular over the past few years, and now, we can safely say that these are leading the market because there are numerous advantages that come with it. Apart from the price and the great design itself, there are a variety of innovative features that make these skillets so unique.
Cast iron is one of the most durable materials out there and that is the reason why investing in the same is a great strategy towards your cooking future. Still, there are a number of questions that come with owning a cast iron pan, such as what is the maintenance process, and how to clean the pan. And while washing this type of a skillet shouldn’t be much of a burden, there are still certain precautions you need to take. The most common question is can you use soap on cast iron? The answer is – well, it’s not that simple. Read on to find out more.
Is Using Soap on Cast Iron OK?
While this question is quite a common one, we can’t say there is a universal verdict on the issue. With people being so fascinated with all the benefits that come with a cast iron skillet, it is vital that you make it a worthy investment by following proper maintenance procedures.
The question of whether you can use soap on cast iron skillets is quite tricky. Previous studies have claimed that it is a strict no-no as it is a sure-fire way to damage and strip the protective seasoning oil coating on the cast iron skillet and thus ruin the nonstick feature and other properties of this material.
Additionally, these studies suggest that the iron wouldn’t be able to enter the food anymore, once it has been cleaned with soap. Still, with these cast iron skillets becoming more popular, the topic itself became an even bigger debate and now we can safely say that soap is fine to use as long as you do it the right way.
What do we mean? There are two main things you need to know. First, the soap that you are using should be a mild and nonabrasive one as that is the only way to ensure that no damage will be caused to the thin layer of oil and given coating.
Also, you shouldn’t leave your skillet to sit in the water and soap for longer than two to three hours, or even shorter unless it is absolutely necessary. The main thing is that a mild soap doesn’t wash away the oils, so there is nothing to be worried about.
On the other hand, there is no reason why you should use any type of soap because cleaning a cast iron pan can be done using just some hot running water, a non-abrasive brush or scrubber, some salt, a dry towel, and oil to season the pan once you are done.
The Advantages of Cast Iron
We always like to emphasize all the advantages that come with using a cast iron skillet. First, it is a great choice if you are all about a healthy lifestyle and you don’t want to be soaking up too much oil or PFCA and other harmful chemicals that are released by Teflon pans.
Moving further, such a product is much cheaper than the given alternatives and talking about the durability of this material, you can be sure that one should last you for quite a few years, even through heavy use.
The cleaning process is quick and easy, and you can even expect some extra iron in your food, which comes as quite a happy surprise. You can use it on both a stove and in the oven, and of course, the cleaning is as simple as using some basic equipment and hot running water. Overall, there are many benefits to buying a cast iron skillet, and to be honest, there is not one reason why you shouldn’t own one.
Conclusion
With a cast iron skillet you will be able to cook safely and healthily without spending extra time and energy on the maintenance and cleaning process. Yes, you can use soap, but unless there are some heavy stains or food residue, there is no need for it. But if you do decide to use soap, follow the above mentioned tips to ensure that your cast iron skillet is protected for years to come.