Cast Iron Dutch Oven Restoration & Cooking

In this video I will be restoring and seasoning this old and rusty Dutch Oven that I bought online for a very good deal. The condition it was in made a perfect project for an educational restoration video.
Although rusty cast iron Dutch oven could be a great way to get a cheap cookware, I would definitely avoid buying anything that displays any signs of:
1. Cracking: Can be an indication that the cookware piece has been dropped or underwent a rapid temperature change. I have a Dutch oven in this condition, and it has no use to it now.
2. Chipping - Chipping is also can be an indication of physical impact, but more of a cosmetic fault.
3. Warping - A sign that the cast iron has been inappropriately heated and cooled, this is a very serious condition that will negatively impact the cookware use.
4. Pitting - The condition of a cast iron cookware that was likely caused by some type of exposure to chemical erosion.
5. Lead - Also if you know for sure that the cookware has been used to melt lead at any time in its existence, I will get rid of it and never cook on it as it could be very harmful.
Hope you enjoy the video as I aim to make it both educational and entertaining to watch at the same time!
#CastIron #DutchOven #Restoration

[@TonyDiCroce]

10 out of 10 for the cast iron job. 0 out of 10 for the french fries.

[@CoolRestorations]

🤣🤣🤣 Thank you!)))

[@robertbikers9502]

I was just going to say... those fries needed a few more minutes, and the extra oil blotted off...

[@timmyCOD]

10:10 for the length of the video!

[@janiceshira91]

I. A M. LOOKING AT. WHAT. MOST WOULD. DO YES FRENCH FRY But bake bread small roast Bread Taking it out and using the bale i though wonderful next time make using lid and bales bread

[@Erskin_S]

🤣

[@dopedreamz]

Last week I found a #10 cast iron cauldron 50 lbs, went through this entire process but used grape seed oil. Looks nice

[@emj342]

I'm so glad someone out there decided to sell this piece instead of throw it in the trash....the first step to it's fabulous restoration! ❤️

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@bornontherimofchaos]

I love the fact that there isn't any music in the background to detract from what you are doing. Beautiful job on te restoration. Seems like nothing is made with pride, nor with the intent of it lasting anymore .

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you very much!👍👍👍

[@SuperVadimka13]

Great tip about the lead! This looks just as good on the campfire as it would in a castle!

[@Cookybaker502]

You click, knowing what the result will be and yet you keep clicking on video's like this for the satisfaction of it. Good job!

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you 😊

[@Bill_Maine]

Appreciate the video. I’ve never been convinced vegetable oil is the way to go. My oils of choice are grapeseed oil and, if you can afford it, avocado oil, both having a much higher smoke point than vegetable oil. Another suggestion I got from Kent Rollins’ KZbin channel is always lightly re-season your cast-iron after every use on a stove top burner. Clean it, get it just hot enough that you cannot leave your hand on it and re-season very lightly with the oils I mentioned and wipe excess with a paper towel. I’ve done many cast-iron restorations and followed this plan and they look great.

[@mikhaxl]

Welcome back! Thanks for being careful and not touching the pot while it’s in the oven. 😍

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you! the pot was cold, I didn't bake it in that oven ;-) Just so others are careful.

[@stevemoy9834]

Why

[@natalyagvozdikova2170]

Yaaay welcome back 😍 you took advantage of that snow day in the middle of April

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you:)

[@AlexSukhoterin]

Finally you are back!!! Good job 👍🏼

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you!🍳❤

[@alantan6255]

Great restore and it turned out super gorgeous. You really enjoy your work and great video.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you so much Alan!🍳

[@RetroRestoration]

Glad to be back, I’ve been waiting for your video. Interesting video 👍

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Retro Restoration!

[@mrzk9178]

It's also popular in my grandfather's village in Indonesia. Great job!👏

[@CoolRestorations]

It's a great way to cook! Hello to Indonesia! I hope to visit this beautiful country one day!

[@leegoldeneagle9003]

Yery nice work always love to cook with them it cooks again very nice work as always Lee

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you very much Lee!

[@AlvaroLucard]

I was waiting for this video. Thanks! 😍

[@CoolRestorations]

Enjoy my friend thanks for watching!🍳

[@billpeck1189]

Great tip on checking for lead. Thx

[@CoolRestorations]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@joywilson8483]

Thank you for this information. I was doing it the hard way! This way is a lot better and faster!

[@CoolRestorations]

Soaking in warm/hot vinegar works very very well also!👍

[@angnbama]

WOW WOW WOW!!! greatful and using all that your teaching!

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you!

[@jamescraig5421]

Excellent Restoration Bro a totally new Lease on Life.👌👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you James!

[@luisg6404]

good call on the lead testing! I'll do that next time. I had an old DO that looked like it had been used to change motor oil. I never got the nerve up to eat out of it and I had to let it go.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Luis!

