SEASONING & RESTORING A CAST IRON SKILLET FOR A NON-STICK SURFACE

[@RowesRising]

Maintain you cast iron cookware like a pro kzbin.info/www/bejne/laHWlZefe519Z68si=pT_JGfYrGkVMWByU

[@ResoluteRonin]

I soaked mine in 50 50 water and vinegar

[@kevinthorrington2131]

My maternal grand parents bought a 9 piece set of cast iron pans when they got married. When they passed away they were handed down to my mother and father. When my mother and father passed away they were handed down to me. When my wife and I pass my daughter will receive the 9 piece set. That will be four generations the cast iron set were handed down to family members. Those cast iron pans mean a lot to me.

[@RowesRising]

That is amazing and so special. A gift to last generations🥰

[@Cooltink101]

That’s beautiful

[@chomper1329]

This idea has always stumped me... Don't the kids need to cook before you die tho?

[@Northernman68]

Hopefully your using them daily .

[@kevinthorrington2131]

@@Northernman68just got done making breakfast with one of the cast iron pans.

[@jfk19780]

we have found many a cast iron pan out in old homesteads or old camp sites that look very rough from over the years . i simply build a nice campfire with a fair bit of wood and make sure you have plenty of coals left over from the fire and then simply place your pan in the coals bury the pan completely over . get up in the morning pull your pan from the ashes and its just like new . all you have to do is season it . very simple and no chemicals

[@vegadealer]

Seeing that wagner ware logo i am very confident that my grandfather made that pan. He was the top mold maker at wagners for decades he never missed a day. He had a passion for those pans. It makes my day seeing one get restored that he likely made. I currently have some of the wagnerware he made that i need to restore i appreciate your insight on how to accomplish this goal😊

[@RowesRising]

That’s so cool!!!

[@HQBergeron]

Coolest remark!

[@kayhaveman2325]

Wow great video. I have my granddads griswold that we have used my whole life. I use it still constantly but it has the crust that you removed. I am excited to do this method. The skillet is a treasure to me. My grand father and grandmother adopted me at birth so this skillet was Daddy’s and he was the family cook. It not only warms my food but it warms my heart everytime. ❤️

[@RowesRising]

That’s an amazing story and heritage of your skillet. What a treasure!! My mother and MIL have both passed so it’s b very special to me to have one skillet from each of them.🥰🌻🌻🌻

[@branemarkmoriarty]

Please, don't ruin the history of your pan!!!

[@usawomen]

Amen, don't ruin your skillet.​@branemarkmoriarty

[@boostismagic]

@@branemarkmoriarty I guess you mean don't remove those 10,000 meals? 😅

[@lawerencebowens3405]

I’ve restored quite a few pans a safer way is to put them in the oven on the self clean cycle. This works and no toxic chemicals

[@bleh222234]

Preheat the skillet before blasting it with a cleaning cycle, or else you risk cracking it.

[@johnbaker8005]

@@bleh222234 you do realize that when you put into a cold oven and turn it on self cleaning cycle, it has to warm up?

[@bleh222234]

@johnbaker8005 Of course it does. But how fast? I know someone who cracked a pan when they ran it in their gas oven's clean cycle. It's probably fine for most ovens, but you never know.

[@johnbaker8005]

@@bleh222234 what are you using? A blast furnace,? Think about it. People put a cold skillet on the stove and turn it on. If this was a thing, skillets would be shattering all over the country. Probably a casting defect as a cause.

[@corybmorris]

@@johnbaker8005 I can’t stop laughing at “blast furnace” 😂

[@Broomrider1492]

I'm 70 and have my grandma's, my aunt's, my mom's, my own cast iron pans and Dutch ovens. I have always just burned my pans overnight in our fireplace. Best nonstick cookware ever.

[@RowesRising]

That’s awesome!! Wish I had a wood stove😅

[@pamelabeaton6667]

When I first got my cast iron it was raw and I went out camping and I made a fire in my fire pit and I had the wrought iron Hooks and tools to take it out and I cooked it in there and it turned black and it got really hot and I pulled it out and I've been using it ever since and yes if I did have to clean it I would go camping again and I do the same thing like you said just burn it all off just be done with it😊

[@RowesRising]

@pamelabeaton6667 that’s great for folks that can have fires. We have seasonal burn bans here in southern Oregon. So I looked for a way that did not involve fire.

[@amandatwospirits8028]

They just don't finish the inside of the pans like that anymore. That Wagner is absolutely gorgeous

[@RowesRising]

@amandatwospirits8028 thank you! It’s my favorite skillet.

[@elephantwalkersmith1533]

I’m a chemical engineer. Some friendly advice. Use a face shield as well as a respirator. Also wear long sleeve lab coat. They are cheap. You are wearing good gloves. You should have a second container which can hold twice the volume in your soaking container. Put your soaking container in the larger secondary container. Finally, have about 10 gallons of water available nearby so that you can wash your eyes in the event of an accident. A second person should be standing by in case you need emergency care. Also, do not reuse the solution, dispose safely immediately after use.

[@RowesRising]

That’s very detailed. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Safety first!!!

[@misterdubity3073]

How to dispose of 5 gallons of dirty NaOH water safely? Is it OK to put down the drain as is? How much does pH change (say it's 14 initially) after 24 hours and lots of grime going into solution? (assuming probably not into a septic system) Thanks.

[@mediamonk100]

Add water to Lye = you die? A cast iron pan aint worth my life…

[@raptango_na6199]

How do you think a household product like Easy Off work compared to this method?

