Oven cleaner on cast iron? Edit to add: (click bait !)

[Ptah]

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2023, 10:00 PM - Edit history (1)

[mercuryblues]

1. NO

google how to clean cast iron.

Baking soda and vinegar is a good start

[Kali]

2. cast iron what? what is the "dirt" greasy crud or rust?

I don't think I would do it, but if you do be ready to season ASAP or you are likely to have rust immediatly

[Ptah]

4. I'm trying to get the bottom and outside pristine.

Not the cooking surface.

[Kali]

6. seems to be a thing

at least according to google. and if only outside I might think about it too. try it, let us know how it goes.

[Ptah]

12. I have found the best way to restore the 'new' gray surface is pumice.

Oven cleaner doesn't quite get it done.

[trof]

18. Does your oven have a 'clean' function?

That'll do it.
Worked great for me.

[Easterncedar]

3. Steel mail scouring mesh

It’s made for cast iron and works a charm.

[Kali]

5. hmmm

the google has lots of examples and videos of people doing it. so perhaps. I hate the smell of that stuff so maybe just get some actual lye.

[fierywoman]

7. NOooooooo!

Get one of those metal chain scrubbers and go at the mess after you've soaked it for a while. Next get salt (Morton's is fine) and paper towels and use the salt as an abrasive.. If it's REALLY a disaster, get out steel wool pads and scrub. When you're down to he metal, be ready to season the pan -- the woman who runs the restaurant in Freedom, Maine says to use Crisco as the oil, so ever since I read that I used Crisco ONLY for seasoning my cast iron (and woks.)

[2naSalit]

9. +1

[2naSalit]

8. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Probatim]

10. Yes - but only if you're stripping it down to start all over - which it sounds like you're doing.

I did the same thing to a very old Griswold 701E (7" skillet) a few years ago. It was in good shape except for the nastiest patina around the outer rim.

Several days of spraying with oven cleaning, storing in plastic bags, and scrubbing got 70% of it off. Used vinegar to remove surface rust and started the process of re-seasoning it.

Here's a good link:

https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-restore-vintage-cast-iron-cookware

ETA - It's been a great addition to my kitchen since I cleaned it. I showed it to two collectors at a farmer's market while on vacation (yes it travels with me when we rent a house at the beach) and they were impressed by the shape the skillet was in.

[IA8IT]

11. Politics Religion Cast Iron.........

[consider_this]

13. try electrolysis - no joke...

you'll need a car batter charger, washing soda, a plastic tube and a piece of metal - and some time. There are many YouTube videos with instructions on this method, but let me tell you, we did this on some really bad looking pans we rescued from a relatives basement, and came out with perfect new looking pans - it was definitely worth it. Worth a try if you are adventurous.

[3Hotdogs]

14. day to day, I use a paint scraper and paper towels.

Thicker stuff, unshaped, steel wool ball.

Pushing salt around with a paper towel also works on lighter mess.

[Grey]

15. The best way I've found

to save cast iron is to place it upside down on a rack in a self cleaning oven, run the cleaning cycle, after cooling, clean as usual with hot water and a scrubber. Season using your favourite method. The pan is now good for another 50 years. I've saved dozens of pans this way.
A good way to find old pans is yard sales, good will, second hand stores and Grannie's basement. Good Luck.

[Trailrider1951]

16. I second this method, it's by far the easiest way to get the piece down to bare metal

I found an old 12" skillet at Goodwill and bought it for $7. Ran it through a 2 hour cleaning cycle to remove all the old crud and rust. When the cleaning was over, the old crud had turned to dust which wiped away with a damp paper towel, and I found that the skillet was a nice Wagner Ware piece. After seasoning, it became my go to for deep dish pizza.

[trof]

19. Yep

Turned rust iinto a dry powder I just brushed off.

[Paper Roses]

17. Check the link I provide. Great Cast Iron group with all the answers.

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2023, 09:16 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/castironmafia

Very nice members and very helpful.

Edit to add: I have cleaned a large # of CI skillets with yellow cap Easy Off. Great results. Search the CI group, you'll find the info. Don't know if you have to join to search but the info is there. (Today shows mostly recipes right now but it moves fast.