Cleaning Black Soot From Cast Iron Pan

I wasn't sure where to put this one, trying here. I have a cast iron pan I use when camping. It gets a coating of black soot from using it over the open campfire. I know I shouldn't use water to clean it, what can I use?

 

There is an IG thread ,cast iron Chris all about cleaning and refinishing cast iron cookware

9 mins ago, Irishfire18 said:

There is an IG thread ,cast iron Chris all about cleaning and refinishing cast iron cookware

Thanks for the response. Pardon my ignorance- what is an IG thread? Can you link to the article or point to the thread?

The whole fetish about no water or soap on CI is totally overblown. Once it has a decent season on it you can clean it with water or even soap and it'll be fine. Watch the kitchen at a takeout chinese joint, they rinse their carbon steel woks out with water all the time. 

2 hours ago, MaCe1 said:

Thanks for the response. Pardon my ignorance- what is an IG thread? Can you link to the article or point to the thread?

Instagram, if you don’t have that I think he’s on Facebook

2 hours ago, Irishfire18 said:

Instagram, if you don’t have that I think he’s on Facebook

Got it, thanks.

4 hours ago, gellfex said:

The whole fetish about no water or soap on CI is totally overblown. Once it has a decent season on it you can clean it with water or even soap and it'll be fine. Watch the kitchen at a takeout chinese joint, they rinse their carbon steel woks out with water all the time. 

OK, thanks for the feedback.

No reason not to use dish soap & water.  The ole "don't use soap on cast iron" is a remnant of when dish soap contained lye; today's soaps are perfectly fine to use.  Just make sure you rinse & dry it well immediately after cleaning.  I usually dry mine with a towel and then stick it in a hot oven for a couple mins.

4 hours ago, gellfex said:

The whole fetish about no water or soap on CI is totally overblown. Once it has a decent season on it you can clean it with water or even soap and it'll be fine. Watch the kitchen at a takeout chinese joint, they rinse their carbon steel woks out with water all the time. 

Yes, with water after every dish, but never seen soup / detergent around it. 

12 hours ago, sbcbmx112 said:

No reason not to use dish soap & water.  The ole "don't use soap on cast iron" is a remnant of when dish soap contained lye; today's soaps are perfectly fine to use.  Just make sure you rinse & dry it well immediately after cleaning.  I usually dry mine with a towel and then stick it in a hot oven for a couple mins.

Sounds good, thanks.

once clean, coat the outside w dish soap before placing over an open fire.  It will clean right up.

6 hours ago, makorider said:

once clean, coat the outside w dish soap before placing over an open fire.  It will clean right up.

Thanks I will try that.

Go to the Lodge cast iron website. There's info in there on how to take care of, clean or re-season a cast iron pan. I recently reseasoned three pans and a griddle. Washed with a brillo pad, rinsed well, coating with shortening and into a 500 degree oven for an hour or so, then repeat a few times when cool. 

Coarse salt, water and a chainmail scrubber. Thin coat of oil after drying. 

I do use soap on occasion but the salt and chainmail is pretty effective.  

Thanks to all for the feedback, much aappreciated.

MaCe1