[@martinalarcon3108]

My cat 🐈 girlie is a chemical engineer when she goes to her litter box 😮😢

[@rockymountainlady]

Long read but an interesting cast iron story...so, I' 'm in my 60's, and was raised with my Grandparents next door. Both were born in the 1880s. I was in my early teens when Dado had that chat with me, I cherish that woodshed"Sit down" and sit down I did. Somehow...as painted today...Day 1 of Womanhood. As I walked out of that woodshed after just watching my Grandfather softly tell me while chopping blocks of wood into small kindling to get our morning fires going. That I was to prepare. I was now facing a huge, remote, off-grid homestead with my Outfitter Dado saying he's tired...get ready. The sound of his chopping stung as I was walking toward my horses...I stopped, went back, and asked for a specific cast iron campfire saucepan that no one else used but him. He kept it in his pack for his daily travels and he never washed it, he cleaned it the moment he removed the food and seasoned it while it was still hot before he'd sit to eat. He looked puzzled so I explained, I just love how food tastes in that pan and I want to take care of it...I will cook for Gramma with it! He got up then and there, to go get it for me. It gives a beautiful smoke flavor to our food, and a soft comforting Green Pine/campfire touch to the smell in the house or Deck. The pine scents are from campfire seasoning... I still clean it like Dado did and have never had to re-season it. It's so thick but looks like chrome on the inside. haha, my 20 yr old grandson and 15 yr old granddaughter have joined my 3 daughters in trying to wangle ithat exact one out of me when I have dozens for them to chose from. lol. Then when one of the kids asked if the pan would come with the key's I figured them out lol. Dado was so touched and impressed with my one request to keep a cast iron fry pan, compared to his 18 sons and daughters that he invited the whole family over for Easter Dinner, after a 4-month stint in the hospital and gave ME, his 5 lb bundle of key's to the homestead in front of his kids. Told them the homestead was in the right hands so the great-grandkids he's not going to meet here can have a place to call home no matter where they live...this is gonna be here he said...and 50 years later it is! But Better! And Bigger, as of last month...his bloodline is 700 strong!

[@RowesRising]

Amazing story!! Thank you for sharing!

[@earleingalls3659]

My mom and aunt would take our cast iron camping. After dinner or the next morning we would take the oldest pan and build a fire. When we had coals in the fire spot cover the cast iron pan in the coals to burn the crud off. Now you had a pan that you could season all over again. Good times, good times.

[@RowesRising]

Wonderful memories!!🌻🌻🌻

[@bryantburns3664]

​@@RowesRisinghey

[@katyaker8913]

I found the easiest way to strip everything is to build a fire and place the pan on it and then build a fire inside the pan and just leave it until the next day when the fire goes out. Pan comes out spotless and no harsh chemicals completely safe. Works every time.

[@RowesRising]

That’s great when you can have a fire. In the PNW we have burn bans 😅

[@_Xero_]

My method is similar. I'll put my cast-iron in my oven and run the cleaning cycle. It stays in around 500⁰+ temps for several hours. Once the cleaning cycle is done, let things cool off, and you have a stripped pan ready for a new seasoning.

[@katyaker8913]

Xero i have seen people do that and yeah i think it works the same. Its just easy for me to do it outside and my wife doesn't have to smell the cast iron burning. Lol.

[@katyaker8913]

@RowesRising i understand. i just dont like to use chemicals if i dont have to.

[@RowesRising]

@katyaker8913 bless you for thinking of your sweet wife. 🥰

[@cr0ft-2k]

It's very satisfying to see old pans get new life and regain their beauty in the process. I have two cast iron pans that I inherited from my father, who was a chef, and that have been used by the family for decades. Going to do this to them and bring them back to where they deserve to be. Right now they're cruddier than the cruddiest ones you show.

[@RowesRising]

It’s so satisfying!! I love old cast iron as long as it’s not warped!!

[@boostismagic]

@@RowesRising How do they get warped? And is there any solution? Right now we have a glass top stove. One of my pans is flat when cold, spinner when hot, I still use it and it cooks fine, but yeah it's a little annoying. I wonder if I had a gas stove with grates, I bet I would hardly notice the spin.

[@bingster-223]

That was a very good video, you need to do more cast iron vids. I don't care if it's cooking, or cleaning, or maintenance of cast iron I'd watch it. Most cast iron channels are experts in their own mind lol. That was the most calming cast iron video of all time.

[@RowesRising]

I’m glad you found it enjoyable🌻

[@COOKIE-2u]

@bingster-223 It's great that u enjoyed her presentation and So did I. I thoroughly enjoy many types of videos but I sense some resentment by ur remark of most ci channels being experts in their own minds. Why would u even say something like that? I'm sure they're not professing to be experts just as I don't. Many are my comrads or cast iron associates and we spent years upon years studying and researching the topic to be More knowledgeable. Some have even written books. Some retired from famous foundries and know cast iron backwards and forward. Many of them have an extensive collection such as myself. We're military and I've collected from several countries but an Expert..I wouldnt say but I do know enough that I could possibly be considered one. We even have a annual convention thru out the country where we share, swap and sell really nice pieces. We have guest speakers. One associate & his wife are well known and famous for their collection in which magazines have featured them and their cast iron museum. Experts?? Maybe, maybe not...but SO darn close to it that they may as well be considered one. Don't hate the players for their knowledge just bcz U have the lack there of.

[@RowesRising]

I’m not a “cast iron channel” I simply made a video about cast iron and how I cleaned the gunk off easily without damaging the cast iron. 😅🌻🌻🌻

[@RowesRising]

@bingster-223 no hard feelings here🌻🌻🌻

[@bingster-223]

@RowesRising Thanks, don't worry I won't be having an argument with anyone on your platform.

[@eileenmccartneycirelli3098]

I have the same Wagner - my Mothers wedding gift from 1945 - and it looks exactly like your ‘before.’ I’ve been doing a lot of research to safely restore it. Yours is the best video and my research stops here. I will be following your method to restore this family treasure. Ps. My dad did as many here noted - threw it in a yearly campfire.

[@RowesRising]

The camp fire is a great way to do it!! We have burn bans here and are limited to when we can burn. So this was the method I could do at that time. Thanks for watching!! 🌻

[@radagast6682]

@@RowesRising I would never use fire to strip a pan. That could leave microscopic fissures in the pan, and you never know when the pan will split. It always happens when you are cooking.

[@RowesRising]

@terrysincheff6682 thanks Terry!

