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Cleaning cast iron


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bmor

Thu Aug 18 2011, 06:57PM

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I bought a cast iron griddle at a yard sale, it's pretty rusty. Does anyone have any tips for cleaning cast iron cookware?

I found one source that said to lightly sand the rust then soak it in Cola. Has anyone tried this?

I guess I could try to find someone to sand blast it.

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willchop1

Thu Aug 18 2011, 07:01PM

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i used a brass wire brush i got from a shoe store for suede once with some wd-40 to knock off the rust..then washed it good and seasoned it as one would from there..worked for me.

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Japhy

Thu Aug 18 2011, 07:21PM

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I have alot of cast iron and wont cook with anything else! I too have used the wire brush and sandpaper technique. You can also use A lye/water solution to remove the old black and or rusty. Dont try the muratic acid/water solution. It smells bad and will eat the iron if ya dont get it right or leave it too long. I re-season my cast iron about every three months or so to keep em good and greasy! Good luck!

busdriver

Thu Aug 18 2011, 07:26PM

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Lots of information on cast iron

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=44

Judy Neville
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tribus

Thu Aug 18 2011, 08:32PM

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sandblast and season on a grill outside ( does not stink up the house)

I have a few pieces that are well over 100 years old, and they are usually pretty easy to find "ruined" ones at a yard sale for $1 that can be blasted and seasoned

73 Westy

Kudzu

Thu Aug 18 2011, 09:09PM

Kudzu

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If it's not rusty, but all crudded up with years of burned on food, you can stick it in your self cleaning oven the next time you run it through a self clean cycle. It will come out coated with a grey ash which will easily wipe off with a cloth or paper towel. It is then ready to be reseasoned. One thing I always do when I find an old piece of cast iron cookware at a yard sale, flea market etc. is check it to be sure it doesn't have an invisible crack somewhere. I suspend the pan, pot, etc by holding the handle between 2 fingers, letting it swing free. I then give it a good thump with the finger and thumb of my other hand. If it is crack free. it will ring, but if there is a crack hiding that is either too small to see, or covered with baked on food, it will make a thud sound.

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Cousin Huh?

Thu Aug 18 2011, 11:18PM

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"I suspend the pan, pot, etc by holding the handle between 2 fingers, letting it swing free. I then give it a good thump with the finger and thumb of my other hand. If it is crack free. it will ring, but if there is a crack hiding that is either too small to see, or covered with baked on food, it will make a thud sound. " that's how I check my 2 piece flywheels and crank shafts. Cuz

[ Edited Thu Aug 18 2011, 11:18PM ]

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nash

Fri Aug 19 2011, 05:14PM

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Lodge cookwear outlets have what they call a rust eraser
you just scrub it real good with the eraser and wipe off with a rag . after cleaning coat it good with crisco and you are good to go.
nash

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tribus

Fri Aug 19 2011, 05:35PM

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always a wire wheel and a drill if worse comes to worse

73 Westy

adventureplus73

Mon Aug 22 2011, 11:22PM

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iodized salt and cooking oil . the salt is like sand paper . light on the oil

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Kenny

Tue Aug 23 2011, 10:54AM

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Definitely want to season on the grill. I believe you need to get the grill at about 300 and cook it for about an hour. Burnt oil will stink up the house for weeks. You can use veggie oil and steel wool to get the rust off. Don't try cleaners or Brillo padd as the detergent will soak into the cast iron and make everything taste like soap.

gregoryurban

Tue Aug 23 2011, 05:57PM

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I have used this method to resurrect a few cast iron pans with great success.

Kudzu wrote ...

If it's not rusty, but all crudded up with years of burned on food, you can stick it in your self cleaning oven the next time you run it through a self clean cycle. It will come out coated with a grey ash which will easily wipe off with a cloth or paper towel. It is then ready to be reseasoned. One thing I always do when I find an old piece of cast iron cookware at a yard sale, flea market etc. is check it to be sure it doesn't have an invisible crack somewhere. I suspend the pan, pot, etc by holding the handle between 2 fingers, letting it swing free. I then give it a good thump with the finger and thumb of my other hand. If it is crack free. it will ring, but if there is a crack hiding that is either too small to see, or covered with baked on food, it will make a thud sound.


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