TheMudbrooker's Guide to Cast Iron: Restoration

In this video I demonstrate two techniques for stripping and restoring old cast iron cookware.
The electrolysis video I mentioned: • Removing Rust with Ele...
The Mudbrooker's Guide to Cast Iron playlist: • The Mudbrooker's Guide...
My Patreon: www.patreon.co...

[@mcchuggernaut9378]

I'm a young man who has just gotten into thrifting for antiques. I wasn't looking for vintage cast iron, but I grabbed an old cast-iron skillet at Goodwill a couple months ago when I saw it for 99 cents because I heard they hold heat well and do the best job of searing a steak of any type of cookware, and that old ones can be valuable heirlooms which can last for generations. I wasn't expecting it to be a particularly valuable one, and I left it sitting around the house for a month after finding out it needed stripped and seasoned and identified, and needed to research how to do all that. Turns out it's a Wagner Ware circa 1924 - 1935, in excellent condition, and these are supposedly worth a decent amount. I'm about to attempt my first strip and season, and this video was a GREAT help! Thanks a lot for teaching me something! Hopefully I will be using it the rest of my life and passing it to the next generation.

[@cmcken1]

I'm a process engineer and I gotta say, this is an excellent video resource complete with safety concerns disclosed up front and center throughout. This chap is an excellent teacher. The video flows and is laid out nicely. Process step by process step with methodologies and options laid out complete with pros and cons for each method. I love this video - it's helping me learn about my cast iron cookware way more than any other video I've seen on here to date. Appreciate the effort in making of this video.

[@californiaeveryday]

I'm a manufacturing engineer.

[@bonniemechefske3838]

Tip: if you dont have/can't find washing soda you can make your own. For electrolysis you need sodium carbonate. Take baking soda (sodium BIcarbonate) spread onto a cookie sheet an inch deep or less and bake at 400 for an hour. This removes a carbon molecule. So instead of 2 cabon (BIcarbonate) you now have one (carbonate). You know its done when its changes from powdery to grainy. Washing soda is hard to find here and expensive but I love to use it for all kinds of things. Have been making my own for a long time. Thank you for such a thorough video with extra safety tips most people don't cover (ie: chrome plating in electrolysis)

[@ingemarrydberg3045]

I use to think that a 20 minutes youtube video is to long to watch but here I am on a friday night drinking a glass of wine and watching a 34 minutes long video of restoring a frying pan. Thank you for a really informative video!

[@carlvu7]

Watch at 1.5x speed to move to consume more content.

[@lorivilneff2538]

I could listen to this guy all day long, he needs to narrate EVERY video on the internet.

[@mangopog9814]

Lori Vilneff true, I got better sleep than with Sleeping pills.

[@miketheplumber448]

He Lori, I noticed he is not wearing a wedding ring... Make your move before Everett does.

[@ohbuddyiliketowatch]

Ditto

[@HaydenHatTrick]

It's very very rare a video actually addresses my experience as a chemist directly. Your information is very precise and you have a good understanding of what you're doing. You avoid a lot of common mistakes that catch almost everyone out, also your sense of scale and measure is a good fit for the task. I'm very impressed and it's a breath of fresh air.

[@pamelabeaton7834]

Just salt and a potato works well for me. I'll never do this it's insane just hot water. If you need to boil water. And put into sink. Let pan sit a bit. Take salt rub her down real good rinse dry on stove top. Never any chemical or soap ever.

[@lumenmom]

I did not know you could restore cast iron before today. I learned a lot and now I feel more confident buying one of the pans I walk past all the time at Goodwill.

[@peterudbjorg]

Yup. That’s how it’s done. Oven cleaner, garbage bags, scrubbing things, hot water, patience, elbow grease. I have what’s probably a gallon size iron pot I found, it had been used as a planter (!), but, The Method worked. And now it’s my favourite pot for Large Soups. :)

[@JamesAhrens]

This is a great video. Your voice is perfect for an instructional/educational video and you do a superb job of demonstrating essential technique. I like how you give a few different methods for cleaning cast ironware. The first couple methods are clearly easier and less effective and then you lead into the highly suggested (electrolysis) method. Thank you for adding the seasoning tips as well. Great job.