[@yildendelta6761]

I am 69 and have my grandmother's deep fryer and 8" CI pans, I can tell you she would have had a heart attack if I ever cleaned her pans to that brand new look. When she gave them to me her lecture was "I don't ever want to see or hear of you using soap or scrubbing my pans, it took me years to get rhem rhis way and that is how they better stay". So the only time I use soap is on the outside and then only if there is grease on it that I'm afraid may flame up, I'm sure she would get on me about that too. Interesting video though, I enjoyed it. Oh yea, grandpa told me to throw it in the fire and let it stay there until the fire burned out if I ever wanted to really clean them, but that I should never let grandma know he told me that, then he told me how to reseason them.

[@D9P323]

Very cool story, they gave you some awesome tribal knowledge 😊

[@MoeBergOSS]

@@D9P323Tribal? Lol

[@vivianp5962]

​@@D9P323 don't use any soap, detergents, etc. Chip off big chunks. Other than that oil & put in oven 500 degrees , can do these steps as many times as you want, when ever you want after your 1st original season. But, the whole purpose of cast iron is because it's easy to clean, because there's no true cleaning. I know people who just after cooking once pan cools, they just wipe it down with damp or dry cloth. Literally

[@swimpsmagbayao9513]

You don't ever want to throw your cast iron pan into a fire because the fire is so hot it changes the molecular structure of the cast iron which is only about 800 Degrees and fire usually Burns at 12 to 1400 ° your seasoning will never stick to it... you will see when you look at the pan the pan will have an orange tint to it you might as well just throw it away

[@paulellsworth7679]

That was fine advice back when dish soap contained lye. No so much now. Dawn dish soap is perfectly safe to use on seasoned cast iron.

[@kathydavis5548]

Thank you for such an awesome video. I have all my grandmother's cast iron frying pan in every size. Now I know how to make them nonstick. I am 70 and have been using them since I was 10. I think of her every time, especially using the recipes she passed down.

[@flipfloppingwithMike]

I share a very similar story....my grandma's pans carry a lifetime of memories. I will pass them on to my children, as well. Let's keep the memories we have for as long as we can, shall we?

[@veronicaroberts8250]

Beautiful job on restoring those! Crisco works really well to season cast iron…..probably the best I have used and I have tried a lot of other oils. Crisco makes them completely non stick

[@edwardking5233]

Lol, cast iron is never nonstick.

[@eronavbj]

Well done video. Quick and to the point. So many others waste time by telling personal stories and wandering from topic. I learned much from this presentation.

[@RowesRising]

I’m so glad! I tried to keep it all about the process. Thanks for watching!!

[@josephradford9665]

Wow, that was a night and day difference. Mine is a few years old now and starting to build enough carbon to find a cleaning method. Thanks for the video.

[@Blinknone]

I like grapeseed oil for seasoning cast iron and carbon steel pans.. Works great. Nice job.. the pans look fantastic.

[@pigeonmanof180]

Nicely done. I’ve been doing basically the same thing with my carbon steel wok for the last 35 years. No rust, beautiful glossy black appearance and a JOY to cook with. As long as one keeps up with the basic maintenance, these iron-based cookwares last indefinitely and work great and are no trouble. Good luck with your endeavors and thanks for sharing.

[@RowesRising]

Thanks for sharing your experience and watching my video🌻

[@susanscovill6817]

Excellent vlog! One of the best actually. Clear, concise and to the point without over speaking just to fill blank airspace. Thank you!

[@RowesRising]

Thank you Susan!! I don’t like all the filler words either. Get to the point😅

[@johnbaker8005]

This might sound nuts but my go to was always put them upside down in a fire outside. It burns off all the carbon and it's ready to season the next morning after the fire dies out. Also a self cleaning oven works too, but leave the house because it will run you out anyway. The reason to put them upside down is because the carbon can "puddle" for lack of a better word. I've done this multiple times and it works.

[@flipfloppingwithMike]

Excellent video! Most impressive. I decided to have my two pans bead-blasted, which takes everything right down to the metal, but I re-seasoned them exactly per your instructions. They came out PERFECT. My largest pan is at least 70 years old, and as some of the comments have said, I will be passing them on to my children, as well. And, of course, I subscribed!

[@RowesRising]

Did you do the bead blasting or did you find someone who can? I’ve been curious about bead/sand blasting but I don’t know where to begin. I guess I could “KZbin it”. 😅

[@flipfloppingwithMike]

@@RowesRising I actually did the blasting myself. Sand blasting is not an option in this case, because it tends to leave the surface somewhat porous, depending on the cookware metal. Bead blasting will not do this, and it lends itself perfectly to cast iron. My pans look so good now that I don't want to use them!

[@johnRed-de3bl]

Great video, one of the best I've seen. Very informative. Although collecting iron for years, restoring is new to me and have been searching for the best methods. Thank You. Happy new Year .

[@gofoats]

I restored one with a drill and wire wheel. It did not take 48 hours, and I did it outside. After de-scaling the skillet, I put it in a 400 degree oven, got it hot and rubbed oil on it, put it back in the oven and turned off the heat. I was searing steaks the next day.

[@RowesRising]

That’s awesome.

[@outlaw6429]

Same. I use an Orbital sander, then reseason with grapeseed oil in a 500 degree oven for an hour x 4 trips through. Done.

[@chadanderson2798]

Wow thanks for the lye tip. I've always used oven cleaner and a trash bag. I've seen people soak them in vinegar and water baths and it did well. I wasn't sure what u meant about vinegar could harm them. Theres a guy on KZbin that soaked one in a bath for a week and it turned out fine. I will definately try the lye bath. Your pans look better than any of the pans I've done.

[@Wwehrwolfoz]

I used 50% white vintages and water let set 5 minutes at a time scrub between with some scrub with.soft brush repeat 5 times , heat to 125 to warm the water out , lard the inside and out reheat 20 minutes let cool naturally bought a maretti co. Pa. #6 for $20 , now worth $95-110

[@RowesRising]

That’s a score!!🌻

[@barbaraketchum8287]

This is so encouraging!! I bought my cast iron new over 30 years ago and my steel wool treatments haven't been good enough! And other restoration treatments I've seen involve electrodes and big vats that seem out of reach for a home cook with one little pan!!! I'm definitely trying this!!!! 🍳

[@RowesRising]

It’s really simple and satisfying🤩Happy restoring! It’s gonna look great!

