Overheard my neighbor say she never oils her pan after washing

I was chatting with my neighbor Karen over the fence last Saturday and she told me she scrubs her cast iron with dish soap and puts it away wet. I nearly dropped my coffee. She said it's been fine for 10 years but I couldn't help thinking about rust. Has anyone else seen a pan survive that kind of care long term?

2 comments

2 Comments

wyatt7711mo ago

My cousin's girlfriend has a 12-inch skillet that's been going for like 15 years with the same routine, soap and water every time, and I've actually seen it cook eggs without sticking. I used to be pretty hardcore about the whole "never soap, dry on the stove" thing but after watching hers work perfectly I started experimenting myself. Now I hit mine with a little dish soap maybe once a week if it's greasy and it's honestly fine, just gotta dry it quick on the burner. Not saying I'd leave it soaking overnight or anything but her experience definitely proved to me that the old rules aren't as strict as I thought.

lee.lucas1mo ago

Whoa, hold up. Maybe her water has a different mineral content that makes it less reactive or something, I've heard that can change things.