Cast iron pans are celebrated by cooks everywhere for their superb heat retention, ideal for searing, sautéing, braising, and baking. Despite their versatility and resilience to high temperatures, cast iron cookware can be intimidating for newcomers due to its perceived need for meticulous upkeep.

A person who recently purchased a cast iron pan was left baffled after discovering an unusual orange substance on the pan’s surface after washing and placing it on a drying rack.

Turning to Reddit…