Cast iron

[wraithen]

You CAN NOT accidentally hurt cast iron so don't worry about it. People tend to try to want to do it the "best" and make the finish the "longest lasting." It's cast iron. Abuse the crap out of it and then fix it. OLD SCHOOL! Kinda like the old cars and trucks. They break more often but they're way easier to fix.

[Ice Cap]

The most coom way people abuse cast iron is by putting cold water in a hot pan.
Cold water in a hot pan can warp or even crack the iron!

[runamuk]

washing cast iron with detergent, in the dishwasher, or with sos pads will cause it to rust, this isn't technically ruining it but people nowdays have an aversion to eating foods cooked with extra iron and would rather take some weird fda approved iron supplement (that is just rust with another name) unless you use your cast iron as a target it is really tough to "ruin" you can always blast it down in a worst case....and if any of you have rusty cast iron you feel is ruined please please give it to me instead of tossing in trash, I am not afraid of rust and like bringing back old metal (and leather) from the brink.

[bloodhound]

ide sand blast it then season and go! but the one i found in the ground i now use as my melting pan for melting down lead to pour in molds

[quadrafire]

washing cast iron with detergent, in the dishwasher, or with sos pads will cause it to rust, this isn't technically ruining it but people nowdays have an aversion to eating foods cooked with extra iron and would rather take some weird fda approved iron supplement (that is just rust with another name) unless you use your cast iron as a target it is really tough to "ruin" you can always blast it down in a worst case....and if any of you have rusty cast iron you feel is ruined please please give it to me instead of tossing in trash, I am not afraid of rust and like bringing back old metal (and leather) from the brink.

I think I could get into restoring some of the classics. I'm gonna keep my eyes peeled at garage/yard sales for some Griswold pieces

[Stickerbush]

here is a good link, haven't tried it yet... http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-and-season-old-ru-151535

[quadrafire]

I'm not sure about the rust. Don't think the oven cleaner will help with that, but it is great for the "stuck on" stuff. I'm not opposed to a little toxin as it is getting rinsed and cooked out  I would think. After a thorough cleaning these things rust FAST, so better get some oil on them quickly after cleaning.
I was frustrated after my deep clean, but it is getting better and better after each usage.

[Huntbear]

Had a buddy that would sand blast old cast iron pans he found in garage sales etc....  then re-season and use the...  worked like a charm... biggest issue is getting them hot enough to "absorb" the grease during the seasoning process..  If you have to use welding gloves AND a hot pad, you about got it right... 

OH, and lard/bacon grease works better than Crisco imho..   

[dad98684]

Had a buddy that would sand blast old cast iron pans he found in garage sales etc....  then re-season and use the...  worked like a charm... biggest issue is getting them hot enough to "absorb" the grease during the seasoning process..  If you have to use welding gloves AND a hot pad, you about got it right... 

OH, and lard/bacon grease works better than Crisco imho..   

i have done the same thing and used a wood fire in my smoker with bacon fat re-season. best fry pans ever!

[75johndeere]

Had a buddy that would sand blast old cast iron pans he found in garage sales etc....  then re-season and use the...  worked like a charm... biggest issue is getting them hot enough to "absorb" the grease during the seasoning process..  If you have to use welding gloves AND a hot pad, you about got it right... 

OH, and lard/bacon grease works better than Crisco imho..   

My dad  left our box of cast iron pots and pans in the back of the truck after hunting season for awhile and when we realized what had happened they where covered in large flakes of rust we sand blasted them down found a old stove on craigslist and filled them all with bacon grease let them bake for hours cleaned them out and reapplied more grease now they work great except the dutch oven that cracked but i was able to braze that one up and it still works like a champ had to season the crap out of that one.

[Curly]

Hey, Quadrafire.........do you think it would be possible to season the cast iron pan in your Big Green Egg?  Seems like it would be better than doing it inside the house?

[scottcrb]

use heavy coarse grain or kosher salt and scrub with that to get any stuff off the bottom and re season. works great if ya got some stubborn burnt of crud on teh bottom . i never wash mine in soap or the dishwasher,

[washelkhunter]

If its been seasoned and in use i just clean up with a.metal spatula and wipe it out with a paper towel. Good to go. 

[et1702]

Hey, Quadrafire.........do you think it would be possible to season the cast iron pan in your Big Green Egg?  Seems like it would be better than doing it inside the house?

I have a great big Dutch Oven, and I put mine in the Webber BBQ for seasoning.  Works great! 

Also, last time I seasoned it, I tried the high temp Pam Grilling spray, works really good too.

ET

[quadrafire]

Hey, Quadrafire.........do you think it would be possible to season the cast iron pan in your Big Green Egg?  Seems like it would be better than doing it inside the house?

That is a great idea. I definately will next time I do one.