Cast Iron Cookware Care

To "Season" a cast iron skillet (no wooden or ceramic handles):


Heat oven to 350*, place cookie sheet wrapped with aluminum foil on bottom rack to catch any drips of fat or oil.

Heat the skillet so it's just warm enough to melt some shortening. You can use either Crisco, lard, bacon fat, (or for the vegetarians) vegetable oil. I prefer lard. Wipe a little bit of the fat or oil all around all surfaces of the iron. Place the iron upside down on the top rack of the oven, and let it burn for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, carefully remove pan, and wipe out any excess fat, or else it will get sticky. Put the skillet back in the oven, and let it cook for 1-2 hours. The kitchen may get smokey, so it's best to do this when you can open windows. It helps to have the exhaust fan on high. After the 1-2 hours, turn the oven off. Leave the skillet in the oven to let it cool off gradually. Voila! A newly seasoned cast iron skillet, ready for cooking.

Once you have your newly seasoned skillet, you should fry fatty foods for the first few uses. Use it for bacon, sausage, hamburgers, anything fatty will continue to season it even more.


Cleaning cast iron cookware tips:

1) NEVER use soap on cast iron. It will remove the seasoning, causing more work for you.
2) NEVER put cast iron in a dishwasher.
3) Wash out the skillet with hot water as soon as you are done cooking with it, while the pan is still hot. Use the hottest water you can stand. If you have stuck on food, use a plastic scrubber to loosen it. Dry the skillet completely. Use the oven if it's still warm for cooking to make sure the skillet is thoroughly dry.


Storing Cast iron cookware:

1)If the pan has a lid, use a piece of paper folded accordion style to slightly raise the lid from the pan. This will help keep air flow into the pan, so moisture won't collect inside.
2) Store your cast iron cookware in a warm, dry place. I store mine in the oven.


Restoring rusty cast iron cookware:

If you have a rusty cast iron skillet, all hope is not necessarily lost. You may get to use it yet. There are many ways to clean cast iron.

1) Back in the olden days, they used to put the pan right on a fire that is almost burned out, but still hot. That will remove alot of rust and old seasoning, but it's very dangerous and you may damage your skillet.

2) You can use a wire brush, wire wheel with a drill, steel wool, and lots of elbow grease to remove rust.


3) Soak the piece in Coca-Cola, or a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Don't let it sit more than 4 hours in the vinegar solution, as vinegar will actually eat the good iron, too.

4) Take a regular, white potato. Cut off one end to expose the "white" part. Slightly dampen the iron with water, and using the potato and some Ajax or Comet type powder cleanser, rub the rust away in circular motions. ( This one shocked me, too, lol! Kinda makes you think twice about what you eat, huh? )

5) Use electrolysis... the step by step for this type of rust removal can be found here:http://www.wag-society.org/Electrolysis/electros.php

Remember to always give your restored cast iron a good seasoning before using or storing to prevent future rusting.