[@petersweeney3238]

You have an excellent speaking voice and a beautiful way of explaining that you should have your own TV show thank you and God bless

[@boog110]

I thought the same thing. I immediately thought “she should do some ASMR videos”!

[@RowesRising]

@boog110 you are both so kind.

[@ddhh6552]

I will be trying this method of soaking to clean some of my pans. I have tried baking them in the bbq with some success as well as electrolosis which also worked well. I have tried the campfire as well but it wrecked the pan. Your lye soaking method looks simple. I can't wait to try it.

[@RowesRising]

The bbq is a great alternative. I'm glad my method sounds simple! It's really easy to do, and it's a great way to get rid of all that gunk.

[@willcheney5918]

Hey Rowes Rising love the video...my jaw almost hit the ground when you pulled that Griswald out of nowhere. If you don't already know go research how much those skillets are going for. I have an 8 inch Griswald myself. Interesting story I found it buried in our backyard, cleaned it up similar to your method a few years ago, and then found out through a friend these skillets are valuable. I will be keeping mine in my family forever. I hope you have a good day, God Bless you!

[@RowesRising]

Thank you so much for sharing your CI story. What an awesome heirloom to pass down to future generations 🌻🌻🌻

[@spacecowboy306]

Thank You. My great, great grandmother's cast iron skillet it is well over 150 years old. It was so caked up it's unbelieve able . I hated to remove all that history but it was so just to nasty to cook with. I am 71 so you can see this is a family treasure and your video was the best one to show me how to clean it. thanks

[@lindasummer2343]

Soak it in vinegar instead. Check it everyday and scrape off what you can then soak it again until it all comes off (up to 7-8 days). Then re-season. Vinegar is a much safer method.

[@RowesRising]

@lindasummer2343 vinegar will put the cast iron. It’s okay to do 20-30 minutes at a time in 1:1 solution of vinegar and water after lye. Vinegar alone will ruin the set and not remove the carbon at all.

[@HQBergeron]

I think @RowesRising meant vinegar will “pit” the cast iron. Vinegar is usually 5% acetic acid, the rest is water, so leaving your pan in vinegar is like leaving it in water. It will rust and pit anywhere it is not very well seasoned.

[@PlanktoniusRex]

Excellent job and great video. I remember as a kid growing up, I had a friend who lived with his grandparents. His grandmother used a large cast iron skillet for almost everything. She made bacon, eggs and biscuits almost every morning for us when we were over there. Hers looked about like these before you cleaned them! They worked perfectly and she always made amazing food. I often wonder where that old skillet wound up now that all three of them have passed.

[@RowesRising]

I would be wondering too!! My mother’s cast iron holds so many memories for me. It’s very special to me. I bet you would have cherished that skillet if it would have been in your possession. So special!

[@imkadosh]

Lady, you are amazing! I have so many cast iron pots and pans that need cleaning. I will follow your recipe And I am happy I now know what to do Thank you!!

[@RowesRising]

Enjoy your restorations!!

[@kmiller6002]

Those pans turned out looking Amazing Katie. I love my cast iron... I actually have my great grandmother's pan along with other pieces 🤗🤗🙏 Kendra

[@CocoRio]

This is my first video of yours. Thank you! Your pans look great! Subscribing! I've never heard of lye used for cleaning cast iron, but I've been around lye usage in person for other projects. My point in saying that is, I believe you mishandled the container's lid when removing it to check on your pans. I noted your early advice to avoid splashing the lye mixture when stirring, which is correct, however, you allowed the lid's condensation to run off onto your floor when removing it. Condensation would definitely contain some lye so that is something I wanted to point out to you, to become aware of for future lye-baths. We all have to watch out for one another. Thanks again!

[@RowesRising]

Thanks for pointing that out! That’s a good point. I was in a shower stall that was to be demolished so I was not worried about the flooring😅

[@thomasshive3767]

Great video. I am 64 years old and have my grandmother’s cast iron. So its old. It has the same grime on it and gave up trying to get off. I will be doing your method this weekend. Thanks

[@xxUncleBuckxx]

Put it in the oven on self clean if it has that setting.

[@MikStir]

Wonderful video. I really appreciate your time in effort putting this together for all of us out hear. God Bless.

[@jjenn050]

For people curious, the seasoning is a polymerization of the oil which Dawn will not affect. The season is a hard enamel like plastic. The brown stains on a sheet pan that seem infuriating to clean is actually just seasoning and can just be left alone. I wouldn't scrub with steel wool as that will at best scratch the surface and mess up the non-stick properties. Scrubbing with a rag or plastic bristles is great though. Even Lodge says to use soap and water! Dawn is a dish detergent and real soaps were made with lye. Either of them is fine. If real soap would be a problem, it would also be melting your skin off your hands every time you use it!

[@RowesRising]

Thanks for spelling it out that soap will not hurt the CI!! 🌻🌻🌻😅

[@Wendyholzinger2224]

I had someone “clean”my best cookie sheet😢 now it’s rusty

[@RowesRising]

@Wendyholzinger2224 ahhh that’s the worst. Like the time my husband put the cast iron in the dishwasher. I fixed it with a vinegar bath but man was I nearly a mess to find it in there. 😅

[@Swearengen1980]

Glad someone else said it. I constantly see this repeated myth that you can't use soap and just mentally roll my eyes every time.

[@user-eh2ul3bx3y]

I totally agree with everything you said, except polymerization It’s carbonization, burnt oil turns into carbon.

[@terryshrives8322]

Really nice. Yeah, the one thing I learned was to wipe all that excess oil off. I grew up with cast iron, so I was lucky to have a Dad that taught me alot about it. I usually do about three coats of flaxseed oil and then another three with grape seed oild or avocado oil. Nice and black. After that, I oil used olive oil for maintenance. Nice and slick after that. I stove top maintenance it with olive oil every single time I use it. Just before it starts smoking I pull it off. It works excellent. Great video. I never use soap ever. To each their own. Its important to use heat every time you oil that pan. Like I said, just medium heat.