[@TheMudbrooker]

I'm going to be doing a demonstration on using lye and vinegar baths in the near future.

[@richardmalone3172]

I don't have a cast iron pan and came across your video by accident. I found it really interesting. You have a very easy to listen to voice.

[@jnelchef]

This video wins the award for the most use of the word crud. Great video!

[@gharp722]

ROTFL

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

@@gharp722 Cast iron can get really cruddy

[@MsTemptation]

I remember scrubbing the crud off of my grandmother's cast iron skillets. That was a wonderful task for a [then] twelve year girl with zero experience on how to remove decades of grease and food that were built up around the sides of the skillets. But I did it and surprised my mom with the results of my efforts. I love cast iron cookware because the more you use it the more nonstick it becomes.

[@ramabamaboomboom]

I did the same thing. Thought I was cleaning that "dirty black skillet" mom cried..was her grandmothers 🧐

[@jansoriano3889]

Its good exercise and keeps your hands, fingers and ,nails clean too.

[@rexsmith9577]

@@ramabamaboomboom Why'd she cry? Just re-season, and it is better than new!

[@Anna-tc6rz]

@@rexsmith9577 a lot of people view it as family history. Its like she washed the history away or something.

[@larrypesek8818]

Ask 10 people how to clean and re season Cast Iron and you can get 12 different methods... Great job explaining the ones you show here ! It should be mentioned that restoring vintage hollow ware can be contagious and can lead to 'Castironitis' - an affliction of acquiring cast iron , because, "It was a great deal"... :)

[@CherylConti]

This is very interesting. My skilliet from my Grandmother has a million years of buildup on the sides. It was like that when I was a kid, I am 65 now and it is still cooking like that. It never dawned on me to erase all those years of fried chicken grease. After watching this very well presented video, I took another look at Momma Hodges skillet. All of my cast iron is clean and smooth and so non stick from years of me using them. Hers, Grandma's, is like she was.....I am leaving that pan alone. She could rise up and hit me in the head with it. Peace.

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Cheryl, both my folks died in 2006 and one of the things I took from the empty home was a cast iron pan my Mom bought at a garage sale when she was in her 20's. I too am 65 and doing the math this old carbon crusted pan must be over 80 years old. Just like you I am afraid to mess with a historic fully functional incredible piece of art and part of family history. All those years my Mom did what all the experts frown on and that is she used regular dish soap after cooking but would always dry the pan by a fairly high burner flame. Now days I use a stiff brush under scalding hot water to clean. Sometimes I have used course salt , I also have a commercial cast iron cleaning jell. And I sometimes after heating to dry will rub in some organic flax oil. Part of me wants to know what the brand of pan is and age but my Mom put all that carbon on that pan and I dont want to spray a bunch of chemicals on it...Cheers!

[@SuperHelper2]

Cheryl Conti 😂😂😂😂😂😂❤️💯

[@mangopog9814]

Cheryl Conti true, cleaning that would be a sin, just think of the memories down the drain, NO WAY, WOULD O DO THAT TO MY MAMMY, (that’s what we called her, she was born in 1899) God bless her memory.

[@MrGaryGG48]

One branch of our family had an old hunting cabin in the hills north of our valley for many decades and their kids and grandkids would gather off and on all summer most years. Grandpa had his cast iron pans that had accumulated over the decades and he was just a wee bit "possessive!!" One of the daughters-in-law, trying to step in and help with the cleanup, dropped a large cast iron pan into the dishwater tub and went to work on it. Yup, Grandpa just happened to walk by as she was scouring the crap out of it with a Brillo pad and soap. You'd have thought somebody had killed one of his kids; he screeched and squawked until you could hear him clear across the yard. He would wipe out the pan with a rag, and ONLY use sand to scour with and then he re-seasoned it with grease. He'd been doing it that way for 60+ years and no damn kid was gonna change his mind!! ;^) After that, one or another of those "kids" would step up occasionally and offer to help "clean" the pots & pans. Grandpa would start to let loose at them and then look around and see an audience observing the performance and he'd know they were just yankin' his chain a bit. ;^)

[@revbarbarasnyder5660]

Happy days! My grandma's skillets have cruddy sides too. I'm 77. My mom was born in 1915. These were her mom's. They're cooking just fine.