[@alextribunskiy3163]

Great restoration! The ending made it better😍 let me get some French fries!

[@CoolRestorations]

I'm glad you liked it, come over I came you some!🍳❤

[@RestorationAustralia]

Very cool, well done.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you!🏝

[@DU-iq4lc]

Very good job! You are super!

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you so much mate!❤🍳

[@vijayakumartc4902]

Great job.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Vijayakumar!

[@MartynLucasInvestor]

HI Mate. Good Luck with your channel. You are now featured on my Home Page. Good Luck

[@CoolRestorations]

Awesome Martyn!🚀❤ Will I find it in the members list or the subscriptions?

[@sandreawhite7534]

I LOVE cast iron.

[@tonybrannen1740]

Cool video

[@dave1secondago]

brilliant resto bud

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you dave!

[@dave1secondago]

@@CoolRestorations your welcome bro

[@breeinatree4811]

Thanks for the video, and for showing how to season it. I suggest seasoning your ironware 5 times before using. You wont regret it. I have my grandmother's cast iron skillet. The seasoning is so good that it's better than my non stick skillets. I'm thinking about letting my daughter have it. I have arthritis in my hands and I can't lift the heavy thing any more.

[@CoolRestorations]

Yes the more layers of seasoning the better 👍👍👍

[@QuashaSharay]

EXCELLENT VIDEO

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Quasha!👍🏼

[@dmitriygroz9285]

Nice content👍 very interesting to watch your channel

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Dima! Have a safe trip🙂 🥰

[@dmitriygroz9285]

@@CoolRestorations thank you 😊

[@josephknowles9015]

Nice

[@spiritismo]

I’ve seen a couple of videos where lye crystals are used to get rid of dirt, old seasoning and rust. My question is: is it safe to use lye on something we will cook food on? Does the iron absorbs the lye somehow and contaminate the food? Thanks in advance for your comments!

[@toniarobinson3193]

How did cast iron dutch oven go from regular size to smaller, or is it caused by filming video?

[@CoolRestorations]

It’s was always small,I think it’s about 8 inches wide.

[@markneo1]

Muito bom trabalho 👏👏🇧🇷

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you!

[@ellen5165]

I'd wear gloves during all that scrubbing, heavier than the ones worn when putting the oil on. Have you ever tried crisco instead of oil? I've heard it seasons better than oil but haven't tried it myself.

[@brightman2011]

I could not clearly see the rhe cleaner you used. What is it?

[@CoolRestorations]

EvapoRust is the rust remover

[@Gooseneck41]

Are there kits to test if a pan was used to store motor oil or chemicals? If so, what are they called and where could I find them?

[@CoolRestorations]

Sometimes people used old cast iron cookware to melt lead for fishing. The test kit tests for lead. It can be bought on Amazon or EBay

[@Gooseneck41]

@@CoolRestorations Thanks. A relative bought a skillets at an estate sale that had been in the seller's barn for a long time. Do you know if the lead detection kits would show motor oil or other farm chemical?

[@jackytheripper]

Who cooks french fries in a Dutch oven? Make some doughnuts man

[@ealamin]

could you also remove the lead with a special method?

[@CoolRestorations]

If it has lead you can’t remove it, and you can’t cook on it any more

[@beesknees947]

Is there a reason why you used veg oil instead of Crisco? (In another restoring vid you used Crisco) Also, I might need a how-to on making that wonderful fire pit in your backyard.

[@CoolRestorations]

Probably use what ever I could find at the time. I heard avocado oil is very good for seasoning.

[@carlosmarrufo2350]

You should use Lard for seasoning..

[@ivanpainter357]

you did a wonderful job now you need a country cutter out of arkansaw that make's spiral frys they our out of this world . look up johnny russell country reuion nashville he loved to eat and so do i .ivan painter

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you Ivan! And thanks again for the tip 😍😊

[@cathyblevins2533]

French fries look delicious.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you:)

[@mikhaxl]

Those potatoes looked fire! 😮‍💨

[@CoolRestorations]

Oooo yet, but I didn't get to enjoy them ))

[@CoolRestorations]

yeah*

[@ScubaOz]

Heard of Electrolysis in stead of chemicals? Would have done a top notch job with no elbow grease. Good job and all but why chemicals when you dont need them?

[@CoolRestorations]

Yeah I have done that with some of my projects. Do some research on evaporust. It’s safe on cookware.

[@mesri3]

I saw this video because my Dutch oven size makes this look like a giant is restoring this Dutch oven.

[@CoolRestorations]

HAHA, HOW BIG IS YOUR POT?

[@Dalyluvr]

Next time warm the pot up with the oven. Putting the cold pan in the hot oven is a good way to shock your pot and cause it to crack.

[@CoolRestorations]

Thanks for the tip!👋

[@keyboard_g]

That is the loudest paper towel running oil that I have ever heard. @5:50.

