Fire, Cast Iron, and Soot
I've finally gotten into cast iron cooking. And I want to do it over a fire when we're camping. What do you do about the black soot that coats the outside of the pan? Do you just clean it off? And ...
Forum Discussion
valhalla360 wrote:
If it's dedicated to campfire cooking, I would just get a bag and stick it in sooty.
Avoid soap on cast iron. It removes the seasoning and food will stick.
Sorry, but this is a cast-iron myth. I use hot soapy water on mine every time I use them, and I use them almost daily. No sticking issues ever.
As Magnus mentions, cast iron is tough. NOT washing leaves off-flavored residue and potentially rancid oils. Like any pan, they must be washed with soap and hot water.
There are only two no-no's: excessive heat and putting them away wet. After washing, put it back on low heat and allow it to dry completely. No soot issues ever.