[@arch-aidecontracting5016]

Good job ! you took the time and care for a bit of elbow grease, but those look great - you gave them a whole new life -that's some pretty serious respect for something we can get so much use and value from

[@vickieheinrichs6939]

I had pans from my mother who passed away in 1987. They had so much buildup on the outside of them that I did not know what it was. When I put them in my oven and clean them all I was left with was a ton of Ash! There was no rust or any other imperfections and it worked beautifully. Now I know I didn't do anything wrong because of your video telling me it's okay to clean them in the oven! Thank you so much

[@999Giustina]

Yes! The bag works like magic! Works very well with oven racks also. Tip: don't get oven cleaner on any aluminium foil (such as in the bottom of the oven) or other aluminium surface as the result will be a chemical fire. Yes, as a teenager I found this out when there was smoke coming out of my garbage can!

[@frankiefrank4853]

Being genuine goes a long way. Thanks for taking the time and effort.

[@HelpBeyondChurch1]

😂😂😂 Home version of the Hindenburg!!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. This is the first video I’ve ever seen of yours and it’s great!! Very informative; not boring, just the right amount of dry humor which is hilarious by the way! Thanks for the videos!

[@Fishbizkut]

I never comment but I could listen to you teach about anything. Excellent video!! Thank you for the information!!!❤

[@joycleveland5534]

Awesome Video , wonderful you show step by step. For this old gal I appreciate that . I have many cast iron pans that were my grandma's and to think of what was cooked in them is a great memory ! Thanks for sharing with us ! looking forward to the seasoning video. Great Job !

[@joannehickey7047]

My mum used to make us scrub the cast-iron pots and pans inside and out, with coarse salt, wipe then dry then place them in the oven of out woodstove, once they were dry and cooled we had to wipe them with olive oil.... I'm 56 now and mum's cast-iron cook ware is still going strong and has never had any rust. My Grandparents were Retired British Army people who were born in the 1890's... they taught my mum, and she taught us. Sure they're heavy, but you only really need to replace them once every couple of generations so you definitely get your money's worth. By the way. .. your voice is amazing! So, very easy to listen and pay attention to.

[@acts10truth]

I forgot to thank you for the great video, that you went to a lot of trouble to make. There was a lot of good points

[@tubularfrog]

Excellent video. You have a natural knack for instructing these methods. Electrolytic stripping is my favorite method to clean these old cast iron works of art.

[@P11247]

You had me at the beginning, but lost me at the end with the electrolysis machine. LOL

[@torfinnjohnsrud793]

I bought a 12" lodge last year and love it. It's already fantastic, but in a few decades it'll be a vintage beauty. Nothing like starting your own legacy pan. Someday it'll be revered like the old vintage ones we find today

[@deficientgirl4224]

Love the multiple tactics with the added convenience factor! So much knowledge. Now, I want to go scour Goodwill!

[@AWWx2]

Thanks for this long demonstration video. Those were great prices for used pans, well worth the effort to restore.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Its really surprising what you can find with a little luck and patience.

[@familyluv1762]

Me and my husband restore cast cookware too. We luv to cook with them. My GPA Hubert and GMA Jessie always used one. I clean with self cleaning oven wash with a pad and then oil and bake. They are amazing to use. Nothing like them, add a special home cooked taste. Allot of people don't like to use. Just gotta learn to cook at a lower temp and slower. The even heat from cast cooks everything evenly. Bake a stew in a Dutch oven and wow the flavor is amazing.

