Question about bare cast iron

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question about bare cast iron

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:25:05 PM EDT

I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:26:31 PM EDT

[#1]

Magnets?

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:27:40 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:

I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

why did you have your cookware in the electrolysis bucket again?

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:29:13 PM EDT

[#3]

Never did electrolysis to cast iron....I'm at a loss.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:31:09 PM EDT

[#4]

FYI you don't clean iron skillets. wipe and put away.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:32:25 PM EDT

[#5]

It is probably seasoning that was either applied at the factory or acquired through use.

It will definitely rust pretty quick now that you have removed all protection. My recommendation is to coat the entire thing in crisco (a light coat, it doesn't need to be caked on) and place in a 500 deg. oven for 2 or 3 hours. Place aluminum foil in the bottom of the oven to catch any drippings. Allow the cast iron to cool only until you can touch it (should be pretty warm) and then start the process again. The second (or even more) time is the charm as the warm cast iron has "open" pores which allows the crisco to soak in. Really rough cast iron may require 3 or 4 coats. CAUTION: THERE IS SOME ODOR INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS - DO IT WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:33:38 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:

FYI you don't clean iron skillets. wipe and put away.

This.

As long as it is seasoned nothing sticks to it.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:38:28 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:

I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

why did you have your cookware in the electrolysis bucket again?

I wanted to re-season it so I tried putting it in a plastic bag and oven cleaner for a week. When i removed it I noticed some rust and the towels were turning black so I decided to try electrolysis.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:39:22 PM EDT

[#8]

It's probably iron acetate if you used vinegar in your tub, a slightly different compound of iron if you used something else.

Wipe it off and press on. Use baking soda with water to stop the reaction and rinse the daylights out of it in hot water and soap, and then hot water. Oil with vegetable oil or cook up some bacon right away to stop rust.

We don't want to know why you're abusing an iron skillet.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:41:52 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

why did you have your cookware in the electrolysis bucket again?

I wanted to re-season it so I tried putting it in a plastic bag and oven cleaner for a week. When i removed it I noticed some rust and the towels were turning black so I decided to try electrolysis.

My favorite pan I own was my Great Grandmothers...An easy 100 years old. May be older than that. It's never been cleaned or reseasoned to my knowledge... some of the best food I cook comes out of that pan.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:43:10 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:

I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

why did you have your cookware in the electrolysis bucket again?

I wanted to re-season it so I tried putting it in a plastic bag and oven cleaner for a week. When i removed it I noticed some rust and the towels were turning black so I decided to try electrolysis.

For the future:

To re-season, wash with soapy water and scrubby pad if pan is in decent shape. Grease it up and burn the crap out of it a few times.

If pan isn't in good shape, use steel wool or sandpaper to smooth it out, then follow above procedure.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:44:40 PM EDT

[#11]

throw it away- its ruined- no, i am serious.

probably toxic from the oven cleaner

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:46:14 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
FYI you don't clean iron skillets. wipe and put away.

Agreed,, I have two iron skillets over 50 yrs old,, never been washed and nothing will stick to them. Cook, rinse in plain water, wipe clean.

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:54:29 PM EDT

[#13]

oh my never use cleaners on your cast iron cookware

if a skillet gets too much build up on it, I have heard of people building a big fire outside and putting the pan directly in the fire and it burns it all off.

to re season, just coat it with a light coat of lard and put it in the oven or just use it and it will build back up.

but I never use even dish soap on my cast iron as the pores can absorb the soap and then your food can taste funny

Posted: 9/7/2010 5:55:15 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I pulled my cast iron skillet from the electrolysis bucket and wiped it down with a paper towel, which turned black instantly. Is this blackening caused by the metal itself or oil/rust from the skillet?

why did you have your cookware in the electrolysis bucket again?

I wanted to re-season it so I tried putting it in a plastic bag and oven cleaner for a week. When i removed it I noticed some rust and the towels were turning black so I decided to try electrolysis.

Is the skillet damaged from being enclosed with oven cleaner?
If the skillet was mine, I'd build a fire on top of it to burn off any chemical residue. Use good, clean wood only. The next day remove from ashes and scrub good in soapy water with a scouring pad. Then re-season in oven.

Posted: 9/7/2010 6:47:59 PM EDT

[#15]

If anyone is interested, here's what I did with the oven cleaner. http://blackirondude.blogspot.com/2009/01/easy-cast-iron-skillet-reconditioning.html After opening the bag, I found a lot of rust so washed it off and threw it in a tub of lye to soak for a week. Rinsed it again and coated it with oil to prevent further rusting till today when i put it in the electrolysis. For what it's worth, this was my first piece of cast iron but have another one that I haven't managed to screw up.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question about bare cast iron

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