Someone gave me a dirty old cast iron skillet, how do I clean it up to cook with? (Lots of stuck on stuff)?

Answer 1

I know that when you first buy a skillet you need to do what they call "season it" before you use it. It appears the person who gave you that skillet didn't know that.

when you first get it you put oil on the inside (to make it non-stick so it will "act" like a teflon skillet) and then you bake it for a few minutes on a low bake. I'm sure that info is online as to how long and what temp. Anyway, iron rusts so the oil is on there to prevent rust, and yes you cover the entire skillet with oil before baking.

So I suggest you use something like joy and a scratcher to get it the stuck stuff. Clean like normal, let it dry. If you scratch good enough you can pull off the rust. It may take a couple of times doing this before it comes clean. Then start from the beginning and season the skillet as in my first paragraph. Only then can you use it. When you finish with the food the oil should have soaked in well enough into the skillet that you will only have to wipe out the skillet instead of washing it. It's been done this way since our great-grandmothers used it. Not washing it after use sounds bad but that's what makes an iron skillet good to use because the flavors are in the skillet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasoning_(cast_iron)#Seasoning
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061110083957AAgKBu5

Answer 2

First, scrub it as well as you can, rinse, then put it in the oven, set at the highest temp (500 degress) for at least an hour, if there's alot, it might take 2-3 hours. The heat will not hurt the pan. The heat will "bake off" the gunk. Wash again, then season the pan. To season, rub a small amount of vegetable oil both inside and out, set on med/low burner or oven (250-300 degrees for about 30 min. After it's seasoned, don't use Comet or any other abrasive cleansers, just wash with hot water, a little soap only if necessary, then place on med/low burner to dry. You might need to rub in a dot of oil. The more you use your cast iron skillet, the less your food will stick.

Tip: try not to put any acidic food (tomato, vinegar, etc.) in cast iron. The food comes out tasting "irony" and it messes up the skillet.

Answer 3

If you have a fireplace put it in there. If not use a campfire outside. My mom use to use cast iron skillets all of the time, and that is how she took off all the crude. It looks like new afterward. And the brunt crude just falls away with little pressure. When you are finished remember to season your skillet before using it. You do this by coating the inside with Crisco or other solid shortening (like you would if you were baking a cake) and leaving in a 350 degree oven for 1 hours. If you are worried about too much oil then you can put it in the oven upside down, but remember to put a cookie sheet or foil underneath to catch any drips. Afterward you can cook just about anything in it. Hope this helps!

P.S. Season your frying pan anytime the inside bottom starts to look dry.

Answer 4

Are you sure it is dirty...some of the best cast iron skillets look that way. I have my great grandmothers set and they all look that way and I still use them today. Use some steel wool pads or something like Brillo or SOS pads to clean the pan...DO NOT soak in water, this will make them rust. Wash and then dry the skillet or pan, then soak a towel with (cooking) oil and rub it in and heat the pan on the stove to season it. Happy cooking!

Answer 5

I got a cast iron fajita pan at a yard sale in about the same condition. I scrubbed the heck out of with SOS pads and warm water. Dried it really well right away, let air dry, then coated it with some lard on a paper towel. I tossed it in a 400 degree oven for a few hours, let cool down to warm, then wipe again with a clean paper towel.

Repeat the seasoning (not washing) process every time you have to use the oven. A few cycles of doing that and the pan looks great and like perfect again.

Answer 6

Just rinse your skillet off under the sink. Let it soak if need be to soften whatever is stuck to it. If you need to use a scouring pad of sorts fine, but don't put it in the dishwasher. Cast Iron only gets better as more and more flavors are absorbed by the pan. This sounds bad, but flavors from everything including cornbread to eggs to beans and ground beef are permanently stored in that skillet and it brings a more well rounded flavor to everything you cook. Put it back on the stove on low heat with a touch of water in it to dry completely (and prevent it from rusting) NO SOAP !!! Just use water... =Dave

Answer 7

Use a stiff brush and hot water. Soap is not good on cast iron. Just scrub it. You will probably need to season it again after you are done. A used cast iron skillet is a great gift. Enjoy.

Answer 8

Steel wool, elbow grease and patience. After using the steel wool, you'll want to coat the inside of the skillet with oil and put it on a low burner to make sure it's seasoned. Or you can put it in the oven on a low temperature. Do NOT soak it in water, it will make it worse than it is it will rust the pan and you'll have to start all over.

Answer 9

That's disgusting! I can't imagine what kind of person would even give someone something in that condition. Most would clean it first. Try warm soap & water with a not stick scrubbie. The rub it well with oil using a paper towel.

Answer 10

get the steel wool out and scrub it clean with good hot water...
dry it well and then reseason it..
Rub it with oil and bake for several hours on a low heat