[@wizard3z868]

lower temp is one im struggling with my grill pan wife gets pissed i smoke up the whole house but she loves the taste of food

[@turdferguson5300]

I use stainless steel sheets in my electrolysis tank because they are easier to clean, just wipe em off. At the lower amperages we use to clean cast iron it doesn't cause a problem. I use 6 amps while Stephen of the Cast Iron Cookware channel uses 20 amps. I've let the leads spark right over my tank to see what was happening and nothing. I've cleaned over 35 pieces without an issue so far, it might blowup tonight but I'll die with a surprised look on my face. lol Thank you for all the good information about cast iron. Watching videos has been my research on cast. Three or four of you guys know what you're doing.

[@karennicholson6972]

Great video with very clear instructions! Thank you for sharing - I LOVE good cast iron equipment & I enjoyed seeing it restored & appreciated :-) Please make more videos - so useful!

[@sandradavis4359]

Great video. Will come in handy on my 50 year old 15” skillet.

[@sandrasears3981]

My pan came from the junk yard, covered in rust. I had it sand blasted and then seasoned it to bring it back to pristine condition.🍳

[@LisaCampbellMEDIA]

What a thorough and informative video! I just purchased a cast iron WOK and your vid will certainly help me to care for it. Thank you sir! 🙂

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Very nice and large reverse electrolysis tank and nice setup . Am I the only guy who uses a round sanding pad on an electric drill to get cast iron glass smooth ? A bead blaster using fine sand comes in handy . Thanks for a great video and all the best .

[@johnwest1900]

I Love your program and Knowlege. I loved cast iron all my life 86 years

[@Trucker1957]

I love cast iron cookware, that's all I use. I have an old Lodge set imprinted on the bottom with Cracker Barrel, that I bought at the Cracker Barrel restaurants back in the late 1980's.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Lodge has done quite a few pans like that, company logos, wildlife scenes and such, they're pretty cool.

[@j.b.9581]

Excellent video! The methods that you use are not destructive to the pans (such as sandblasting or tossing into an open flame). I have a charger just like the one in the video (runs to set up an electrolysis tank after dropping keyboard to run out the door . . .). . . upon returning, I would like for everyone to know that the best oil for high heat cooking in cast iron is Avocado Oil. It has a heat point of 500 degrees.

[@70washington]

Flax Seed Oil is good to use for curing and cooking in the pans. If you for what ever reason need to store cast iron for long term.. 1+ year use flax seed oil.. cur it 4 times, 450 in the oven for each coat for 2 hrs each coat. Makes a bit of smoke in the house so open windows and doors.

[@maxcorder2211]

@@70washington I have watched several cast iron restoration videos recently as I have a Dutch oven that needs it. Half recommended flax seed oil and the other half swear against it. Probably no real harm done. I use Avocado oil.

[@kimeverhart6253]

Beautiful work! I think it’s quite wonderful to save those wonderful and oh so useful old skillets! They really are just some of the best cookware ever! Great job!

[@MHow-qc3ns]

You are an excellent teacher, your lessons and ideas are crystal clear. They illustrate exactly what can be accomplished. Your speaking cadence reminds me of Garrison Keillor and is very nice to the ear -- not preachy and encourages the pupil to continue listening. A very nice experience. Thank you.

[@thomasbarron4423]

I've been slowly converting all my cookware to castiron. My hasn't noticed yet as I've been tossing the teflon coated stuff we have. The coating has started flaking and peeling. Castiron can be better than teflon nonstick in my opinion and isnt toxic like teflon. Not to mention castiron is darn near indestructible and makes a great home defense tool when applied properly🤭. My grandmother passed a lot of really, really, REALY old cast iron cookware to my mo. And her sisters when she passed. I remember on many occasions her telling me her grandmother cooked on some of the items she owned. Thanks for the video I learned a lot.

[@richardalvis4695]

4 minutes into your video I knew I was going to enjoy them. Straight to the point of topic, no extra blah blah blah. You know what your talking about and Im a cast iron collector, freak, hoarder or whatever word attaches to my obsession. Vintage and quality are my only two requirements. Keep it up and thanks for your time and effort in making your videos. Salutations from Savannah, Ga.

