Is It Safe to Use Soap on Cast Iron? Here’s What You Need to Know

Saying that people love their cast-iron cookware might be the understatement of the century. And it’s understandable! Cast iron has incredible heat retention, you can use it to create a huge variety of recipes, it’s durable (seriously, a cast-iron skillet can last for generations!), and it’s naturally nonstick if it’s seasoned properly. Because cast iron is such an iconic kitchen item, people get pretty protective of their pans and want to keep them looking and working their best for as long as possible.

Conventional wisdom has told us that you should never wash your cast-iron skillet because you could ruin the seasoning that makes them work so well. And, years ago, that was true. Powerful chemicals in common soaps were able to strip that seasoning and get rid of the polymerized oil that’s been baked into your pan, making it nonstick and protecting it from rust. What happens when that magical layer is gone? You have a rusty old pan.

Nowadays, however, soaps are milder, says chef George Duran. “Today’s soaps are less harsh and are gentle enough for your hands, and that means it won’t harm a well-seasoned pan,” he says. “It’s totally fine to use a little mild soap if the cast-iron pan’s seasoning is well established.” If you’ve ever cooked a ton of bacon or some swordfish in your cast-iron skillet, you know that soap is especially helpful to get rid of those odors.

Marco Camo, a Thumbtack Pro advisory board member and owner of Maid to Shine echoes Duran’s sentiments. “Modern dish soaps aren’t strong enough to strip the seasoning unless you scrub aggressively or soak the pan for an extended period,” he says.

So how should you clean a cast-iron pan? Rinse it out with warm water and wipe with a paper towel. If you need to, though, you can use mild dish soap. Your pan will be just fine!