How do I refinish an old cast iron frying pan?

Question

It's rusted in places. What kind of black paint can I use that can take high temperatures and not contaminate the food I'm cooking?

The pan is an antique Griswold which is worth saving.

Thanks for the great advice! I can't believe I thought the black color was paint. LOL

Answer 1

First stop washing it, especially in a dishwasher and second never paint it! Now if it has a little rust, that's good, if it has a little rust allover that's better. Rub the skillet with cooking oil (bear grease, PAM, Mazola, whatever)and bake in a 350 degree oven until it stops smoking. This rusting, oiling and baking can be repeated until a nice black patina forms. To maintain a nearly no-stick surface clean with an abrasive like Scotchbrite,steel wool or sand and re-oil between use. NEVER NEVER use soap. RScott

Answer 2

1.Remove any food residue by cleaning the pan thoroughly with hot water and a scouring pad. I understand that heating the pan first to a temperature that is still safe to touch helps open the pores of the metal and makes it easier to clean.
2.Dry the pan immediately with dish towel or paper towel.
3.Season the pan as outlined below.
4.Heat the oven to 250o - 300o
5.Coat the pan with lard or bacon grease. Don't use a liquid vegetable oil because it will leave a sticky surface and the pan will not be properly seasoned.
6.Put the pan in the oven. In 15 minutes, remove the pan & pour out any excess grease. Place the pan back in the oven and bake for 2 hours.
Repeating this process several times is recommended as it will help create a stronger "seasoning" bond.
Also, when you put the pan into service, it is recommended to use it initially for foods high in fat, such as bacon or foods cooked with fat, because the grease from these foods will help strengthen the seasoning.

Answer 3

No paint!
Rub off the iron
Rub in cooking oil all over
Set in the hottest oven you have for a couple of minutes

It works on woks
Seals the metal from further corrosion and you can cook with it!

Answer 4

Try washing your skillet really good with dish liquid and then dry very well then pour any kind of cooking oil in it and wipe it down real good keep doing that for some time and it should be just fine but you have to keep that type of skillet oiled down after cleaning it good luck and have a nice day.

Answer 5

heat it over an open fire, burn all the old grease and what ever off it. Rub it down with a scraper and some type of commercial grill cleaner. . finish up with steel wool. Put the polish to it.

Then re season it with cooking oil on medium heat.

Answer 6

u can use brasso or autosol 4 removing rusts.