[@inkey2]

my late mother lived to 95 years old. She used the same old cast iron pan for 70 years. It was solid black and thick with crud from decades of use. She claimed these pans had to be tempered with "time and use". She made the best corn bread in that pan.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Crud on the sides isn't a problem, but too much on the bottom makes it heat unevenly.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

@inkey2 - Bless your mom and respect .

[@inkey2]

@@QuantumPyrite_88.9 and,,,,,,,,,,,mom was one of " thirteen " children during the great depression.....no joke

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

My mom was one of 6 kids and was a cook for ranch hands during the depression .

[@andreapuskas4961]

You bettcha! I'm using my Moms 12 and 8 inch ones right now cooking ahead for deer season and thanksgiving dinners. I'm 70 yrs old. These were my Grandmas from the 1890s. Thet COOK JUST LIKE SHE DID IT, !My folks were raised during the depression also. They taught us well. Still grow Tomatos and make my own wine,, and hunt for meat.

[@jameslaupan6499]

I love your videos, and have learned plenty from you. One statement you made causes me concern however. From experience I learned that using a brass or copper brush is not a good idea. The brass brush will definitely leave a yellowish stain. The copper will leave a redish stain and will look like rust staining even after 5 coats of seasoning. I now will only use the stainless steel pads, or sos or brillo pads, they leave no stain and are relatively cheap to work with. I'll continue to watch, you continue to teach, and I'm sure my pots and pans will benefit in the end.

[@hiredgun7996]

“ You don’t really want to create your own home version of the Hindenburg disaster.” Lol

[@nevick2]

And then the unexpected pan to a huge dog. Really got me haha.

[@landofevolution9757]

Vinegar bath for rust. Ive heard one way to avoid flash rust is start adding your oil while still wet. I actually just used my castile soap to scrub off rust after a lye bath. and then just dried with towel right away after rinsing and oiled it up quick. It worked really well!

[@GS-st9ns]

I'm glad you said use the self cleaning oven, because I always do. Only in the winter time so it heats the house up a little more. They do come out Rusty, but they just get a little scrub and it's all good

[@JodBronson]

Here is another way... Spray some Oven Cleaner all over it. Bring it outside and open your grill, BURN THE HELL out of it. Once cool, bring it back inside and clean it and EVERYTHING is gone!

[@GWMRed]

@@JodBronson which brings me back to cost/benefit analysis vs. a new pan. I think the best conclusion from the analysis is emotional: satisfaction of restoration, whether an heirloom or rescued junk: 1 more item for which scarce resources weren't used to manufacture the replacement

[@JodBronson]

@@GWMRed - Buy a new one! A can of Oven Clean is $6.99. A new Pan is $8.99 = NO WORK !!! LMFAO

[@johnvaldez8830]

Cast Iron is a wonderful way to cook. It works well, and a good seasoned pan is better than any Teflon coating. My grandmother used cast iron for all of her cooking and it was the best in the world.

[@lanyard2202]

That voice is amazing. There goes a dude who does not do stress.

[@susangrande8142]

I love hearing the Spring Peepers in this video! Reminds me of when I lived in rural Iowa 25 years ago. Such a lovely, natural sound! (They’re @28:11.) Thanks, Mudbrooker! 🙏

[@robertgoidel]

Well, I guess I should have watched your great video before I even assumed if you use car battery charger. You certainly do know, great video of instruction. Thanks!

[@gordonhood6265]

Thanks for the video, nicely done. I've used all the methods you've described. I have 19 pieces of cast iron cookware from my great grandmother who passed them on my grandmother to my mother to me. Really covered with heavy crude. Using the oven proved disastrous, it filled the house with smoke and a stench you wouldn't believe. $30 worth of oven cleaner was way to costly, labor intensive and very slow. I found lye to be quickest, cost effective method for my purposes and was easy to remove the crude with a 1 inch square copper brush. I did strain the dirty lye solution & will have to deal with disposing of the liquid. I did use your seasoning method & it is spot on !! Many thanks for the tutorial.