[@RowesRising]

Me too. Miss my momma and her cast iron cooking on the wood cook stove. Happy to have one of her pans. I don’t use soap typically but after I hearing cast iron rebels using it without issue I tried it. No problems. Season was still in tact. I’m like you though and prefer soapless methods of cleaning it. 🌻🌻🌻

[@577buttfan]

And no matter what soap I've used, it would always end up smelling. Funny! So I just wipe them out while warm. Then scrub with hot water and plastic bristle brush. Then the stove top season just until smoke pans are awesome!

[@RowesRising]

@577buttfan that’s the way I was raised to do it. This whole soap thing is new to me and I learned it doesn’t get the seasoning if done correctly. 🌻🌻🌻

[@577buttfan]

@@RowesRising Yeah I used a very small amount a couple times and it won't take the seasoning off. But like I said, leaves a funny smell and that's enough to bother me. I'm sure it's fine though lol

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Soap gets into the pores like with stoneware bakeware

[@michaeld2662]

I ran some through the self cleaning oven cycle. They came out great, just a tiny bit of dust (the former grime) remained in the pan. It was down to bare metal with zero gunk left.

[@annielong415]

This is what I do also.

[@sleepy580]

Thank you! Great idea!

[@radagast6682]

If you have a pan with a lot of build-up, it could catch fire in the oven. Good luck on opening the oven to put out the fire.

[@RowesRising]

@terrysincheff6682 this is what I have heard and many folks have killed their oven using the oven clean function so that’s why I don’t recommend it. And we can’t always have outdoor fires here in the west with the burn bans😅

[@mother8696]

Did it smoke the house up?

[@guysolis5843]

Great video packed with information...most people buy brand new and never learn the basics of certain things. Getting something old and abused, refurbishing it and spending that time makes a person respect the item. I can see me doing this on an old stump I've been trying to kill! Cheers!

[@haroldhinrichs]

I am in the middle of the first set of Lye bath and it is amazing. So much gunk came off! Can't wait for more. I have very old pots, skillets etc., from my family farm and I can't wait to show everyone the finished product. Very cool process and video! Thanks!

[@RowesRising]

It’s so satisfying isn’t it!! Glad you are enjoying the process. It’s so fun!

[@garyloewen8204]

So where do you get the crystal lye from? Does it have to be a certain brand or type? Thanks.

[@jthepickle7]

My two pans are clean on the inside and bottom; good enough for me. 40 years ago I sanded them well - fried eggs still slide. I use lye when I outright char the rice.

[@vmitchinson]

The most beautiful CI seasoning I have seen in 80 years.

[@RowesRising]

Thank you!

[@scottkempton6085]

Really useful information. I have four frying pans I've bought recently at garage sales, and they all need the lye treatment. Thanks for posting!

[@TexasScout]

I’ve never been concerned about the outside of a cast-iron skillet just as long as the inside is nonstick and clean. I think it’s all part of the character of the skillet. The quickest way I found to do what you’re doing and it’s not toxic is to take it to a sandblaster and just have them blasted to wide metal start all over from scratch give it a good wire brushing to smooth it out and you’re good to go. One last thing don’t throw your lie down the drain if you have a septic system.

[@nomadicoasis9260]

wow girl your pans look fantastic! Just got 2 Wagner pans and had to start with a angle grinder then disk sander before seasoning. but now they look better than new.

[@Bleed242]

I’ve used the electrolysis method in the past. Works just as effectively. The Wagner Ware and Griswold pans are the gems at the thrift stores because they machined the cooking surfaces flat. Newer cast iron and especially the Lodge brand can’t hold a candle to the old ones. Nice video. You may have inspired me to clean mine up after a decade of use!

[@RowesRising]

Thank you! I much prefer the smooth machined surface.

[@GrilledFishJones]

I used a random orbital sander to smooth out my Lodge pans. Still not completely smooth (since the surface area increases so much as you get lower it's just progressively more and more work), but mostly non-stick after seasoning. If I get any more cast iron in the future they'll be machined post-casting, whether that's one of the modern brands that does that or a vintage one.

[@RowesRising]

@GrilledFishJones the Smithy’s brand is beautiful for modern cast iron😍

[@vinceruland9236]

I have a newer lodge that works equally as good as my old wagner stuff. The texture doesn't affect the cooking one bit

[@GrilledFishJones]

@@vinceruland9236 mine was a lot more non-stick after I made it smooth. Cooking itself wasn’t improved particularly, just my interest in using it to cook more often and with a wider variety of food.

[@cswhan3201]

Bravo - a great demonstration of the benefits of ‘elbow grease’

[@empoweryou1]

Nice video. I too have moved to Avocado oil for my cast iron. To strip my pans, I use "Easy Off" oven cleaner and put the pan in a plastic garbage bag, for a few days. If it's rusty, I've had good luck submerging in white vinegar. My favorite pan has got to the #8 Wagner.

[@darrenc3439]

guess whats in oven cleaner......... LYE, works like a champ.

[@empoweryou1]

@@darrenc3439 I'm aware.

[@RowesRising]

That’s a great way too!

[@markgman4157]

Very nice vintage Wagner & Lodge skillets. Worth the effort to restore, likely X10 in restored condition over what you paid. And you have some nice skillets that will last multiple generations with a little care. There must be as many ways to restore, and season pans as there are cast iron pan owners.

[@RowesRising]

There are so many ways to restore. I hope to experiment with them all cause it’s a fun and satisfying process. Electrolysis looks like an interesting restoration method as well.

[@GrassBuffalo]

Well, I know now how to properly season the old cast iron skillet I got from my mother-in-law. I have been wanting to learn how to do this for awhile now. Thanks so much for your video on this!!

