Cast Iron Skillets...BIG BUCKS!

[zachweiss]

I picked up 3 OLD Cast Iron Skillets today at a "junk sale" for $10. All three are made in the USA, but I can't make out the brand names and the other writing.

What is the best way to clean all of the years of crud off of cast iron?

I figured that I'd post this in this category because some of these cast iron skillets and pots bring big bucks on ebay. If you ever get bored - go take a look and see what kind of ridiculous prices some of these are fetching!

Anybody have any thoughts?

[Cil]

If you really want to make out the writing, I would suggest that you get some tracing paper and either a charchoal pencil or soft "lead" regular pencil and place the paper over the witing and lightly "brush" [ i don't know the right word] over the spot and it should come up on the tracing paper.

[grower]

In our area, most of the cast iron comes from the Lodge factory in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. It's about an hour's drive northwest of Chattanooga. If it were me, I would try soaking them in scalding hot, soapy water, using Dawn dishwashing liquid. As the water gets cool enough to stick your hands in, take a wire brush, like you clean a grill with and scrub. When you're done, you could dry them and re-season them by applying a thin layer of lard to the surface, and then putting them in a WARM oven overnight.

[reyecat]

our BEST cast iron pan was an old rusty thing from a thrift store. *We scrubbed it with hot soapy water and steel wool and then re seasoned it.

We got on the cast iron kick and bought a bigger one .... we had more problems with the new one than we ever had with the old one. *It was bumpy on the bottom and we had a devil of a time trying to make it non stick.

I finally started using it for deep frying fallafel and after that is when it finally started to be smooth and non stick.

One more idea my hubby had was to take it to a metal fabrication shop and have it sand blasted.

[rockymtngirl]

Hi Zach - we also picked out cast iron skillets up at a thrift store. We got them seasoned up as everyone has stated. Now I just use a little salt to clean them after each use with just a tad of water to make a little paste - lightly scrub around and rinse with hot water - done. We do have one that is not as 'non stick' as the other - I just keep seasoning it and it seems to be getting a little better.

You're right about the prices - new ones at our local surplus store are out of sight! I can't imagine buying one on ebay - the shipping cost would be high wouldn't it?

I'm on the lookout for a cast iron dutch oven for cheap - those seem to be harder to find.


RMG

[grower]

Lodge Cast Iron has them.
http://www.lodgemfg.com/

[ryanmercer]

I bought three at goodwill 2 years ago for like $5... the scrap metal was worth more than that. I always keep my eyes wide open for them at goodwill, salvation army, and yard sales :)

[Anon001]

Another way to clean cast iron is to put it in the fire to burn off the rust and crud. I have several skillets of various sizes, a melting pot, 2 dutch ovens, and a griddle... Once I have it seasoned, I NEVER allow it to be touched by water. My grandmother would use course sand if hers got bad enough but she says they also used to put them in a fire of hot coals... just be careful you don't crack it. and don't cool it too quickly. I've heard all about "germs" and "bacteria" from not cleaning with soap and water. I think we overdo the germaphobia... Not only that, but the constant cooking, heating, etc, I think will keep the bacteria and germs at bay. lol