[@dimidomo7946]

Good teaching video Mud. I noticed your supervisor was looking in on you figuring he might find a few treats. 🐶🍗

[@Ridiculi]

This video is GREAT. I want to take all of my cast iron down to bare metal. Thank you!

[@victoriastevens3166]

:) I just watched Stacy use a magic rust eraser! And lol, IT WORKED!

[@tommaika9121]

Help needed on the Electrolysis part: Here is what I have, 5 gallon plastic container, container electrodes are cast iron hay bale hooks, I found your Arm & Hammer wash soda at a large volume grocery store, I put in 4 gallons of warm water, for the electric part I have a 12V DC 16V AC Electric Train Set transformer from the mid 1960s. This is copper colored and has black plastic control knobs. I can run electricity in DC or AC mode. I have been running this in AC 16volt mode in my tank. Is this transformer too weak or putting out enough juice? Some of my heavily rusted cast iron pots and pans were soaking in the Electrolysis tank for 5+ hours, and when I pull them out, some rust appeared in the bottom of the tank, but much rust was still on the cast iron pots/pans. I have some old Wagner and a Griswold cornbread pan that I think would clean up well in YOUR Electrolysis tank. But the rust is not coming off. Should I spring for a new battery charger at a local Harbor freight instead of this old train set transformer? Thanks. I tried the Oven Cleaning part of your video and it got rid of years and years of built up crud very well, but the deep rust stayed. I like seasoning my pans in good quality olive oil. Is this good practice? Or can I use grape seed oil?

[@TheMudbrooker]

First off, you must run DC current with the negative connected to the item you're cleaning. With AC you're alternating between removing rust and creating rust 60 times per second. Next, the amperage is the important part, the voltage not so much. You'll want a power supply that puts out at least 10 amps, more is better, 5 amps will work but it'll take a LOT longer. Since I made this video, a problem has arisen with battery chargers. The state of California has mandated that all new battery chargers sold in the state must be automatic because a few idiots would hook up a manual charger, forget about it for days or weeks, melt the battery and start a fire. Since California is a large market, manufacturers have decided it's simpler to make all new chargers automatic rather than go through the pain in the neck of one type of charger for one state and and something else for the rest. Manual chargers can still be found used in pawn shops and on Ebay. There is a way to use an automatic charger for electrolysis, but I haven't tested it yet (hopefully I can before it's too cold outside) so I can't recommend it or vouch for it's safety. While I love the results I get from electrolysis, a good alternative is a bath of a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. depending on the rust, it can take a few days. Soak the pans overnight, scrub them and see if there's still rust and repeat until they're clean. You might need to change the solution once or twice if the pans are heavily rusted. Olive oil works for seasoning, but it has a tendency to get sticky if too much is used or the pans sit unused for a couple of weeks. Grapeseed oil is an excellent choice.

[@mozu517]

Excellent tutorial! Never heard of electrolysis used in this context before. Don't think I'll try it myself, but very interesting nonetheless. Now I'm hooked on your channel!

[@stephengile530]

the little bit of rust that you used the butter on is usually called 'Flash Rust'. What happens to clean iron and steel that is exposed to any moisture even humidity. I've seen it form within less than five minutes. Good video.

[@cynforrest]

Thank you. Very interesting. I have a Lodge Pan - came preseasoned- that never seems clean to me. The paper towel always looks a bit “black” after wiping. Should I strip it and start over? I bought it last year from Amazon. Thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

A little blackness on your paper towel is normal, especially after you wash a pan with soap and water. Scrubbing and hot oil tend to lift excess carbon and black iron oxide from the surface of the pan but don't worry about it, you just wiped it off and the little that's left isn't going to turn your food black. In fact, black iron oxide is a beneficial source of dietary iron.