[@RowesRising]

I hope you enjoy the process restoring your precious heirloom. 🌻🌻🌻

[@joeyhardin1288]

Thank you! This just came across my inbox. I have collected for a couple of years and I was going to clean them (60 pieces) over the winter but got a little sick, under the weather and was not able. BUT, I plan on it this winter. Too much garden and canning during the summer. I think I will look around your channel for other videos.

[@RowesRising]

Thank you Joey!

[@trevordavis2760]

A Few hints, Use SOS cleaning pads to clean your CI, My dad and I both sand the inside of the pan to make it smooth as can be, wipe clean with oil, The we use animal fat to season it and don‘t use your oven use your gas grill. Just remember to place your pan upside down so all of the hot oil will drip down and off of the pan.

[@woodcutterdave7835]

My mother taught me that cast iron skillet are the best for cooking, she was right 60 years later I would say that they definitely hold up , they heat very evenly. And as this video shows they can always be fixed.. ✌️❤️

[@davids9139]

I use oven cleaner with lye. Nice job you did there with the drain cleaner!

[@15trucklt83]

Great results. I’ve not done this. But I will keep it in mind next time I walk by a pot or pan that I think is gonna be too stubborn. By the way. Those Wagner pans are amazing.

[@RowesRising]

Thank you!!

[@michaeldoxey1240]

Great job. I'm glad people are thinking longevity, not catch and release.

[@dalebesaw9699]

This is a good idea. Very practical and inexpensive method. I make my own soap and use lye for that process. The only caution that I would suggest is to make your lye solution in a well ventilated area. The fumes that are produced when mixing lye and water can be overpowering.

[@RowesRising]

Thank you Dale.

[@n3rdygrl]

I so wish you had a cast iron playlist. Your skillets look beautiful 😍

[@RowesRising]

Nearly all of my older meal prep videos feature cast iron. I should make a specific playlist. Thank you🌻🌻🌻

[@kensebastian9372]

Excellent teaching video. One of the best on youtube.

[@RowesRising]

Thank you so much for being kind and thank you for watching🌻🌻🌻

[@Smithcraft1]

Thank you for bringing that Wagnerware pan back to it's full glory!

[@RowesRising]

It’s a good one!!

[@gregwall944]

Thank you for this wonderful video! I look forward to improving my technique. God Bless you.

[@peterstaunton-smith586]

In Australia we use 2 methods,one is a molasses bath to get all the crud of then season it and the other is we use a wire wheel on end of drill and clean it that way then season it. I like to season mine on a fire i believe it just gets it hotter and smokey in my opinion the food tastes so much better from your cast iron.

[@RowesRising]

I like the fire idea too. But we have burn bans here in the PNW due to wildfire dangers.

[@darrenc3439]

not allowed to own lye in your little communist haven?

[@maartenk7513]

Love the effort you put into these pans. I love my skillet to grill steaks. Also I love to make eggs in it. I also have a small cast iron dutch oven and that works great for stews. Better than my more expensive Staub cocotte.

[@RowesRising]

I enjoy it too! I have a Staub and a Dutch oven. I’ll have to compare. I use the DO for sourdough and camp fire cooking. The staub I keep for stove top slow cooking.

[@dchall8]

I was quite surprised by this. Then I thought about it with respect to soap making, and it does make some sense. Here are some smoke point for various oils. Avocado Oil: 520° Safflower Oil: 475 to 500° Soybean Oil: 450 to 475° Sunflower Oil: 450° Peanut Oil: 450° Corn Oil: 400 to 450° Almond Oil: About 430° Sesame Oil: 410 to 450° Grapeseed Oil: About 420° Canola Oil: 375 to 450° Olive Oil: 325° to 375° Coconut Oil: 350°F Walnut Oil: 320° Flax Oil: About 225°

[@Swearengen1980]

Seed oils like corn, canola, etc. are literally the absolute worst product you can put into your body or on your pans, worse than sugar. Personally, I'm unshockingly more old fashioned......Crisco.

[@sandrapowers6099]

I bought a brand new cast iron skillet and it came with some kind of seasoning on it! It remains very sticky! How can I remove this sticky coating? They are unusable at present! Help!

[@RowesRising]

@sandrapowers6099 you can try seasoning it more- maybe it needs a few more coats, or stripping it by heating in your oven at a high heat and see if you can burn that seasoning off. Then re- season it yourself. Or you could do this method in this video.

[@tanyarobinson1146]

​@@Swearengen1980crisco us no better.

[@Swearengen1980]

@@tanyarobinson1146 Correct, as far as health. But if I'm going to use something bad for me, I use something that works better for seasoning. Thought that is the only time I ever use any of that crap.

[@Backyard_Chickens]

I like to use coconut oil. I tried many others and I like it the best. I use it on my Stargazer cast iron. Thanks.

[@RowesRising]

Once I used too much CO on my CI and it got sticky black tar like spots on it- I had to strip again and re season more carefully removing all the excess oil😅 Lesson learned!

[@Renaudio]

It amazes me how mean and cruel people can be. She is helping us to take care of our cast iron pans! Thank you for sharing this video Mrs. Rowes, it has helped me very much. I appreciate you!

[@RowesRising]

Thank you for watching Renaudio!!

[@SimplyAwesomeOriginal]

A magnificent tutorial. Much appreciated

[@RowesRising]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@stevatiner2788]

You did a great job restoring those pans! I have not tried avocado oil. I will have to try that. The easiest way I have found to clean cast iron is to put them in my oven and do the self clean on my oven and it cleans them then I season them.

[@theironscorpion2128]

Be careful with that you could warp antique iron.

[@markglonek490]

They look brand new great job

[@RowesRising]

Thank you for watching!!

[@shermrock345]

I love my cast iron. The older the better. Thing is you gotta lesrn howntoncook with it because it heats up different. Compared to my other pans i use less heat with sll my cast iron ones. If i don't it burns the food sndnthe food sticks. I love them whn they sre properly taken care of because you can use them for anything Fry in the same skillet you bske a pie in or make corn bread in.

