Heard a guy at the grill store say he never uses soap, just hot water

Tbh, I was picking up a new Lodge 10-inch and this older guy was telling the clerk he just scrubs his pan with hot water and a brush, no soap ever. It made me think, because I always use a tiny bit of Dawn to cut the grease. Does that hot water only method actually get it clean enough, or is it just an old habit?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_grant953mo ago

Hot water works fine, soap just strips the flavor out over time.

evannelson3mo ago

That old school no-soap rule is a total myth from when lye soap would strip seasoning. Modern dish soap like Dawn is super gentle and won't hurt your pan's seasoning at all. It's made to cut grease, which is exactly what you need after cooking. Just using hot water leaves a thin film of oil that can get sticky and rancid over time. A quick scrub with a drop of soap gets it actually clean while keeping the seasoning intact.

karent7525d ago

Yeah hot water alone won't cut it. I learned that the hard way with my first cast iron. Left a greasy film after a few cooks and it started smelling off. Now I use a tiny drop of Dawn and a chainmail scrubber, rinse well, dry on the stove, and wipe with a thin layer of oil. Pan's been perfect for years.