How to Cook With a Dutch Oven : How to Clean a Dutch Oven

[gingergargoyle]

a)you can use a SMALL amount of soap without issue, as long as you completely dry it and give it a coating of oil it should be fine (b)vegetable oil is perfectly fine to use the secret is a THIN coating of it - use a paper towel to apply it and it should be fine, most "stickiness" is caused by novices who glob it on and don't take enough of the extra - it helps if the pan is rather warm when you apply the oil/fat whatever you use (I do it right after I've washed it and set it on the stovetop so

[zac030101]

what do you do if you accidentally did use soap. i have flaking on the inside of mine. is it a waste now or reseason?

[Maples01]

Vegetable oil is a no no, it results in a sticky finish, I use lard, only lard or bacon grease, I have my great grandmothers skillet, which I find the reproduction stuff is nowhere near as smooth as the older hand me downs. If buying new, only buy Lodge cast iron cookware as it's made in the USA, leave the made in China stuff to the Chinese! The safe non stick cookware, no dangerous chemical coating to ingest.

[AlcoholLevel]

in some alternate universe there might be an expertvillage that gives correct info in their videos... although the chances of that are slim.

[matt4270]

I use a nylon brush of the same type, with hot water, NO SOAP, dump out the water, then dry over a medium flame for a minute or so to really dry it, then use vegetable shortening or olive oil on a paper towel while still hot so the pores are open and willing!

[andyk13089]

She is right about not using soap, but that looked like vegetable oil. You use OLIVE oil to coat the pot. Vegetable oil goes rancid then you have to clean it before you use it again but with olive oil you just wipe it out and you're good to go

[FreeTalkLive]

You will not force me to read!

[itsmpt]

She reminds me of Pam from the Office.

[NLxJason]

expertvillage so calm

[carl6188]

Because I am not an expert on this subject, this is more of a question than a statement. Wouldn't heat from the stove kill any living bacteria in the Dutch oven if you only clean it with water only?  I am seeing good arguments on both sides of this advice for cleaning is why I ask for anyone to answer.

[salwa88]

like your breast

[dr400motard]

settle down Beavis or else, she'll give you a...'Dutch oven'

[siszam]

Why is it that every "Expert Village" video gives the worst advice. I've never watched one where they told me that correct way to do anything.

[siszam]

For years I have washed my cast iron with soap making sure to rinse well. Then I place the clean cast iron back on the stove or oven to reheat and dry thoroughly. Then I lightly coat it with oil and let it cool. I've never had any problems. I can't stand the thought of just wiping a dish down and reusing it. You wouldn't do that with any other dish and it's not necessary to skip truly cleaning it just because it's cast iron. But to each his own I guess.

[onionofdeath]

@saahib2008 I've heard the soap can get into the pores of the metal and ruin food. Boil water while it is in the pot, let it cool a bit, then scrub it. Germs die at 165 degrees. Ask anyone who works in food service.

[flintstone9812]

Boil them clean. That is the safest way. Soap can get into the pores and give people the scootsies.

The pot must be black after conditioning. If not, the oil is not impregnated into the pores. Condition it again. That way food is not going to stick. It can't stick to oil.

[biolectron]

I agree with everything but using a brass brush as you risk removing the seasoning. i use a stiff nylon bristle brush

[Paul07901]

Enjoyed your informational<--(not sure if that is a word in the dictionary), video. Thanks, and Im going to give it a four star rating.

[LivingDog94]

I would add that you should let the dutch oven air dry before you do the oil coat. There is a layer of dampness which the towel cannot remove.

5*

[Libratarot]

What happens when you are out in the woods?????

[chookter1]

Who cares what with all that outdoor sex goin on

[dgmarklin]

I semi-disagree.. Cooking with scouts so much and so much on my own everyweek... I have tried the soap... it soaks into the oven. Stick with the pad and hot water...

[sk9utube]

There is sometimes when the pad and hotwater don't do the trick. The other day I had some burnt egg stuck on my iron skillett. A sponge and scouring rag wasn't sufficient. It needed a surfactant. The other concern is sanitation, especially if you are a food vendor. When I don't use soap, I make sure to pre- and post-cauterize any grease bacteria away.

[dgmarklin]

If you are a food vendor, I understand the necessary precautions. But I so far have never had burnt egg stuck to the iron. We use our ovens enough and know cooking temperatures well, that we rarely have food burnt to the inside.

We do however have messy food that is a little bit of a pain to clean up and we but hot water in our oven and put it back over the fire and boil it off, this works well for us.

[sk9utube]

i've discovered a small amount of dishwashing detergent won't hurt if it's really dirty, but it has to be re-heated with oil or crisco.

[chocolateeyes21]

I agree. I am so tired of the 'never, never, soap'people. A little soap on a sponge to clean it when it needs it never hurt a cast iron pot of mine. I do the hot water thing, too, but if afterwards there is greasy residue a little diluted dish soap is okay. Just follow up with a thin coat of oil afterwards while it is still warm.

[siszam]

You're absolutely right. As I said above, I've used soap on my cast iron and never had a problem. I wouldn't dare risk food poisoning by eating out of someones unwashed cook pots.