cast iron damaged?

[don1911]

I have acquired some cast iron conbread fritter pans, and small skillets. Someone "removed rust" with "Evapo-Rust" chemical. The chemical is supposed to be a safe way to remove rust, so maybe its not the problem. Or maybe it is. I don't know. However one of the skillets had paint on it. All the cast iron was soaked in same container at the same time for at least a day, maybe more?. Then I acquire them. And I cleaned and seasoned them. Now my cornbread tastes funny. Can they be "cleaned" of whatever is causing bad taste? or are they ruined?

[sullivanclan]

I concur with the myths. Some soap and water WHEN needed is just fine. I also use the self cleaning oven as well. Using Coke product has worked for some people who have come across wierd tastes.

Never buy new cast iron, unless you plan on your children's children enjoying them. The older the better providing they are in good condition and not damaged.

[sandblast]

Fizz wrote:
I wash our cast iron pans in soap and water all the times.
They are well seasoned and suffer no harm.

Cast Iron Myths

Fizz X2
My cast iron is from my m-i-l and is Griswold and Wagner.
Smooth and shiny!
Wash it wipe it dry and put it away!

[3boxerss]

yup my dad would do it the same way his grandpa taught him and now me. Toss the rusty pan in the fire take it out and knock it against something to get the big pieces off(usually moms metal clothesline pole) then wipe it out and reseason.. Sometimes he would take it out warm other times he would wait till the fire went out.

[Foy_R__Smith]

Let your campfire burn down to a good bed of coals! Lay your cast iron in it and cover them with hot coals, then go to bed! The pans will get hot and burn off whatever other people have done. They will cool down on their own overnight, slowly! The next morning wipe them off fry some potatoes in them! That will put a new oil season on them! From then on, use them and oil them down when done!

[BigBlockTank]

I've had quite a few rusted cast iron pots and pans. The best way I've found to clean them is to use a little heat, a little oil, a little sea salt, and a little elbow grease. Put the pan on a burner, add a little safflower oil, and a little sea salt, or any salt, I like a little grainy salt for this purpose. For the cornbread pans, I'd use a small brush to get in the nooks and crannies.

Wipe it out, and I'd say that should take care of the taste for you. I have my great grandmothers cast iron, and it's been cleaned like this for over 40 years since I've owned it. I have a big plow disc that I cook on, it's cleaned this way. All my cast iron pots and pans are cleaned like this. I have a 36" griddle and it gets cleaned this way. I forgot to mention, on everything I own, I use a cloth rag to wipe it out. If your cornbread pan is smooth in the indents, I'd probably use a rag as well.

[magnusfide]

The one way to destroy cast iron is rapid temp changes. In short, don't put a hot pot in cold water.

Do heat it up in the campfire to burn off any chemicals from the evapo-rust. Let it cool slowly. Or mild dish soap and water before you put it in the fire. Iron is porous and any chemical left after the washing will burn off in the fire. Don't put it in the oven cleaning cycle until you're sure that the chemicals are gone because you don't want to breathe aerosolized chemicals from your oven :w

[Uually]

Just place them in a self cleaning oven,the oven needed cleaned any way. If you don't have a wood fire handy.

[Sport45]

Fizz wrote:
I wash our cast iron pans in soap and water all the times.
They are well seasoned and suffer no harm.

Cast Iron Myths

Agreed. The cast iron our family uses has been washed in the sink with everything else for generations and is still good as new.

Washed in the sink that is. I'd never put cast iron in a dishwasher. But none of our pots, pans, or sharp knives ever see the inside of a dishwasher anyway. It seems to be more of a cup, plate, utensils and glassware sterilizer after they've been well rinsed. 🙂

[Fizz]

I wash our cast iron pans in soap and water all the times.
They are well seasoned and suffer no harm.

Cast Iron Myths

[2hammers]

I have recently started using cast iron exclusively! I have a skillet that is over 100 years old..its surface is smooth as glass. You can heat it on your coals..however you will get lots of black on your pans. I clean mine at home..in the self cleaning oven..it will smoke up your house! After cleaning..remove from your oven after it has cooled..taking it out too hot can cause it to crack! Season it with whatever you choose..Crisco, vegtible oil, then wipe it real good with a paper towel.. inside and out..leaving too much oil on it will result in a sticky mess! At this point I spray mine with Original Pam..after each use..then wipe down..ready for next use!

[don1911]

Good info y'all. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Tom_Trostel]

You can accomplish the same heat level if your oven has a "clean" cycle. But, it will smell up the house.

[theoldwizard1]

Johno02 wrote:
Throw it in the campfire, and heat to red-hot. Remove carefully and let cool.

I'm not sure you can get it red hot, but get it as hot as possible.

[Little_Kopit]

I've always understood that cast iron needs to be heated slowly and cooled slowly. Thus, let your heat source go out and die. Take you pans out of that place after they are cooled to the air around them and you.

:C