Cast Iron Cookware
Cleaning & Seasoning
Properly seasoned Cast Iron is better non-stick than Teflon
CAUTION:
Lye & Lye Products like Oven Cleaner are CAUSTIC and will burn you
Wear rubber gloves and eye protection while doing this!!
NO TOMATO PRODUCTS
Highly acidic foods will eat the seasoning & sometimes the cast iron.
NORMAL CLEANING
Rinse with water
Wipe with wet Cotton Dish Towel
Dry with dish towel
Very light coat of oil, Pam,shortening (reduces spot rust)
NEVER use detergent to clean it. It destroys the seasoning.
NEVER use an Abrasive Pad or Brillo Pad.
NEVER put cold water in a hot pan
I DO NOT recommend the following methods of cleaning:
* Throw it in a fire - The intense heat of a fire can severely warp or even crack the piece.
* Self Cleaning Oven - Although not as great a risk as throwing it in a fire, the intense heat of a self cleaning can warp the piece.
* Sandblasting - Destroys the value/patina making it a dull gray color just like new - A cardinal sin for collectors..
STUBBORN CLEANING
Put hot water in the pan and bring it to a boil.
Let the pan soak for several minutes,
Wipe it out with a paper towel.
If something sticks, scrape it with a spoon to dislodge it.
Wipe with Cotton Dish Towel
Dry with dish towel
Reheat the pan and apply a fine coating of shortening, oil, or Pam.
Do not apply enough to run, just wet the surface with a fine layer.
DEEP CLEANING
Spray the pan with oven cleaner
Put it in a plastic bag for a couple of days. (The bag keeps the oven cleaner from drying out).
Remove from the bag and scrub it in a solution of dish soap/water.
Use a brass brush scrub brush for the heavy build up (A white wall tire brush works great.)
If all the burned on grease doesn't come off, repeat the process, concentrating the cleaner to the areas not cleaned.
After removing the burned on grease you are ready to season the piece.
SEASONING
Preheat the oven to 125 degrees. (Removes any moisture in the oven which could condense on the cold skillet leaving a very fine gold/rust color.
Bake the pieces in the 125 degree oven for 15 minutes or until hot.
Remove the heated pan. (Use a hot pad to hold it. Doh!).
Apply lard (Bacon Grease or Crisco also work - Oil does not work as well).
Flow it on.
Tilt and turn the pan to get an even coat.
Return them to the oven shelf upside down up
Put something below to catch the drips (i.e. cookie sheet).
Othewise the drippings will burn & smoke like a SOB the next time you bake. (Asking for a friend)
Raise the oven temperature to 225 degrees.
Bake for 1/2 hour
Wipe off any pooling, leaving a shinning wet piece.
The timing is important.
DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN TOO LONG (the lard will thicken or burn.)
Bake in the 225 degree oven for another half hour.
Let them cool down a bit, but while still warm, wipe them to a dull shine.
The pans are seasonied.
Cooking fatty foods in the pan will add to the seasoning process.
The more you use it (and don’t abuse it) the better the pan will be.
BULK CLEANING
For bulk cleaning, prepare a soak in a plastic container of one and a half gallons of water to one 18 ounce can of lye.
Lye is very caustic and will burn you.
Always wear rubber gloves.
Mix enough in the plastic container to cover the items to be cleaned.
Soak the pieces for about five days.
Then scrub them.
You can use the lye mixture several times.
Do not use oven cleaner or lye on aluminum! It will eat the aluminum!
Lye and oven cleaner will also eat the wood finish and will dull porcelain
.
RUST REMOVAL
To remove rust, buff the pan with a fine wire wheel in an electric drill.
Crusted rust can be dissolved by soaking the piece in a 50%solution of white vinegar and water for a few hours.
Don't leave it more than overnight without checking it.
This solution will eventually eat the iron
It is now important to neutralize and stop the action of the vinegar.
The washing soda neutralizes the vinegar so it will not continue to attack the iron.
Then scrub the piece in dish detergent and hot water before seasoning.
Apply the oven cleaner and let the piece soak over night.
You can also soak the piece over night in an alkaline solution such as washing soda.
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