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Cast Iron Frying Pan

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IronHorse

12-19-2005 08:19:05




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hey I got an old cast iron frying pan that is rusted and I want to use it again what is the best way to restore it for cooking use?

thanks

Merry Christmas




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Burnie

12-20-2005 04:32:42




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
I cook a lot with camp ovens (duch ovens) and people will often give me old cast iron stuff that they have found goodness knows where. The most important thing to remember is that cast iron is a very headstrong metal and you MUST show it who's boss right from the start. Cookware that doesn't respect you is like teaching a pig to sing: it wastes your time and annoys the pig. Now this may sound a bit harsh, but take your fry pan into the shed and take out your 4 inch angle grinder. Fit a wire brush head and, ignoring all pleading and protests from the pan, give that rusty old sucker a good workout, inside and out. Then it's in to some hot soapy water and steel wool. Rinse in clean hot water then heat it in the oven or stove top until it's dried. The pan will be quite placid by this stage, and will realise that resistance to the seasoning process is futile.
I never give advice on seasoning if there are any other camp oven cooks within a 100yd radius. For some unknown reason, the subject is even more controversal than 'the best way to start a campfire'. I have actually seen two blokes almost come to blows over the subject. There are about as many ways to do it as there are cooks, so I just do it my way and am happy to let others do it their way. While we're on the subject, here's a handy survival tip. When travelling in desert country, always carry a cast iron fry pan. If you become lost and run out of water, simply take out your fry pan an begin the seasoning process. Within a few minutes, someone will snatch the pan from your grasp, explain in no uncertian terms that your method is completly wrong and immediately carry out the 'correct' procedure. You can then ask them for a drink of water.

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ChrisH(IA)

12-19-2005 13:09:23




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
Hello. If it's surface rust-not pitted-you can take a raw potato and scour it with that, cutting off the rusty tater till that tater comes clean. Then coat with veg. oil and set onna burner on med heat. Ours don't get used much and I've made lots of sausage gravy-never tastes rusty.



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JR(CASE38MAN)

12-19-2005 11:21:49




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
I sand blast them clean ..Then put them on a burner with water and salt and let it boil...Then take them off and dry them and rud cooking oil on them..It will make corn bread and never stick..



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Keith-OR

12-19-2005 09:21:01




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
IronHorse, use FIT's method from the Case forum,(Electrolysis). I have cleaned up 8 or 10 American cast iron pans, even takes off the build up crud off the outside and more important rust from the inside. Then condition as usual. I put mine in the oven at 400*, coat with lard or shorting, cooking oils are NOT recomended to seasoning cast iron frying pans.

Electrolysis in the following website, just click on "restoration tip".HTH

Keith

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TimV

12-19-2005 09:14:00




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
The best way is electrolysis. This is what most professional restorers use. The link below gives some info--I've used it myself on several pans and it does a great job. It's not nearly as complicated as it sounds at first glance--basically you put washing soda in a container of water (a plastic 5-gallon pail will work nicely), then stick in the piece you want to clean, put in some sacrificial metal, hook the negative clamp of a battery charger to the piece you're cleaning, the positive clamp to the sacrificial piece (I often use old lawnmower blades), turn on the current and let it set for a couple of days. Wipe off the surface every couple of days (you'll need to turn the pan over once one side is clean as electrolysis works on "line of sight") and within a week you'll have a completely rust-free pan ready for seasoning.

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Chas K

12-19-2005 09:07:16




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
Ok. The fire method might be the best. But you can also season them in the oven. If it's light rust, just coat it with lard, (veggie oil will work, just doesn't last as long)and bake it in the oven for a few hours. I do mine at 450 degrees for 3 hours. If there's a lot of baked on greese, keep in mind it could get a little smokey in the house. Don't try it right before the in laws come over. (Don't ask!!) After baking,let cool enough to handle.I will sratch off any extra scale that is still on. Steel wool works nice. Then re-coat inside and out with lard/oil, and bake again at 400 for 2 more hours. I've just done this to all my old cast iron, and they now work great agian.

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John51

12-19-2005 08:31:13




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
Toss it in a good bed of coals from a wood fire. Get it good and hot. Take it out and let it cool. Rub it with some steel wool if necessary, but most of the time it will come out loking like new. Warm it up a little and rub some cooking oil into it (but the best thing is lard....make sure it doen't have any salt). That's it. Don't wash it. Just wipe it clean after use. When grease builds up on it again, toss it back in the fire. And yes, I've done this many times at our cabin where we use cast iron a lot.

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Tim...Ok

12-19-2005 08:27:58




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 Re: Cast Iron Frying Pan in reply to IronHorse, 12-19-2005 08:19:05  
Horsie, Build a fire outside,let it burn down and get a good pile of coals,toss it in and leave it til it's red hot..drag it out and let it cool,at least til it's not red anymore,and wipe it down with cooking oil of choice,I've always used just plain veggie oil,but doubt it matters what kind you use.. the key to using castiron,is when you use it and get it dirty,wash it immediately after your thru with it,put it back on the stove,fire or whatever and dry it with HEAT,wipe it down with a little oil and your good to go for next time..

HTH,
Tim

Tim

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