Cast Iron

[carver]

When I find an item that is under priced I take a picture of the price tag with my cell phone to show the cashier when I check out. The manager shows up, and I have the proof at hand.

[Oldeyes]

Just a couple of recently discovered (for me) factoids on the care and handling of cast iron cookware.

The admonition to not use soap on your seasoned cast iron cookware is a holdover from the time that the kitchen soap was lye based. Old fashioned lye based soap would indeed eat the organic coating right off of cast ironware. Modern (manual) dish washing detergent does not. No automatic dish washing ever.

Old pan seasoning can be removed by placing the cast ironware into a large fire and allowing it to burn off. Alternatively, heat your cast ironware up and take it outside and spray (down wind) with a good lye (sodium hydroxide) based oven cleaner. Rinse and repeat the heat, spray and rinse process as needed until the pan surfaces are clean.

The ultimate hard shell cast ironware seasoning is obtained with flax seed oil available from health food stores. A very small bottle will go a long way. Flax seed oil has just about the highest smoke point of any such oil and forms a very hard and durable surface. Warm the clean and dry cast iron slightly and spread a VERY thin layer on all of the iron surfaces. Place in a 450 degree oven for an hour and then turn the oven off. Remove pan only when cool. Repeat the very thin layering process as needed to build up a number of thin layers into a quite durable 'non-stick' cooking surface.

I have also used other oils like bacon grease, lard, peanut oil, soybean oil, canola oil, etc. for a surface seasoning and they just do not seem to give either as good a cooking or as long wearing durable surface as the flax seed oil.

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by Oldeyes

Just a couple of recently discovered (for me) factoids on the care and handling of cast iron cookware.

The admonition to not use soap on your seasoned cast iron cookware is a holdover from the time that the kitchen soap was lye based. Old fashioned lye based soap would indeed eat the organic coating right off of cast ironware. Modern (manual) dish washing detergent does not. No automatic dish washing ever.

Old pan seasoning can be removed by placing the cast ironware into a large fire and allowing it to burn off. Alternatively, heat your cast ironware up and take it outside and spray (down wind) with a good lye (sodium hydroxide) based oven cleaner. Rinse and repeat the heat, spray and rinse process as needed until the pan surfaces are clean.

The ultimate hard shell cast ironware seasoning is obtained with flax seed oil available from health food stores. A very small bottle will go a long way. Flax seed oil has just about the highest smoke point of any such oil and forms a very hard and durable surface. Warm the clean and dry cast iron slightly and spread a VERY thin layer on all of the iron surfaces. Place in a 450 degree oven for an hour and then turn the oven off. Remove pan only when cool. Repeat the very thin layering process as needed to build up a number of thin layers into a quite durable 'non-stick' cooking surface.

I have also used other oils like bacon grease, lard, peanut oil, soybean oil, canola oil, etc. for a surface seasoning and they just do not seem to give either as good a cooking or as long wearing durable surface as the flax seed oil.

Now, that explains a lot. I have heard, most of my adult life, about how you should NEVER EVER WASH YOUR IRON WITH DISH SOAP.

But, all my life, I watched my mother, the very last thing after everything else was washed, wash the skillet in the dishwater. Washed it, dried it off, put it away. And all my adult life, that I've had iron, I've washed it with dish soap, used a Tuffy (which is a plastic scouring pad, made by SOS), http://www.amazon.com/S-O-S-Tuffy-Di.../dp/B000EJLQQ4 , dried it off and put it away. Never had a problem.

[Anchor Clanker]

Did any of you know that there is only one maker left in the United States of cast iron cookware?

[ozo]

Originally Posted by Anchor Clanker

Did any of you know that there is only one maker left in the United States of cast iron cookware?

Lodge.....not far down the road from me.

http://www.castironcookware.com/

[runes]

I'm 70 and still use my grandmother's Griswold skillets.
The wife doesn't like the weight.
Never use soap, just scour with clean water while still hot.
Flea markets always have tons of iron here in Virginia.
Look for Wagner or Griswold they are known for the smooth finish inside the pans.

[carver]

Originally Posted by Alpo

Now, that explains a lot. I have heard, most of my adult life, about how you should NEVER EVER WASH YOUR IRON WITH DISH SOAP.

But, all my life, I watched my mother, the very last thing after everything else was washed, wash the skillet in the dishwater. Washed it, dried it off, put it away. And all my adult life, that I've had iron, I've washed it with dish soap, used a Tuffy (which is a plastic scouring pad, made by SOS), http://www.amazon.com/S-O-S-Tuffy-Di.../dp/B000EJLQQ4 , dried it off and put it away. Never had a problem.

Cast Iron is porous, that means that when you wash it there is water in the pores, and it will cause rust if left there. When I wash mine, I heat them on the stove untill dry. Let them cool down to a handleing temp., and oil them up with crisco. Ready to cook with again.

[1LoneWolf75]

Originally Posted by carver

Cast Iron is porous, that means that when you wash it there is water in the pores, and it will cause rust if left there. When I wash mine, I heat them on the stove untill dry. Let them cool down to a handleing temp., and oil them up with crisco. Ready to cook with again.

I wash my cast iron by simmerin water then rubbin out with the same scrubbie spo.ge that was used on the rest of the dishes. Then rinse and heat ready fer breakfast the next mornin. If they need more I will use soap but they really have to need it.

[Incommunicado]

I have used the Flaxseed oil system that was described by Oldeyes it works great and the finished surface is hard. Although, it takes several thin coats in the oven the end product is worth it.