[@wisoutdoorsman1862]

Stuck an old lodge full of caked on whatever in my solo stove one night and after a few beers all i did was let it cool scrape the whatever off super easy and started seasoning

[@RowesRising]

I want a solo stove!! We have a burn ban currently and there are fires all over Southern Oregon. But it would be fun to have a solo stove in winter for when we play outside in the snow- have a solo fire to warm up.

[@momo-hm5ru]

Nice job. Going to do mine this spring but do it outside so no mess in the house.

[@RowesRising]

Enjoy the process! So satisfying. Thanks for watching!

[@xbfdsddfgh2773]

I have a lodge pan, same one you show at the beginning of the video (3 notches in the ring around the bottom), since I bought it in 1977. It has a "hardware" quality surface on the inside, relatively smooth with visible circumferential rings from the stone used to polish the inside. It has never seen soap in the last 45 years. When eggs and cheese end up stuck on the sides I just let it soak with warm tap water for a little while and then scrape it out with a spatula before applying a thin coat of oil. I have many Wagner Ware pans, some I received from a great aunt's estate, that have never seen soap. I have never needed to "Re-season" a pan.

[@michaelquillen2679]

Good video. My cast iron is usually ok on the outside. It's the inside that often needs attention (when it gets flakey) . I have one pan that is 23 years old and the outside is still beautiful. I use oven cleaner (it's lye) on the inside of the pan. Works great. I'm not so much on looks as I am on performance/function of the pan.

[@RowesRising]

You care for your skillet really well and I can tell it’s a cherished part of your cooking collection🍳 I promise I will do better from here forward. Thanks for the tips Michael!!

[@SemperFi-pp3ux]

You can save yourself a ton of time and effort when restoring these pans by simply putting them in the oven and running a self clean cycle. All the rust and grime will literally fall off and they are ready to begin seasoning. Always make sure you are applying the seasoning to a preheated pan, so that the pores are opened up and the oil absorbs into the pores. Just heat the pan on a burner until you can't touch the upper rim for more than a brief moment and the pan is ready to receive the oil. I use sunflower seed oil on mine, but anything with a high smoke point will be fine.

[@maartenk7513]

I was wondering the same. I have a Bosch oven that has a self cleaning cycle. It will reduce most grime to white ashes. Would that also be safe for a cast iron skillet?

[@RowesRising]

@maartenk7513 I would follow your ovens guidelines. Most say to use the clean cycle with an empty oven for safety. Do what you feel is safe and effective for you ;) some have great success with that. I looked for an alternative to all the popular methods. I like to branch out and experiment.

[@SemperFi-pp3ux]

@ absolutely! I’ve done several of them, all with the self clean function on my oven. A couple of them I took a grinder to, but that was just to smooth out the rough texture of a cheap pan, and not really necessary.

[@paigeferriot3031]

Not recommended. It gets extremely hot and can warp or crack your pan.

[@JamesWiegel73]

Seed oils are definately the best. You don't have to use high smoke point oils, but if you use something like Toasted Sesamie Seed Oil (my favorate), do all the same steps leaving just a sheen of oil at 340F instead of 500F. I've had good results either way, and the Sesamie oil seasoning has actually survived the dishwasher. It's never recomended to put seasoned cookware in the dishwasher, but good to know it can handle it occasionally.

[@RowesRising]

I could have choke slammed my husband for putting g my cast iron in the dishwasher 10 years ago. Today is our 14 year anniversary. 🥰

[@RowesRising]

And thanks for the sesame oil tip! I’ll give it a try.

[@danielcain-og5gs]

Sandblasting works wonders and no caustic chemicals.

[@RowesRising]

Where does one accomplish this? Cause most of us don’t have sand blasters in our garage for only this purpose? I sure don’t. 😅

[@kjbaran]

@@RowesRisingMetal fab/ mech shops

[@ronnyrice697]

I like watching someone who likes to take care of the old cast iron. Hydrolysis is the way I clean them, but the lye solution is great also.

[@RowesRising]

I’d like to try hydrolysis but I haven’t gotten to that point yet.

[@jamiemacdonald436]

I hope by more people watching videos like this that they will start to get an understanding of the difference between seasoned and dirty. Well maintained cast iron can be both clean, and seasoned.

[@RowesRising]

Exactly!! Thanks for watching.

[@suzeewills1249]

Thank you So many videos with people destroying cast iron with power tools & fire. I have a lye tank & an e-tank too.

[@RowesRising]

The E tanks are so cool!! It takes a few days but the grime comes off so clean in an e tank. 😅

[@crus5112]

When ours have ever gotten that way growing up we always just threw them on an outside fire and let it burn off and theen re-season it.

[@RowesRising]

Today is the first day of fire season. I didn’t know that would get the carbon off. I wonder if my mom did that in our wood stove growing up? Things I wish I had a chance to ask her🥺

[@cheryledwards1054]

​@@RowesRisingby

[@Bravadosjebsimbahsm]

These videos are so therapeutic. I just love watching them

[@RowesRising]

I’m so glad!

[@scpatl4now]

I've never used a lye bath for really grungy cast iron. If you are handy with a drill, you can use an abrasive disk that is for rust removal. You get everything off in less than 30 minutes and I have never seen any marks left on the pan. Just make sure you season it right away because even though you didn't use any water, you are down to bare metal and even the moisture in the air will make it start to rust. So, if chemicals bother you, this is a great alternative. Go slow if you are new to using a drill, but it isn't that hard.

[@RowesRising]

That sounds so satisfying!!! And like a fun way to clean it. Some folks also put it in a hot fire and burn off all the carbon buildup. So many ways to skin a cat! A way for everyone to do it with the resources they have💪🏼 Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!! 🌻🌻🌻

[@scpatl4now]

@@RowesRisingYes, some of us just need that instant gratification 😁😁

[@CarolCarpenter-x2z]

😊​@@RowesRising

[@FullOfSith3230]

This is a great idea!

[@hessuhopolainen]

I don't want to use chemicals with cooking tools. Takes too long and possible residues. Just burn it briefly at fire place and let it cool. Nothing abrasive either. Steelwire disc is effective and gentle.

