How to clean old cast iron dutch oven??

**LMT Shooter** · 01-17-13, 03:49

Originally Posted by romadant

Nice. My wife would agree with you. She'll beat my ass if I come at her cast iron with soap.

My Mom DID beat my ass for using soap on the cast iron skillet when I was a kid! Nothing like an ass whipping to help learn a lesson. I was just glad she didn't use the skillet to beat my ass.

**ICANHITHIMMAN** · 01-17-13, 08:02

Oh my dad is super into this, he cleans them at my house with my sand blaster and aluminum oxide. Then he uses a conditioner made just for cast iron cook wear. Remember don't was your cast iron

**tb-av** · 01-17-13, 08:43

The old way to season cast iron was simply grease and salt in a fire.

If you cut all the old cure out of that pot it will take a long long time to get that non-stick-like surface back. You can look at videos on Youtube and see where people re-cure their pans and see the uneven surface when they are done. It should look like a black flat surface and yours sounds like that is what you have. Try to save that.

If you have that just do this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=8z3c3_CB-2s

If not and and you want to start new, do this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=fqUPz8U5Nk4

This shows how to work down an over cured pan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13-d2KDjKfc

**WhiskyNiner** · 01-17-13, 10:35

OP, for your initial clean there's no power like elbow grease. Clean in ever-increasing power modes until whatever it is infesting your new pot is gone. Then season with bacon fat as many times as you can stand (at least twice.)

The web is great for learning about living with cast iron. Best o' luck.

**hatidua** · 01-17-13, 14:19

I purchased an old Griswold 12" cast iron skillet that was neglected and in need of help. I used a cupped wire bit on a drill and took it down to bare shiny metal and then seasoned it repeatedly in the oven with high-temperature oil (grape seed oil, etc). That was years ago and I'd use the same technique again if I found another one, that skillet is a prized possession now.

**montanadave** · 01-17-13, 14:32

Read this gal's blog on cleaning an old piece of cast iron (http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/20...son-cast-iron/) and her subsequent entry on the "science" of seasoning cast iron (http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/20...ing-cast-iron/).

Probably more detail than you'll ever want to know, but the lady knows a little somethin' about cast iron.

**halfkorean** · 01-17-13, 14:41

Originally Posted by hickuleas

I have always cleaned dirty or rusty cast iron by putting the cast iron in a little wood pile. Then light a fire and let the fire burn it off but leave skillet in fire so it doesn't cool too fast but it must get red to remove the rust. People in the south have been using this method for many years. Then after you have skillet seasoned only wash with hot water as soap detergent will remove seasoning.

We used this method on an old cast iron pot we found under a old house when we demoed the house and it worked great. We seasoned it a few times back to back and it is our go to pot now.

HK

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**6933** · 01-17-13, 17:26

The fire method works well. Will get rid of any mold spores as long as you get it really, really hot.

Plenty of good seasoning methods mentioned, but the spray "Pam" works really well.

When you put it in the oven covered in your seasoner of choice, be ready for some smoke to be made as it heats and settles in. I bake at 450F for a couple of hours and periodically have to open some windows to let smoke out. Maybe I'm just sensitive; to smoke that is.

**tb-av** · 01-17-13, 17:49

Originally Posted by hatidua

I purchased an old Griswold 12" cast iron skillet that was neglected and in need of help. I used a cupped wire bit on a drill and took it down to bare shiny metal and then seasoned it repeatedly in the oven with high-temperature oil (grape seed oil, etc). That was years ago and I'd use the same technique again if I found another one, that skillet is a prized possession now.

Those are the best. There is one other brand that's really good too. Th ename escapes me right now though.

Griswold is the Colt of cast iron.