cast iron cookware care

[sailorman]

Was reading another thread on cast iron cookin ' . Not wantin ' to hijack that thread, I post this .

I have a number of inherited cast iron pans that have been hard caked on the outside with years of gunk and grease . I 'm thinkin' about cleaning them in my gas oven on the "self-clean oven cycle" and then re-seasoning them . I think this may improve the cooking efficiency of the pans .

Any thoughts on the matter are appreciated .

 

[TomSeller]

I did the process you describe with the self cleaning cycle in the oven and it does remove all of the built up crud. I have three more or less complete Griswold skillet sets nearly 100 years old in addition to Dutch ovens, griddles, etc. etc. All of them were rescued on ebay. Tonight I cooked a pot roast in an old Griswold Dutch oven.

After the self clean cycle your cast iron will have light rust on it. I ended up doing multiple other processes, like neutralizing the rust with vinegar, neutralizing the acidic vinegar residue with baking soda solution, wire brushing, scrubbing and in the end curing in the oven with crisco. I have all my cast iron cookware in the exact condition I want. HOWEVER, after I finished my last item, I ran across an article on electrolysis. I would give it a try if I had to do it over. I would start with a test piece. Google it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XlsNucmbiE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I really enjoy my cast iron cookware and would never be without it. I don't like the non stick alternatives due to health concerns.

 

[motownbrowne]

I've used the oven cleaning cycle. Always wanted to try electrolysis, but never have. The quality of the old pans is so much better than the stuff you can buy nowadays. Even caked up on the outside, those pans should work great.

 

[CalG]

Use coconut butter/oil to reseason... you won't be disappointed! ;-)

 

[TomSeller]

Use coconut butter/oil to reseason... you won't be disappointed! ;-)

Yes. I use coconut oil to mini-season each pan after each use. Coconut oil is anti-fungal, antiviral and antibacterial. It solidifies at most room temperatures so each of my cast iron pieces are stored with a light coat of coconut oil. It is also good for you.

 

[TomSeller]

Was reading another thread on cast iron cookin ' . Not wantin ' to hijack that thread, I post this .

I have a number of inherited cast iron pans that have been hard caked on the outside with years of gunk and grease . I 'm thinkin' about cleaning them in my gas oven on the "self-clean oven cycle" and then re-seasoning them . I think this may improve the cooking efficiency of the pans .

Any thoughts on the matter are appreciated .

Can you post pictures?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I never would treat MY CI that way... Put that pan in 50/50 vinegar/water for a day or so, and it will wipe out clean... Then re-season it...

I'm still using the CI my parents had loooooong before I was born and I would never treat it to extreme heats...

This guy here, does it RIGHT! Here's part one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgsaQ3FdOwY

SR

 

[TomSeller]

I never would treat MY CI that way... Put that pan in 50/50 vinegar/water for a day or so, and it will wipe out clean... Then re-season it...

I'm still using the CI my parents had loooooong before I was born and I would never treat it to extreme heats...

This guy here, does it RIGHT! Here's part one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgsaQ3FdOwY

SR

Cast iron won't be bothered by those heats to my knowledge. But If you can get the crud off with vinegar, that would be easier. Most of my crud was quite thick.

 

[mddorange]

I don't like my cornbread cooked in anything but a cast iron skillet. WE have several CI skillets, Dutch ovens, griddles and even a CI muffin pan that makes the same little cornbread that you can get at Cracker Barrel.

 

[jeff9366]

I used Easy Off spray oven cleaner to clean garage sale cast iron pieces. Spray, let sit overnight on thick newspaper, wash in the morning.

I have found "seasoning" cast iron pans with several coats of FLAX OIL to be superior to any other treatment. I use edible "Barlean's Flax Oil, 100% organic". Food grade Flax oil is readily available in health food stores. An eight ounce container will prep pans through your lifetime.

Flax oil is used in the manufacture of paint, which may explain its longevity as a cast iron pan treatment.

After flax oil treatment you can use soap and water washing pans and slickness does not disappear.

 

[Egon]

Cleaning hard deposits on cast iron: anyone tried a needle scaler?

Electrolysis: cleaned up a rusted up old hook pictures.

Hook submerged in bucket
Hook before and after




Note: if the copper positive clip gets under water it will dissaperances.

 

[Baby Grand]

The Plant Manager collects cast iron cookware, and she also cooks with it.
I support her collecting, happily, based on the great food I've been getting, lately.
For cleaning up some of her garage sale finds, she uses either electrolysis or a lye tank, depending on what kind of deposits she wants to remove.
She has warned me that overheating and warping any of her cookware is grounds for revenge.
Like leaving my tools out in the rain.
I don't think she would really do it, but ... I'm not going to push it.
For seasoning, she uses lard that she rendered from one of our pig share purchases.
By the way, there's nothing in this world like a pie with crust made using leaf-lard.

 

[sailorman]

Can you post pictures?

I 'll do some pix sometime this weekend . I liked the video on electrolysis !

 

[sseelhoff]

I used Easy Off spray oven cleaner to clean garage sale cast iron pieces. Spray, let sit overnight on thick newspaper, wash in the morning.

I have found "seasoning" cast iron pans with several coats of FLAX OIL to be superior to any other treatment. I use edible "Barlean's Flax Oil, 100% organic". Food grade Flax oil is readily available in health food stores. An eight ounce container will prep pans through your lifetime.

Flax oil is used in the manufacture of paint, which may explain its longevity as a cast iron pan treatment.

After flax oil treatment you can use soap and water washing pans and slickness does not disappear.

I was told you never use soap on cast iron. Iron is porous and will absrb the soap, distorting the flavor of the food. I tske it you have not had these issues? I use a nylon brush and hot water only.

 

[Gunny]

I've always used warm water and a little salt to scrub my cast iron, then put them over a stove burner to dry them.

I also re-season mine about once a year, not a big job nor a long job, but that way I know they're always good to go.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Intense heat WILL warp CI, and every once in a le, a piece will crack too... I've seen it happen...

Needle scaler scratches the heck out of CI, that's NOT the way I'd treat any of my good CI!

The guy in the vid I posted, has it right!

SR

 

[sailorman]

Thanks guys . Lots of good info . Proves once again that TBN is a great brain trust .

 

[TomSeller]

I was told you never use soap on cast iron. Iron is porous and will absrb the soap, distorting the flavor of the food. I tske it you have not had these issues? I use a nylon brush and hot water only.

Agree, the cast iron does retain somewhat what it is exposed to. That is the reason I didn't use oven cleaner.

 

[TomSeller]

One thing to mention about electrolysis, DO NOT DO IT INDOORS ! You can do it under cover, but with very good ventilation. The gases are explosive and could be toxic, depending on what was on the cast iron. Do it outside. Please read the attached link for other safety precautions. Washing soda is the best thing to use.

Electrolytic Rust Removal

 

[Jstpssng]

Interesting thread. I have used my needle scaler on a $3.00 Lodge dutch oven that I bought at a yard sale. It did a good initial cleaning and got the heavy rust off. After a few more steps I heated it outside with my Red Dragon torch to prep seasoning... I can hear some of you shouting in disbelief from here.