Today many people don’t know how properly to care for, clean or refurbish cast iron pots, making it possible for the savvy treasure hunter to find gems just waiting to be returned to use.

Why Choose Cast Iron?
Cast iron cookware is versatile and durable. It can go from stovetop to oven and back again, if necessary. It heats evenly and holds the heat well, making it excellent for browning meat or simmering stews and soups.
 
A cast iron griddle will yield fabulous pancakes and French toast. And, with a little bit of care and proper treatment, a cast iron pot’s surface will be as nonstick as modern cookware.

© Rhoda Peacher Step 1: A simple way to remove the accumulation of gunk on your pan is to place the pan upside down in your oven and run one self-cleaning cycle.

© Rhoda Peacher Step 2: After cleaning the pan in the oven, soak it in a solution of half white vinegar and half water to remove rust.

© Rhoda Peacher Step 3: After drying the pan in the oven, use fine sandpaper to remove the light rust and wipe clean with a soft rag.

© Rhoda Peacher Step 4: Immediately coat the pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil or shortening.

Once you’ve found your rusty, filthy treasure and are ready to begin the restoration process, you need to do some work.

Depending on what grimy problems you’re facing, you have several options to refurbish cast iron.

Problem #1: Baked-On Mess
One of the simplest ways to remove the baked-on, grimy accumulation of gunk from your cast iron treasure is to use the self-cleaning cycle of your oven. (Don’t use this method with wooden handled pans!)

Place the pan upside down on a rack in the oven and run one self-cleaning cycle.

After everything has cooled, you’ll be left with pans coated with fine ash and possibly rust. As a bonus, you’ll also have a clean oven.

One word of caution: Leaving your oven rack in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle may darken the metal, and the rack may be slightly more difficult to slide in and out.

Problem #2: Rust
After cleaning the pan in your oven, soak the pan in a solution of half white vinegar and half water to remove accumulated rust. Find a container that’s big enough to hold the rusty pan and completely submerge it into the solution. Let it soak for one to four hours, but no longer.

The acid in the vinegar dissolves rust, but if the rust doesn’t dissolve completely, a plastic scrub brush will loosen stubborn areas.
 
If you leave the pan in the vinegar solution for too long, the acid will start to dissolve the pan and damage it; so check the condition of the pan often while soaking. The more rust, the longer it will need to soak.

When you’re satisfied that the rust is gone, protect your hands with rubber gloves, remove the pan from the vinegar solution and rinse thoroughly under running water. Dry with a kitchen towel, then place the pan into an oven set at a low temperature; bake for a few minutes to make sure the pan is completely dry.

It’s the nature of cast iron for a faint sheen of rust to form on the surface almost immediately as the pan dries. Use fine sandpaper to remove the light rust, then wipe with a soft rag to remove dust.
 
Using a paper towel, immediately cover the pan with a thin coating of vegetable oil or shortening to prevent rust from returning.

Seasoning Cast Iron
Now that your pan is free of rust and grime, it needs to be seasoned before you can cook with it. To season the pan, coat it with a thin layer of vegetable cooking oil or vegetable shortening. Place the pan upside down on a rack in your 350 to 400 degree F oven for about 45 minutes. By placing the pan upside down, excess oil will drain off rather than form a gooey pool in the bottom of the pan.

Did you know? Using Cast iron cookware is a good way to add iron to your diet; the food cooked in it will absorb a bit of the mineral. Don't pour cold liquid onto a hot pot. The sudden temperature change could casue the pan to crack. Always keep thinck potholders handy. You cannot handle a hot pot's handle without them. Never leave your pan to soak in water.

Place a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil on the lower rack of the oven to catch any drips. As it heats, the oil will flow into nooks and crannies in the pot’s surface, and form a nice, smooth coating. Be sure to apply the oil in a thin layer so it doesn’t pool when it heats. For the best results, you should repeat this seasoning process three or four times before using your pan to cook. After that, cooking will continue the seasoning process and your pan eventually will develop the nice, smooth, black patina treasured in a well-cared-for cast iron pan.

Everyday Cast Iron Cleaning & Maintenance
A well-seasoned cast iron pot is not difficult to keep clean. After using it, simply rinse under hot water and use a plastic scrub pad or scrub brush to remove any stubborn bits of food. Immediately after washing, dry the pan with a kitchen towel. To make sure the pan is completely dry, place it on a stove burner turned on low for a few minutes. Then, while the pan is still warm, carefully coat the inside of the pan very lightly with cooking oil. This will prevent any rust from forming in the nicks you may have made in the surface. Any skillets or Dutch ovens that have lids should be stored uncovered or should have a folded paper towel placed between the pan and the lid to provide air flow. This keeps moisture from building and potentially causing rust. Never store food in a cast iron pot; the acids from the food will damage the seasoning. And never put cast iron in the dishwasher!

It’s not difficult to restore cast iron cookware and once restored, maintenance is simple. So if you are not already cooking with cast iron, go on your own treasure hunt. Rust or caked-on, rancid grime are reasons many perfectly good cast iron pots and pans have been shoved to the back of kitchen cabinets, buried in boxes in a basement, or stored in piles of junk in the corner of a barn. If you don’t have your own pot that’s awaiting your attention, ask your relatives and friends what they have tucked away. If those avenues fail, try yard sales, barn sales or flea markets to find inexpensive pots and pans in need of refurbishing. Ebay (www.ebay.com) and craigslist (www.craigslist.com) are also good resources for finding old cast iron cookware, but be careful: Only look at local listings. Cast iron is heavy and shipping costs can quickly turn a bargain into an expensive project. Persevere; it will be worth the search. A little time and effort spent refurbishing a pan will yield a treasured piece of cookware that will provide years of service for you, your children and even your grandchildren.

About the Author
Rhoda Peacher is a freelance photographer and writer based in Oregon.

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This article first appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of Hobby Farm Home magazine. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or tack and feed store or buy one online.