tom roberts wrote:
>
what
> is the correct way to clean them out after they have been used? I have
> heard they should never be put in soapy water. Is that true?
>

If you wash your cast iron in soapy water make sure you dry it
thoroughly. Place it on a burner for a minute or less (you only want to
heat the pan enough to evaporate all traces of water) and then oil
lightly with whatever edible oil you're using.

After long use iron skillets develop a crust like build-up of burnt oil
on the sides and sometimes the bottom. You can clean this with lots of
elbow grease and a scraper. Heat the pan to about 300 degrees and you
will find the crust is scrapeable. Its a lot of work and you will need
to reheat the pan several times but this method keeps seasoning intact
and is chemical free.

When you wash your pans, wash as lightly as possible, us salt if its
appropriate, always oil if washed in soap and water.

Congratulations on you acquisition. If your grandkids have any sense
they will fight over who gets them when you die.

Helen

> Thanks for any tips.   Tom