Cast Iron Question

[vamp127]

I just got a new cast iron pan and tried to scrub it before seasoning it. I couldn't get all of the gunk off, but I tried to season it anyway. Now it is all gummy and I can't get it off of the pan.

Any suggestions?

TIA

[KC in KS]

Um, what kind of "gunk" was on there?

I know Lodge pre-seasons most (all?) of their cookware nowadays. I'm a little worried you might have taken off something that was supposed to be there.

Since it's new, I'd put a call in to their customer service line pronto.

[vamp127]

Sorry for the confusion. It's new to me, but it is probably about 50 years old--it belonged to my mother's neighbor. So it was years of use gunk. Black greasy eposits.

I've seasoned other old pans and had no problems scraping off some leftover gunk and reseasoning them.

[KC in KS]

Ah, okay then. I'm no cast-iron expert, having just gotten my first pan myself, but I think I'd try deglazing the pan. Get it nice and hot, then pour in a little liquid (maybe 1/4 cup - room temp, not cold). That's what I do to get the fond off when I'm making a nice pan sauce, and it leaves the pan nice and clean. At the least, I'd think it couldn't hurt.

[Trishy]

Ot and not to be a know it all but Lodge does still over pans that are not seasoned. I stop by the outlet in TN to buy my pans and prefer to get the non-seasoned pans because I am not exactly sure what they use in their seasoning process.

[vamp127]

Anyone?

It's gummy all over-inside & outside. And I just can't get it off. Does putting it in a self cleaning oven damage it? That is my last resort, but I don't want to do it if there is a chance the pan will get ruined because it is the biggest pan I've found and I could really use it. (BTW, it's a 16" skillet)

[Lydiasmomma]

maybe try scrubbing w/ steel wool?

[sweetc]

I think that Lodge recommends scrubbing with salt to get rid of yuckies. I wouldn't use steel wool it could ruin any of the "good stuff" still on there.

[vamp127]

Yeah, I tried both of these methods and it just doesn't come off. It just sort of smears around, because it is gummy.

Since it is useless to me now, I guess I'll risk doing the self-cleaning oven thing. Either it will get better or I'll just end up tossing it, which it looks like I'll have to do anyway at this point.

[RiverSky]

Wait, what about scrubbing it with baking soda?

I just used baking soda to clean brown burnt stains on the inside of my stainless steel fry pan and I absolutely could not believe that it got them off. I showed my husband and he was amazed. I had been scrubbing with SOS and steel wool and tried soaking and scrubbing and everything you can imagine and it was the baking soda that took it off.

Good luck!

[RiverSky]

Also, what about using a plastic scrub brush along with the baking soda to get it all off?

[peverroad]

I don't know if it will help never tired but i know with steal pans you can put then in a black garbage bag and put it in the sun put some amonia ( i know not that safe) and let it bake in the sun all day. When you take them out be very careful. Wash them really well afterwards and you will have to reseason.

I just looked this up and it said it will work but you may have to leave them in it for several day and put a rag in it to hold the moisture of the amonia. Hopefully it will work for you

[marlee]

Tried and True

Hi there I have the easiest method that is if you have a fire anyway. Throw the pan in the fire. Yes I have done it, it works great. An inside or outside fire and leave it until the fire is out and cool. Wipe off black and a brand new pan without other peoples gunk

[peverroad]

With the fire you have never had a problem with the pans cracking? I think i would be worried about that cause i always hear it would crack

[marlee]

No cracking and we have done it twice. Think about the heat used to make the pans. The fire isn't any thing close to that.

[UlrikeDG]

With cracking, it's usually the speed of the temperature change that does it. Throwing a cool pot into a hot fire or a hot pot into a cool vat of water could crack it. Slower heating and cooling are usually fine.

[afishwithabike]

I agree with putting the pan in the fire it works great for older used pans.

[tessamami]

I'd try soaking it in alcohol

you can use 100 proof, or some cheap drinking alcohol, if you want. Soak it a few times, and it should "wipe" off.

[vamp127]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I'll just go through the list and try each one until the goo is gone!

[rgarlough]

I've had good results with just keeping it in the oven and baking it over and over. I picked up a ripe one from the thrift store and baked it a couple of times at various temps. I was able just to use a dry towel to get any 'gunk' off. BTW, the gunk was by the 3 baking, just dried black dust.

After I wiped it out, I oiled it up and baked it again before putting it away.