Comments on: Easy Cast Iron Skillet Reconditioning

By: Mama

Mama — Sun, 12 May 2019 21:14:27 +0000

In reply to Randy. My mother had a set of cast iron that she got for her wedding. She'd had it and used it for over 60 years. It was well-seasoned, but had a lot of black carbon build-up. She took those pans, put the in a black garbage bag and poured in about a quart of ammonia and then sealed the bag. She left the pans in there and went on vacation for about a week. Came back, put the pans in a sinkful of hot sudsy water. Gunk came right off. Then she dried them, poured some regular vegetable oil in a small bowl. Dipped paper towel in the oil (not soaking, just wet) and applied the oil all over the pans- inside, outside, edges, handles. Then she set them in the oven on low- 200 degrees max. for a few hours. Perfect.

By: Guy

Guy — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 06:57:53 +0000

First off…. I am only 35 and have a wood burning stove that I chop wood for. I come from a family that has burned wood for 100+ years.

You season your pan as you cook. Everytime you cook you season it. I have a chain-mail scrubber to get the particles out but for the most part I leave the fat in the pan. days upon days.

When I clean it I scrub all that out lightly wash with water. Then entirely dry it immediately. Afterwards I take some cooking oil to coat it all down with and then leave it sitting on the stove.

If you need to season it rub some cooking lard on it and put it in the over with something underneath to catch the drippings.

STOP MAKING THIS SO DAYAM HARD YOU HEATHENS!

*110 year old pan looks like day one…. just cook with it.

By: Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 01:39:20 +0000

In reply to Ken Green. This is the best method, have used it for many years.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 06:55:16 +0000

I’m sorry you really lost me when in two sentences you went from “cleaning without chemicals ” to the first item which is “oven cleaner ” !!!!! one toxic concoction !! I watched a documentary ,where a man pulled his cast iron pan from the ashes of his cabin ! all burned and rusty , walk over to a creek and with a handful of sand scrub it to useable condition !! save for the coating to re-condition it , this looked like a pretty cheap non -toxic way !!

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 06:05:43 +0000

In reply to iiJeebz. unfortunately, I have come across many people who do not understand cast iron pans; I have seen plenty of people take them to the dump because they burned food in them, they rusted, etc --- I also agree with not using chemical cleaners

By: Patrick Rhéaume

Patrick Rhéaume — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 14:07:57 +0000

Evidently you know nothing about cast iron, or its benefits. While I use Apple Cider Vinegar on any rusting metal, this is the only thing you got right. for hundreds of years there have been no spray on crap, just bacon fat or bear grease. So one can set a cast iron they found in a tub of vinegar for a day or two, rinse off and put on the stove with a fair amount of pork fat and rub it into the pan as it heats, also the out side of the pan, once you have done this place it upside down in the oven at a very low temp and place a cookie sheet under it on the next shelf below for a few hours, take it out wipe any fat that remains and you should see if one coat will do, if not, let it cool over the day and redo these steps the next day.

By: Mark Thomson

Mark Thomson — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 21:09:17 +0000

In reply to Randy.

tie some good fencing wire to it then toss it in the hog waller. the hogs will rub dirt against it sanding it clean in just a few days.
then drag it outta there and rensit of good and season regularly. . .

no chemicals required ! “all by-God natural” !

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 14:18:51 +0000

In reply to Howard. The self cleaning oven is the best. Will take it down to the original iron.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 14:15:26 +0000

Thanks for posting the non-chemical way.