Your grandma lied — here’s why you should be cleaning your cast iron with soap

Cast iron might be the epitome of traditional cookware, and with tradition comes the occasional urban legend. Chief among them, in this case, is the myth that you can’t use soap to clean your cast iron skillet. And I’d like a word with whoever started it.

I’ve been using warm water, a gentle bristle brush and a dream to remove stains and cooking residue from my cast iron skillet for longer than I’d care to admit. I’d like to think I’ve got a good routine down — drying by hand and then rubbing in a…