[@CoolRestorations]

Next time I'll make it less loud ))

[@marksieber4626]

Lead test seems like an extra step but it’s a wise step.

[@Nozam]

Where did you get a new wire handle

[@CoolRestorations]

I made it. All you need is good pliers

[@Nozam]

What type of metal wire did you use? I’m restoring one and I need a new handle too! Thanks !!!

[@cynthiawesley8470]

Wish we coulda seen da bottom of da pot to I.D. it. But GREAT demo.

[@cynthiawesley8470]

?& how you straightened out the bell? So perfect.

[@CoolRestorations]

It's a taiwan made nothing special:-)

[@CoolRestorations]

@@cynthiawesley8470 you mean the handle? I just made a new one quick and easy :-)

[@cynthiawesley8470]

Nothing special? I don't care where it's made. That's a beautiful piece. & daaang great talent on da handle.

[@reinaldogarcia70]

🥔🥔I like my French fries 🥔golden brown🥔

[@honeyj.badger5484]

There's a guy that worked at the Wagner factory thinking you took that bail off all wrong, lol

[@CoolRestorations]

Haha 😄 Thanks for watching mate!

[@cynthiawesley8470]

I wish he could fix my bail. Right wrong or inderferrrr🤣

[@danielbudgen1184]

Just submerge the whole thing in vinegar for a day and you barely have to scrub

[@mattjacoby1253]

It looked like mostly surface rust. Just needed some love and basic care.

[@cutloose7963]

Am I alone in the thought that this is not actually a dutch oven? It's my understanding that a dutch oven has a lid that allows you to put hot coals on top of it without them falling off. This is simply a stew pot with a lid. Does anyone else agree?

[@beefybuttercup2978]

The sounds of the wire brush...

[@jstar1000]

Oil should be at least 375 before dropping potatoes in it then keep it at 350 at least to fry them up golden brown.

[@suzannecarpenter4413]

My great grandmother would have just put this in an outside wood fire.

[@CoolRestorations]

That's one way to do it! I'm just not to sure it's safe for the cookware, too much heat could cause heat damage. Maybe one day I will try 🙂

[@joaovtaveira]

If it is contaminate with lead, what do about it? Throw it away?

[@CoolRestorations]

If it has lead it means someone was using it for melting lead for fishing. You won't be able to use it as a cookware ever again.

[@amandagomez3175]

This is so interesting, I’ve seen several videos on restoring cast iron cookware, but non said to test for lead. I’m new to this, anything else we should be aware of?? Thank you for this information.

[@nancyharman4795]

@@CoolRestorations Fishing?? My father had a tiny cast iron cauldron (?) that he used for melting lead to cast his own bullets! Round ones for his muzzle-loading rifle, and elongated ones for reloading brass casings for some of his other firearms. But FISHING?? I'm at a loss... But then, I buy fish at the grocery store. Or Long John Silver's! Just out of interest, how could a lead-contaminated cast iron piece be safely repurposed? Decorative storage for non-edible objects? Planter for non-edible flowers? Or does the container have to be discarded? And if it's got lead, how to discard responsibly? Great video, but my mind is TEEMING with questions!!! Thanks! 😺💕🐾

[@blancaaly8465]

A esas papas le falta coccio..

[@jayham1970]

Please do give it a good rinse after using a chemical solvent. Soaking an oven in white vinegar is highly suggestible over any substance that you cannot consume without possible physical harm. Anything that you put in that pot (not good for consumption) is getting soaked into the cast iron. (Just my humble opinion and suggestion)

[@CoolRestorations]

Thank you!

[@howarddeheer8295]

Get yourself a stainless steel enalysis tank and get yourself a stainless steel brush it's about faster and a lot easier

[@janiceshira91]

I thought grape seed oil Bake a Small loaf of bread

[@stevemoy9834]

You must got this duch pot free

[@albertsheppard9650]

Therer's no instructions,

[@jl3390]

Gee, 5 minutes of watching somebody scrub a pot. Glad I cleared my calendar......

[@cynthiawesley8470]

But so worth it huh? I'm a repeat watcher today.🤣🤣🤣 He's bad & I do mean GOOD.

[@stevemoy9834]

Just use a wire wheel do a job.

[@massawax]

Next time wear gloves

[@vov4yk]

Кубань це Україна!

[@clarencewsmith707]

That’s not a Dutch oven it’s a bean pot or stew pot, who told you that was a Dutch oven?

[@CoolRestorations]

It's a Dutch Oven.

[@clarencewsmith707]

@@CoolRestorations no it’s not d.a

[@clarencewsmith707]

@@CoolRestorations Dutch ovens were used on the camp fire to make bread or biscuits and the top of the pan had a lifted edge about an inch so you could put coals on top to brown the bread once it had risen and was done on the bottom, the coals were placed on top to brown the bread, yours is not a Dutch oven sorry