I think I ruined my pizza stone trying to season my cast iron.

[anomaly13]

I pot a brand new cast iron pot and lid in the oven to dry after I scrubbed it to get that film off so I could season it. I guess I didn't get it all off cause when I opened the oven to take it out and grease it, a big poof of smoke came out and it smelled like plastic. I took it out and realized my stone was on the rack below and had caught the drippings. I tried to scrub it but it looks like it's still there. Suggestions? Do I need to replace it?

Also how on Earth do I get that film off the cast iron so I can season it? I think I may put it back in the oven and wipe it off once it gets really hot and melts.

[mamadelbosque]

Your cast iron pot has almost certainly been pre-seasoned... and while you can burn off the seasoning, you will be doing just that - literally burning it off. Your best bet, if thats *REALLY* what you want to do is to put your oven on self-cleaning cycle and let it go... But, I really don't know why you want to do that? Just cook in it as is - wash it, certainly, but theres no need to burn off the seasoning that they've done for you in the factory...

I know nothing about pizza stones, so I'm no help there

[anomaly13]

Well I am pretty sure that it has not been pre-seasoned. I got this pot at Goodwill and there was no label, it looks unused and it is silver/gray not black like the other new pre-seasoned pans I have bought in the past. Also the melting plastic smell makes me think something is/was on it that needs to be removed before cooking with it, kwim? I did put it back in the oven for awhile, no drips this time but when I wiped it off with a paper towel the towel turned gray after one swipe. I guess I will try another round of scrubbing and heating and wiping to see if anything more comes off or if the smell is still there.

[mamadelbosque]

Hmm. IDK - I get a nasty smell & smoke anytime I heat my ci up too hot after washing (we dry on the stove and uh... sometimes forget?). If its silver/grey, then it hasnt' been seasoned, but I'm not sure what your trying to burn off... In that case, I think I'd just coat it with oil of some sort and season it. Good luck!!

[cristeen]

Salt, lemon juice, a metal scrub brush/steel wool pad, hot water and lots of elbow grease.

I bought one used that has been obviously cleaned with noxious chemicals - every time I tried heating it, it gave off a nasty smell. Scrub inside and out with salt and lemon juice and steel wool. Rinse with hot water. Heat it on the stove (to dry). If it still smells, rinse and repeat (let it cool first). It took about half a dozen times for the smell to be out of mine.

Then and only then do you worry about reseasoning it.

Or you can always toss it upside down on your BBQ while your coals are heating up. The fire will burn away a lot of the crud for you.

[anomaly13]

I think I read somewhere that new pots get coated with something that needs to be scrubbed off before seasoning. I can feel something coating the pot, kind of sticky/tacky. I scrubbed the lid pretty good and can't feel it anymore. So I am not 100% sure it needs to come off but I guess b/c of the smell I want it to come off, just doesn't smell like something I should eat.

here it is:

"NOTE: All new (not old cast iron cookware) cast iron pans and skillets have a protective coating on them, which must be removed. American companies use a special food-safe wax; imports are covered with a water-soluble shellac. In either case, scrub the item with a stainless steel scouring pads (steel wool), using soap and the hottest tap water you can stand."

from http://whatscookingamerica.net/Infor...stIronPans.htm