You love your cast iron pan, but you can’t get past the soap taste that seems to linger no matter how many times you season it. To get rid of the soap taste, there are two steps you’ll need to take:
First, remove your cookware from heat, allowing it to cool off completely before cleaning.
Second, clean with coarse salt and water using this method to eliminate the soap taste and harden the seasoning on your cast iron pan again.
My pan tastes like soap. What should I do?
Some people describe the taste of soap as a “metallic” flavor, while others say they can taste the floral or citrus scent of a particular dishwashing liquid. In either case, the bad taste is caused by the presence of cleansers in the iron — which usually is the result of improper cleaning.
That’s because dish soap contains synthetic compounds that are designed to break up molecules of grease and other food particles, as well as compounds that can dry out your skin. These same compounds leave behind traces in your cast iron cookware that can alter the flavor of your foods.
Re-seasoning is the key!
You can get rid of soap-taste in cast iron by simply re-seasoning it with a fresh coating of cooking oil — preferably one that has been heated until it begins to smoke. However, once you’ve re-seasoned your cast iron, avoid using soap to clean it and instead use water only or warm water and a small amount of salt.
If you’ve ever cooked with cast iron, you probably know that it can develop a soapy taste if cleaned incorrectly. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for that. If your pan tastes soapy or metallic after cooking—or if food sticks and is hard to clean—it’s time for a good seasoning.
Soap cleaning alternatives
The best way to get rid of soap taste in your pan is to not use it at all. You can use salt or baking soda to clean your pans if you need to.
If you do have to use soap however, make sure you rinse the pan thoroughly before wiping it dry. Once the water has evaporated completely, put your pan on a hot burner until a drop of water instantly sizzles away on contact with the surface of your pan.
If this doesn’t happen quickly, keep heating until it does. This will get rid of any residual soap left in the pores of your pan and restore its nonstick qualities.
