I use my iron 'oven' all the time for roasting, long-cooked veg, soups & sauces without the lid. Remember that the iron oxide (rust) won't hurt you and if you're a little on the anemic side it can actually help you as it's a form that humans can metabolize. (I used to cook my tomato sauces exclusively in iron when I had anemic issues in order to get the iron that leeches into the food.)

So, scrub the heck out of it... you can even use dish detergent to help... then season it with some form of fat. I like to dry my pans on the gas stove until they smell hot then I turn off the flame and spray with cooking spray to get it into the pores. It's not a bad idea to cook pretty greasy things in it the first few times just to build up that non-stick layer.

Yes, it's OK to use dish soap to wash a really dirty pot so long as you realize that you have to start over on the seasoning process. For most things, though, just take the hot pan and run some cool water into it to lift the gunge with the assistance of a scrub brush.

So, get using that beautiful pot and start searching for a top! You might be able to buy a lid that fits from Lodge.



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