How an iron skillet is safe to use when you don’t use soap and water to clean it?

Question

How an iron skillet is safe to use when you don’t use soap and water to clean it?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

You can use soap and water to clean it if it’s properly seasoned. A good seasoning isn’t just a film of oil on the cast iron. It’s baked into it like the grime you see on the sides of your oven wall. The problem is, if you use too much or let it sit for too long the seasoning picks up the scent of the soap. The proper way to clean it is to wipe off all the debris with a damp sponge, rinse it, then put it on the burner to dry off all the excess water and reapply a thin layer of oil if necessary.