Any ideas on how to clean cast iron camping supplies?

Question

I have a great number of cast iron pans and pots, even griddles for camping and they seem to rust every year and then I have to "season" them again any hints to help keep them in good shape to use every year?

Answer 1

Cook a few pieces of bacon in each skillet, pot, and pan every once in a while. After the grease has cooled but is still in a liquid form, coat the pan with the grease, drain off the excess but don't wash it out.
Simply wipe it thoroughly clean with a few paper towels and store each one in a separate paper bag. Keep them in a reasonably dry place like a food
pantry or perhaps the cabinet where you keep your other pots and pans (think dry). Where ever you decide to keep them, give them a check peek every 2 or 3 months.
... Good luck and have fun camping :) ...

Answer 2

Don't just use them for camping! Good quality cast iron is great on the stove top, in the oven, and in the back yard BBQ!
If you don't want to use them for anything but camping--I've got a DO that's too large for use at home except outside--after you've cleaned them, dry them over the fire or in the oven, let them cool and apply a very thin layer of oil to all surfaces. Then store them somewhere where they won't get wet or be exposed to high humidity. I place a paper towel inside, and use a piece of cardboard or paperboard to create a vent between the lid and the pot/pan. This helps to keep air circulating and I've never had a problem--even with the few I've got that I don't use for anything but decoration (they are antiques).

Answer 3

Try going to a local metal working shop and have them sandblast all the rust off the equipment. When they are good and clean you can take them home and put them in a 350 degree oven to get them hot to the 350 degree temperature. Then take them outside the house and coat them liberally with fresh lard. Let the smoke die down then take them back in the house and put them back in the oven and get them hot again. When they are back up to temperature just turn off the oven and let them cool down to room temperature. This should season your cast iron for a long time and should be easy to keep clean and rust free. Just for kicks I look for cast iron items at all the yardsales I go to. I picked up a large dutch oven for a dollar one day and did as described above, it not only looks new but I find I use it frequently in the oven to bake different dishes. Good Luck and give me the 10 points. Thanks

Answer 4

After your done cleaning them coat them thoroughly with vegetable oil and then store them in a dry place. A well seasoned cast iron skillet doesn't require much cleaning. It's not recommended to clean them with soapy water as this can remove the carbon seasoning. After repeated use the skillet will develop a pure carbon cooking surface which is a very hard non-stick surface. The way that I clean mine is to scrub with a plastic bristle brush to remove food particles. No soap. Then coat with vegetable oil immediately after use.. The only time they rust is when they are left uncoated.