growing and learning

Entry #200: CAST IRON question!

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11:47 AM, Thursday, June 12, 2008 .. Posted by AnIntentionalPeasant

One of the beautiful things about cast iron is it is very forgiving, hence don't worry about sinning against it. If the rust doesn't want to come off there is a few different things you can do. The easiest of which is to use a steal wool pad, start with the finest grit and if not enough then work your way up to a rougher grit. Don't be afraid to use some elbow grease. If the rust comes off go ahead and reseason, you can reason several times to get the coating you want. If that doesn't work and your husband is handy with a sand blaster, you can sand blast the rust off. Last resort would be to have a bonfire and after the flames have died and you are left with coals, throw it in there and just leave it for several hours. We've used all 3 methods but the bonfire is what we do most when getting a new piece of iron from a garage sale or when our cast iron rusts but a word of caution, some say the sudden heat can crack the cast. I have used this method several times and never had that happen but sense the pot is not yours you might want to try the other 2 first.
Good luck
The Intentional Peasant
PS Just wanted to tell you I really enjoy reading your blog.

rust

12:03 PM, Thursday, June 12, 2008 .. Posted by wstoller

My husband takes a hand grinder to them - one cleaned up and looked brand new! The other's look much better when he is done. Then bake them in the oven (sprayed/rubbed with oil) for a while and they'll season - I am constantly scrubbing off my seasoning because I'm obsessed with soap and my green scrubby! :0) I have been told by the guy who sold me my first cast iron that he seasons them with olive oil - because it doesn't tend to get "sticky" like other oils can - have fun!

Edited by wstoller on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 01:04 PM

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12:20 PM, Thursday, June 12, 2008 .. Posted by Kitty

As the other two commenters have said, the steel wool pad or a grinder would work wonderfully. I was given a cast iron pan that was found in a hundred year old shed. When I tell you I thought, "whats the use?", I did. But my dh took it to work and had it sand blasted and it was as good as knew. And as the other commenter said, don't be afraid of really getting in there with something and scrubbing the heck out of it. The rust will come off, it may take some work, but it will come off. Good luck.
And PS, you post whatever it is you have going on in your life on any given day. I don't always post interesting reading on mine, but hey, its my life. So post away................Kitty

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11:10 AM, Friday, June 13, 2008 .. Posted by katlupe

I have a pretty big collection of cast iron and what the other commentors told you to do are right on. Just don't use a SOS cleaning pad.....use a steel wool pad as I don't believe you should use soap on it. From what I hear, the bonfire idea is what most people do if the other methods don't work.

I am new here, but I would love to read your daily posts too. I get ideas from other people......like you!

katlupe