Anyone know a good way to clean cast-iron?

[EmmaPeel]

It's the simplest thing in the world.  Treat your cast iron with a bit of love and it will love you.  it's all i cook in and all i bake in, with the exception of boiling water for coffee, so i'm the cast iron expert.


rub oil or crisco all over the vessell, inside and out.

generously sprinkle on salt


]use an old rag to scrub it well

]stick the vessel in a hot fire -- a hibachi or outdoor cooker is best.  let it bake for about an hour.  if you don't have access to such, use a super hot oven.  bake about an hour and expect smoke.  ventilate well.

]finally NEVER NEVER NEVER use soap or detergent on your cast iron.  ONLY boiling water, oil and salt.  NEVER let your vessels stand with food or water.  they must be kept dry at all times.

[blackeyedsusan]

Thank you, Mercy!   
                                    blackeyedsusan

[mercy]

use kosher/or any coarse salt to scrub the pot and then rinse and dry well. than place in oven heat it to almost smoking, take out and then rub with vegetable oil(carefull not to burn yourself)
That is how I take care of my grandmother's cast iron, that is 100 years old. If it is rusted I have another way to save it
Mercy

[blackeyedsusan]

I have a cast iron pot that got really dirty when milk curdled in it and left burnt stuff on the bottom.  I soaked it for days and scraped it and finally used apple cider vinegar and then baking soda.  It came pretty clean but I wonder if the vinegar could cause pitting if I did it again.  I know you aren't supposed to use soap.  My son suggested that I get one of those metal scrubbers.
Anyone know the best way to clean cast iron pots?