Hectic Heaven

Cast iron, removing rust and reseasoning

Occasionally, I will find a piece of cast iron at a garage/yard sale that is rusty and in need of some TLC.   If  the cast iron is severly pitted I will leave it at the sale.. if its just got some rust on it from neglect its an easy fix...   To remove the rust I soak it for a bit in  vinegar, doesnt  really matter what kind... white or apple.. what ever you have... that and a steel brush or steel wool will remove most rust.. as well as any prior seasoning... some people put the pots in a self cleaning oven and let it go... once the rust and seasoning is removed I  wash it with soap and water and  dry it in the over until the pan is hot... I rub a light layer of  crisco over the whole pan and out it goes to the bbq to bake... I bake it about an hour at about 400 degree's and then shut it off and let it cool on its own....  you can do the above step in the house but it does tend to smoke things up a might...as it I have set fire alarms off from the smoke... make sure your beloved pot it turned over  so any oil will drip out...

The finished Dutch oven

This is one of my favorite little pots that inadvertenly got left out last year after a rendezvous and rusted.. but now its ready for the next rendezvous..

Untitled Comment

08:50, 2006-Apr-17 .. Posted by HandsNHearts

thank you for sharing this tidbit. I have realy not used my many cast iron pots and pans due to total lack of knowledge on my part. I do tend to collect them though...I pick them up everywhere and they merely sit :o( I want to start using them!!!
So, some vinegar and a steel brush, a good hot fire and some Crisco :o) I can't wait!
Deanna