When I was in Louisiana, I was astounded at how much cast iron my aunt had collected. She used it too and it was all seasoned and so smooth. It inspired me to take better care of the cast iron I do have and start watching for older pieces at flea markets and second hand stores.
Cast Iron
I use my pizza pan, which Lodge calls a 14″ grill pan, is also what I use on the outside gas burner for cooking hamburgers. It had been left out on the porch and I though tit had a good coating of oil on it but it had rusted. The photo above was taken after I had cleaned and scrubbed. I wanted to get it back down to the base but I couldn’t. I had used oven cleaner, salt, baking soda . . everything I read online, I tried.
Cleaning Cast Iron
Finally Vince said “What are you trying to do?” so I explained it and he said he could use his electric grinder which worked great. After grinding and cleaning and re-seasoning, it looks pretty good.
Cast Iron
I’ll oil it again later and put it back in the oven. It isn’t perfect yet but I will be able to get it perfect and I’ll take better care of it and not let it get rusty again.
Carol says
Years ago when we were camping and would have a campfire we would put our skillets on the fire and burn off the accumulated stuff on the skillet. Then I would wash and reseason right away
thequiltingprofessor says
My mother tells the same story – that they would burn the skillets in a fire.
Judy Laquidara says
A lot of people do burn them in a fire but we had one crack. I talked to the people at Lodge about it and they said putting the in the fire can cause them to crack. Honestly, if I had a good hot fire, I would still clean a rusty pan that way but so long as I take care of them, I don’t usually have a problem.
Lee Young says
There’s a group on Facebook called Cast Iron Enthusiasts (many who are rabid collectors!) and they a few ways of stripping down and reseasoning rusted, and overly crudded, cast iron. Many of them would frown on Vince’s method, but they’d also frown on my own use of soap (mostly I use it when wiping just doesn’t get the greasy feel off the handle). Many of them have set up what they call an ETank which is a lye bath with electrodes and stuff I don’t understand. I think some qualify well beyond the word ‘enthusiast’. I love my cast iron, and have around a dozen pieces of it but no where near as extreme as they are, still the group provides an interesting read.
Sherrill Pecere says
I have never used cast iron and no clue about what the seasoning is/does and all that other stuff. Maybe that’s why I don’t own any..sounds like a lotta work! LOL Quite a difference in the before/after pix of your pizza grill.
Diane says
I have inherited a couple of pieces that were my mother’s and my grandmother’s. They are so seasoned they are better than any teflon pan I have ever owned.
Joyce says
I have a fairly large cast iron skillet from my Grandmother that is well seasoned. She gave it to me when it got “too heavy: for her to use. I also kept my parents’ cast iron skillets. They also are really well seasoned. I bought a cast iron skillet when I moved into my first apartment. It is well seasoned now, but I remember what it was like when I first bought it. It’s amazing what years of use does to them. The outside of mine could stand to be oiled and baked again. It is not as seasoned as the inside! The difference in the before and after on your pizza pan is amazing, although it is really hard to totally ruin one. I’m sure some people looked at your “before” and thought it was ready to be pitched.
Erin Bennett says
I am impressed yours look awesome great job restoring them!!! I have two Lodge skillets love them! Not a lot of work at all! Would rather use them than the non stick Tfal or faberware! Best investment!
Carol Craven says
Judy how do you redo old cast iron to cook in again?
patti says
search “electrolysis tank” and you’ll be ecstatic with the results -with very little effort. my hubby used a plastic garbage pail and the washing soda i have on hand for making laundry soap (thanks to you). a wooden dowel across the top to hang the pan from and voila! he has brought many a pan back to life.