On Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 7:22:48 PM UTC-10, wrote:
> All my life I have heard that with cast iron frying pans, you never
> wash them with soap, you just wipe them with a paper towel, and put them
> away until they are needed. I personally find that absolutely repulsive.
> In fact thats worse than a bachelor I once met who never washed his
> dinner plate, he just wiped off any solids, and stuck it in the fridge
> till his next meal.
>
> The oils, animal fats, and who knows what else is on that cast iron pan
> is a breeding ground for bacteria, and God only knows what else. On top
> of that, the greasyness attracts mice, insects, and dust from the air
> will stick to it. Absolutely repulsive!!!!
>
> Hey, I listened to the so called "experts" on this subject. I gave it a
> try some 40+ years ago, and I will admit that food did not stick to it
> (most of the time), but I always felt like I was eating food
> contaminated with filth. Even if I heated the pan prior to placing food
> in it, and heating to a temperature which will kill any bacteria, the
> thought of eating dead bacteria, minute bits and pieces of old meals
> from weeks ago, possible insect and rodent droppings, and if nothing
> else, rancid oil, was enough to ruin every meal I cooked on it.
>
> I began washing these pans with soap, water, and brillo pads. That's
> when I found the food sticking terribly, and sometimes even some rust. I
> finally gave them to a friend who goes camping regularly and said they
> work best on a campfire. Then I bought myself some teflon coated pans,
> which have since been replaced by enamel coated cookware like those
> often advertised on tv.
>
> While cast iron is probably the most durable cookware made, it requires
> far too much work to keep it seasoned, but even putting aside the work,
> it's disgusting and repulsive. It may have worked well for cooks in the
> 19th century, we have since learned a lot about health, disease, and
> bacteria, and cast iron is not a healty type of cookware.

We live in an ocean of microbes and it's doubtful that you'll ever be able to escape from this sea. Trying to wipe your pan free of these microorganisms would be like trying to dry dishes at the bottom a swimming pools. Luckily, for the most part, we've learned to coexist and benefit with the help of our little friends. Embrace our friends!