My husband did't know that my favorite cast iron skillet was in the oven waiting to be cleaned. He turned on the oven to take the chill off of the house one morning. Anyway, now everything is baked onto the skillet. I can't seem to get it off. Any suggestions on how to the baked stuff off of my favorite pan? I've tried boiling it out. Some of it has come out. Just not what has been baked onto the bottom.
2006-09-21 13:42:02 · 14 answers · asked by motherfourchildren 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
Everyone's answers were really good & helpful. I can't choose which one is the best answer. I had heard something about using the coals from a campfire/ fireplace/woodstove. Which we do have a woodstove. (Just not in use yet.) So I'm going to let you guys vote the best answer. Thanks.
2006-09-23 14:22:17 · update #1
You are going to have to get the old elbow grease going and get a good cleaner like that Bam easy off stuff.
it works pretty good.then you need to retreat the pan with vegtable oil and bake it in the oven so it does not stick like hell the next time you use it.
2006-09-21 13:46:07 · answer #1 · answered by Biker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good old fashion elbow grease. After you have the iron skillet clean, set it on top of your burner and let that thing get hot, turn off the burner and leave the skillet alone for a couple of hours. After the skillet has completely cooled off take liquid vegetable oil and paper towels, pour the vegetable oil in the skill(about 2 tablespoons) with the paper towels rub the oil onto the sides and bottom of skillet. Place in the oven at about or around 350 degree and cook over. repeat this process five or six times, it is called seasoning an iron skillet, taught to me by my grandmother, who is 92 years old. It really does work.
2006-09-21 18:00:07 · answer #2 · answered by easterbaby1975 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cast iron skillets are like cast iron dutch ovens, and the way we clean ours when we are camping is to put them in the camp fire and burn the stuff out. Since you probably don't have access to a campfire, an outdoor barbecue grill will work really well too. Just put it on high and put your skillet inside and let it burn it out. You could do the same with a charcoal grill. After you do this, wipe it out with a paper towel, then grease it lightly with some shortening.
2006-09-21 19:33:41 · answer #3 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember my mom talking about how grandma use to clean & treat her cast iron skillets by building a fire outside and sticking the skillets in the fire until the fire died out! Then she would bring them in the next morning and rub lard over the complete skillet! She said the skillets would look as good as new! If all else fails! Try this method! GOOD LUCK!
2006-09-22 03:38:34 · answer #4 · answered by shelly_mo67 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old fashioned way was to use canvas or sailcloth and coarse sand with water, it worked on sailing ships OK If and when you eventually get it clean, it will have to be "pickled" again. Try to obtain real suet from a specialist butcher and render it in the skillet for 2 hours on a fairly hot ring, heat until it smokes(Be careful it does'nt go on fire)
Following day dump the fat and residue and clean with kitchen tissue.. It will now have a patina.
2006-09-21 14:01:01 · answer #5 · answered by xenon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dampen the pan and sprinkle it generously with salt. Take a wet paper towel and scrub. Rinse and repeat as necessary. This may take several attempts, but you can get the pan clean this way. You will probably need to re-season skillet after this treatment.
2006-09-21 14:05:22 · answer #6 · answered by lincoln gardeners 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used a wire brush in my electric drill and cleaned my wife's cast iron skillet that she had gotten from her mother, I didn't know that cast iron was to have a "patina " I do now.
Also learned about "seasoning" them .
Now I am hooked on CI .I have two duchies and a convection oven that are cast Iron.
I also always look for old cast iron in thrift stores and garage sales to clean up and season,
2006-09-21 16:16:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found an easy way to clean your skillet. Its called the bullet an you drop it in hot water an let it dissolve. my husband did the same thing with mine. but if you let your skillet sit in it for a while it will restore it like brand new. of course after your done you need to re season it. but the bullet does work. you can get it from walmart or cvs. hope this works for you it did for me.
2006-09-22 00:36:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
put oil in it and bake the pan for about a hour. let it cool and repeat about three times. once its cooles the 3rd time let it sit woith the oil in it for 3-4 days, pour out and wash with saop and water. if it all comes out, littly greas and store.....
2006-09-21 13:58:30 · answer #9 · answered by Kevin D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tomato sauce works real well on cast iron...
fill it up and let it sit... even overnight in the fridge.
the acid in the sauce helps loosen things up.
no matter what you do, you're gonna have to re-season the skillet.
2006-09-21 13:52:38 · answer #10 · answered by peterpipersux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