r/castiron • u/__wholemilk__ • 1d ago

Tried to clean with salt?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I tried to clean my cast iron with salt and water, scrubbed it, but when I went to heat it and put a thin layer of canola oil, it still comes off brown, and i have these uneven layers. Do I reseason? Do I need to scrub more? Help pls

0 Upvotes

27% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

8

u/orangepewlz 1d ago

Use soap and a scrubber

1

u/__wholemilk__ 1d ago

So is it food residue? Or did i take off too much seasoning?

7

u/lanky714 1d ago

It's a lack of cleaning it with soap and water.

2

u/__wholemilk__ 1d ago

Darn ok. Will it look more grey, like the initial spots i saw? And then I'd have to reseason?

3

u/lanky714 1d ago

Always clean your pan with soap and water. As far as the state of your seasoning, it looks fine. Just cook with it. Stop the obsession over a perfectly seasoned pan. It will build up over time. You can buy a new lodge off the shelf and simply cook with it. The only time I see it absolutely necessary to preseason a pan is when you strip it down to bare metal and thats only to protect from rust.

1

u/__wholemilk__ 1d ago

Ok thanks so much! I kept seeing things to not clean it with soap but clearly that wasn't great advice 😅 I appreciate all the help!

2

u/lanky714 1d ago

Avoil soaps with lye at all costs. But 90% of the soaps you get from the grocery store don't have lye. Lye will strip your seasoning off

2

u/zebra_who_cooks 1d ago

That’s back when soaps had lye in them. Our soaps now a days won’t harm it at all. You’ll actually be grateful you cleaned with soap! It’ll make cooking and cleaning so much easier. It’ll also make your seasoning happier. As you’re not fighting carbon buildup.

I also suggest a steel scrubby or chainmail.

2

u/__wholemilk__ 1d ago

That's so good to know! Ya I've been meaning to buy one, looks like this is the final sign to do that, tysm!

2

u/zebra_who_cooks 1d ago

You’re welcome.

For really stuck on food, I like to boil water and add a little oil. Works like a charm.

Best of luck

2

u/lanky714 1d ago

Avoil soaps with lye at all costs. But 90% of the soaps you get from the grocery store don't have lye. Lye will strip your seasoning off.

2

u/faylinameir 1d ago

get a chainmail scrubber and use that with water. THEN use some dawn dish soap and clean it. If you don't scrub the heck out of it your seasoning will be fine. I got one off amazon I like. It's "Amagabeli " brand. I have their older small chain model. Lodge sells their own brand you can buy at walmart and such.

2

u/__wholemilk__ 1d ago

That's good advice! And I just found it on Amazon, tysm!!

2

u/BinaryPirate 1d ago

Just use frigging dish liquid like dawn and scrubber...

2

u/Unfair_Buffalo_4247 1d ago

A good scrub with a chainmail will take care of that easy - Happy Cooking