Hi Christina,
All I have ever heard is not to submerge cast-iron in water. That said, I
definitely wash mine with soap and water. I just don't put it in the sink to
soak. It gets thoroughly washed, dried with a towel and then set on a burner
for a few minutes to get completely dry. If the oven has been on and is still
hot, I put it in there.
The skillet I just washed has been in the family for more than 40 years. I have
this square one and two different sized round ones. One of these has been
seasoned with cooking oil in the oven at some point; I can't remember which
one. I know they can be purchased preseasoned.
I have been thinking I would like to get the Dutch oven.
Cleaning the cooktop is definitely more work than a smoothtop, but I would not
have one of those, ever.
Here's an article about caring for cast-iron:
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/preparation/cleaning-seasoning-cast-iron-skillet
This is a great list; I'm learning a lot already.
Karen