[@STP6970]

I have never used lye on cast iron before that was amazing to watch. I use avocado oil on my cast iron and it works awesome. A couple of years ago I brought two of my cast iron pieces one griswold skillet griddle and a Favorite ware number 7 skillet on a week long fishing trip. To this day my friends are still talking about how non stick my cast iron is and how the over easy eggs were the best they have ever tasted. 😊😂 I will share this video to everyone in the future so I don’t have to explain it to them over and over again.there is no excuse anymore for them.And yes I did subscribe to your channel to show my appreciation for sharing your knowledge about making CAST IRON GREAT AGAIN 😂

[@RowesRising]

Make cast iron great again! Love that😀

[@davidsanders6457]

It is totally unnecessary to use the caustic chemicals. Put the pans in a self-cleaning oven for about 2 hrs and all the baked on gunk will turn to ash, then you just wash the pan and proceed to season. I have 6 cast iron pots and pans and never had to use dangerous chemicals to clean one.

[@joesmith7123]

Lol. My question is why get rid of it anyway. I thought we wanted all that stuff on the pan .

[@joesmith7123]

Let’s use modern day caustic trash to strip decades of seasoning so I can hand these down to my kids lmfao . Femoid brain activated.

[@RowesRising]

Why risk warping your pan?

[@robbiemustian8460]

Guess it slipped your mind that muriatic acid is used to help balance the pH in many commercial and private swimming pools. The next time your neighbors invite you over for a swim you might want to check and see what process they use to keep their pool bright & shiny. You’re welcome

[@tonybrannen1740]

This was her way. Remember that.

[@neilschristensen9143]

Thanks for the info. Got 3 cast iron pans 6,12, and 14 inch. Going to try this.

[@RowesRising]

You're going to love the results!

[@JunoBrannick]

It is much easier and actually faster just to put it in a backyard fire/campfire/fireplace. The only thing you have to remember is to preheat the pan before you put it right on the coals, and to let it cool slowly. Now give it a quick wash and dry and start your seasoning process

[@RowesRising]

Thanks for watching!!

[@TeaTephiTrumpet777]

You are correct because it keeps It seasoned and black but this lady was removing the actual seasoning having no idea what was on it was perfection. A black iron skillet is seasoned.

[@Tim_Hicks_89]

Why does the outer part of the skillet need to be seasoned? Genuinely curious.

[@RowesRising]

@Tim_Hicks_89 to help prevent it from rusting, and to make it look awesome.

[@darrenc3439]

if you like taking a risk of cracking your cast iron, thats great.

[@alvinjackson9685]

This video was so helpful. I also found 2 really nice, but really grimy cast-iron pans at a thrift store. I was having a time trying to get them ready for seasoning. Just ordered the lye you used. 👍🏽

[@RowesRising]

It’s a very satisfying process and your pans are going to be beautiful!!

[@Mr.Alwaysright-z8q]

I put my cast iron in an electric oven on a self clean cycle. Turned all the carbon to ash. Three hours at 500 degrees did the trick.

[@njagatlin]

I have been looking forward to this video. I am going restore my cast iron and be on the lookout for other cast iron items when I am going to thrift stores. It will be satisfying to see the process at work.

[@paulgdlmx]

I have been doing this for years -- skillets, woks etc.-- and it does wonders. Great video

[@ShowMeThePictures]

Have you tried to put them in the oven on " cleaning mode" so it gets 500+ degrees and burning off all the junk instead of using lye?

[@RowesRising]

Too scared of that method fracturing my skillet or burning the house down. My oven says not to put anything in it for the self clean.

[@thomasdavenport7935]

Oven cleaning setting. However, it can smoke. Make sure you can vent. Once cooled, light scrubbing should suffice. Then reseason with real lard or fat until slick black. My iron is like a nonstick coating.

[@lindaperry9950]

Wow. A lot of work but amazing results. Thank you@

[@RowesRising]

It’s a process but surprisingly very little elbow grease involved. Thanks for watching!!

[@brandeegoodnight532]

What do you do for the rust treatment?

[@RowesRising]

You do 1:1 vinegar bath being sure to have enough soliciting to submerge the pan. 20-40 minutes ONLY! Anymore can ruin and put your pan. Then rinse and scrub and if it needs more time put ut back in for a few more minutes and repeat.

[@brandeegoodnight532]

@@RowesRising thank you! You made it look so easy.

[@Dave-mf5fv]

I must say I've gained a broader perspective on how to clean and season old cast iron. Since I have acquired several pieces from family that I didn't know they had. These pieces, were in definite need of a lye bath. easy off was not going to do it. I'm doing research on these pieces. most are Griswold from what I've found. I hope to use them in the future. Thank you much!!

[@COOKIE-2u]

@Dave-mf5fv Griswold was a top shelf high end quality line of ironwares. Plz never use abrasive tools or SCO/fire cleaning on these valuable items. U could potentially damage them. If ppl don't value their cast iron or intend to start a family heirloom then they have the right to risk damage to their pieces. So many ppl have unknowingly destroyed a $100, $200 and even $500 item by lack of knowledge and carelessness.

[@RowesRising]

Electrolysis tank is another cool alternative that I have seen videos on but haven’t tried yet. It removes the gunk really well without any damage to the cast iron.

[@Dave-mf5fv]

@COOKIE-2u Thank you for heads up on abrasives on cast iron. As coworker said to me, just use a grinder! I thought, no, that's not a proper way to clean cast iron

[@RowesRising]

@Dave-mf5fv dudes. Haha. 🤣

[@COOKIE-2u]

​​@@RowesRising lol Right. Can u imagine ur hubby using a grinder on ur MIL's SBL Griswold to restore it😮?? I did watch again and saw ur hubs mom's pan looked to be a small block logo Griswold. Good quality iron. They made other lower budget lines too like Iron Mountain that was sold at Sears but the quality is Exactly the same. I love IM line too. The handle is what I really like. Ur off to a great start with family heirlooms. I never removed the inside seasonings from my heirlooms and being the eldest I'll get my mother's cast iron too especially bcz I learned at early age to cook in it. Had to cook for my younger siblings. U probably did the same if ur the eldest.