Restoring cast iron cookware

[Cgrutt]

Great post on restoring cast iron with pure lye (for crud/iron) followed by vinegar (for rust).

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=265151

[usmcveteran]

It's actually much easier then that.

Buy the blue can of oven cleaner. Spray liberally all over pans and put inside garbage bag for 24 to 48 hours.

Remove and rinse with water and scrub pad. If needed repeat process and wipe down with vinager and rinse well again.

Wipe off all water then put into oven and turn it on to 300. Leave in for an hour.

Remove and start your seasoning process. I would suggest against flaxseed oil as well. I use Crisco .

[usmcveteran]

Also don't clean cast iron by throwing it into fire ever unless you don't care about it all.

[LibertyOrDeath]

Also don't clean cast iron by throwing it into fire ever unless you don't care about it all.

Someone from that post said they just throw it in the fire. lol
As for seasoning oil I like coconut oil.

****This is NOT my signature**************

[usmcveteran]

Yea if you throw it in fire you risk warping, or cracking the pan. Also I have read that of you over heat the metal it can turn it to a red color that looks like rust . apparently doing this will cause the pan not to take seasoning properly.

[Cgrutt]

Aren't the dutch ovens made to be put into the camp fire with coals below and on top? Wouldn't this subject it to the same level of heat as "putting it in the fire"?

[usmcveteran]

There's another form of damage which results, unfortunately, from good but misguided intentions. You'll often hear or read how simple cast iron cleaning can be if you just burn a pan in a fire. If the fire burns too hot, however, the molecular structure of the iron can be irreparably changed. Iron so-damaged will have an often scaly, patchy, dull red appearance, different from regular rust's orange/brown. Re-seasoning over such damage is usually not possible. A fire-damaged pan:

http://www.castironcollector.com/damage.php

[usmcveteran]

That said pie irons are meant to be used on coals, I think difference is you don't want it so hot or for to long