Cast Iron pan restore 8"

[Chef Odin]

Good day all. Had a happy weekend of cooking. I made some shortbread cookies, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, and some chicken tikka masala.

I just wanted to thank the forum for inspiring me to drag an old 8" cast iron skillet out of the garage and get it back into useable shape for cooking. After viewing a few different strategies, I settled on the following.

1) Soak pan in solution of 50/50 vinegar and water for 30 minutes.
2) Use a steel pan scrubber pad and salt and baking soda for abrasion.
3) Rub like you are hoping for a genie to pop out of a lamp cause you ain't got the $$ for the mortgage.
4) Rinse and add more salt/baking soda. Repeat 3 - 4 until all rust and gunk was gone.

Once the pan was clean, I did a final rinse and quickly applied a coat of coconut oil. I then put the pan into a 400 F oven for 45 minutes. I seasoned all my pans at the same time. Why not?

After the seasoning was done, I let the pan cool and added a thin coat of oil. The pan looks almost new right now. You gotta love cast iron cookware.

I used the pan to caramelize onions for some burgers I was cooking for dinner. Success!!! The pan has a great nonstick coating and now pretty much rounds out my frying pan collection. Pretty boring stuff I know but thanks for the inspiration and thanks for reading.

Chef Odin

 

[Andy M.]

I discovered, quite by accident, that you can leave a CI pan in the oven during the high temp self-clean cycle. When it all cooled down, It looked like it did brand new in the foundry. Perfectly clean and ready to season.

 

[Chef Odin]

I discovered, quite by accident, that you can leave a CI pan in the oven during the high temp self-clean cycle. When it all cooled down, It looked like it did brand new in the foundry. Perfectly clean and ready to season.

Rust gone as well? If so, that is mighty impressive.

 

[Andy M.]

It wasn't rusty. Just accidentally left in the oven.

 

[Katie H]

I've used the self-cleaning feature, purposely, on my oven to remove all the built-up crud on my cast iron cookware. After the piece(s) cooled down, I gave them a nice soapy scrub a dub dub and seasoned them with vegetable shortening. Just like new.

 

[dragnlaw]

I've often thought of that. Think I'll try it but need to ask my DIL when she's going to do hers next.
Don't think my toaster oven can do that! LOL

 

[Kathleen]

I loved Step 3, @Chef Odin. And loved hearing that it came out perfectly!

 

[grumpyoldman]

well when my cast iron pans get cruddy and or rusty , i just wait until i have enough scrap wood and make a nice sized fire in the yard and just put the pan in the middle , by the next day its ready to re-season and my yard is cleaned up for another year . work smarter not harder

 

[Shining Wizard]

Never thought of doing it on the incinerator setting in my oven. I use my cast iron as my everyday and we keep it nice and clean and with a storied seasoning, so I don’t need a refin at the moment.
If I were to pick up a new/old piece when thrift shopping, I might be tempted to try it.

 

[Gone Hiking]

I've used vinegar, oven cleaner sealed in a trash bag, and a wire wheel on my drill to strip pans, but I'm still wanting to try the electrolosis method, which seems to be the easiest and work best in videos. So far, I still haven't drug a tub of solution outside to hook up to my car battery. The oven clean setting method sounds interesting, too, but I always remove the shelves before doing that, so as not to warp them.

 

[Andy M.]

You all have found the most difficult ways to strip a CI pan! You gotta try the Self Cleaning oven method. Put pan in oven, turn on oven, come back later. Viola!

I always clean the shelves in the oven. I've been doing it for 26 years with no issues.

 

[caseydog]

You all have found the most difficult ways to strip a CI pan! You gotta try the Self Cleaning oven method. Put pan in oven, turn on oven, come back later. Viola!

I always clean the shelves in the oven. I've been doing it for 26 years with no issues.

View attachment 79279

I leave the racks in, too. If the racks warp in SC mode, you got a cheap oven.

Luckily, most of my cast iron is enamel coated, and my Griswold bare CI is so well seasoned, I can clean it after use with some boiling water alone, so I hope I never have to strip it and re-season it.

CD

 

[Chef Odin]

I've used vinegar, oven cleaner sealed in a trash bag, and a wire wheel on my drill to strip pans, but I'm still wanting to try the electrolosis method, which seems to be the easiest and work best in videos. So far, I still haven't drug a tub of solution outside to hook up to my car battery. The oven clean setting method sounds interesting, too, but I always remove the shelves before doing that, so as not to warp them.

Now I am intrigued. Electrolysis you say? I see a new project in my near future...

Chef Odin

 

[dragnlaw]

Electrolysis often used to clean jewelry and silverware. Is also used on hobby electric trains.

 

[Shining Wizard]

Electrolysis often used to clean jewelry and silverware. Is also used on hobby electric trains.

And hair removal

 

[dragnlaw]

But the don't dump you in a container of water and charge you!