[@cynforrest]

TheMudbrooker Thank you so much. I do love the fact that nothing sticks in my pan!!

[@ConnieVanzant]

WOW....so thankful for this....I have two skillets I purchased from thrift shops that need cleaning......I never thought about using oven cleaner....

[@bigreddoggy55]

That crud is gonna clog them pipes... Great video . Rinse outside.. My granny woulda kilt me.. Sanding works well also.. Too each his own

[@Anna-tc6rz]

You cant rinse that off outside, its toxic you idiot.

[@shelliesman7552]

(This is for the Mudbrooker, so how about respecting that that, and not complaining about it’s Length. Nobody is obligated to read one Sentence of this.) I want to Thank you Sir, for the effort you had to put out to make this Video for us! You did a really Great Job, for those of us who happen to Love Cast Iron for it’s many advantages. (Not to mention, the Romance of using the Older Things in use, Hundreds of Years ago!! I just happen to be pursuing more Cast Iron Cooking Utensils at the moment, and am probably going to be Buying a Large Potjie, or Cajun Type Cauldron/Kettle, for Cooking up a Seafood Jambalaya, Multi-Family Stews, etc., and/or a Large Lodge Dutch Oven, and also a Cast Iron Wok, or a Giant Spun or Hammered Carbon Steel Wok.... and a High Pressure Outdoor Propane Burner! I have long suffered inadequate Heat for Stir Frying for too many Years. She has shared with me recently, of how weary she has become of making Meal Plans, and having to shop to get it all, and to Cook, (which she doesn’t mind as much)... over and over and over, so I thought that I would like to Cook her up some Stir Fry, and my other Favorite Meals That I used to Cook, back when I was a Batchelor. My Wife doesn’t like Cast Iron, nor did she like to store my First Wok and Chinese Bowls when we first got Married, so I surrendered, (and they are long gone, and I had picked all of that out personally, from a ShoppingTrip to San Francisco ‘s “China Town”) since she is truly an absolutely Fantastic Cook, and the Kitchen is Fully her Domain. She even Organizes the Help, and guides her regular Kitchen Helps, for Catering Weddings, strictly as a Ministry for the many many Young Folks at out Church, and sometimes for Relatives of our Church Members. When we were Newlyweds, we agreed upon the areas of our Home, that we each had the full say and responsibility for, but as I scratch my Head as I ask myself now, as I am about to replace my Wok and Utensils, is why didn’t I just put it all in the Garage, which is where I put my Largest Cast Iron Frying Pan that Lodge Makes? That Frying Pan I got For specifically Frying Country Potatoes, for when I wanted to Cook a Big Breakfast... but it is so very Massive, that Our Electric Stove, can’t get it Hot enough to Heat it any more than a Small Diameter Area in the Center!! The Outdoor Propane Burner will definitely solve that problem.

[@mrsseasea]

so much great info. thank you for the electrolysis info. I want to build one, and you gave all info. for me to build one! thank you again.

[@jimandrews8528]

I have a NAFCO pan that i just use every day. I found out is was NAIL AND FOUNDRY COMPANY made in Newfoundland while we were a country. I still use it every day but I pay attention. You have got to love the good stuff.

[@manny-perez]

Great video, very professionally done!

[@nadinemoonihoawa2879]

Omg!! This is us exciting!!! I need and can't wait to do this. Thank you. Wish I saw this earlier. Than you👍🤗🤗🤗

[@robbyritter4245]

I found an older Lodge grill pan in an antique store not too long ago and only stripped the inside because the outside has such a beautiful seasoning. The inside of the pan was definitely useable but for some reason people love to grill fish in grill pans and I just didn't want to throw out a steak that tasted like fish without stripping the inside first.

[@rosafranco9184]

I finally learned how to do it right, excellent, thank you but I would never try electrólisis too complicated for me. Enjoyed this video ,thank you very much

[@TheMudbrooker]

You're welcome.

[@andymarge]

Great info, very informative with wonderful instructions.

[@jasonkaminski6230]

super tips! very helpful for a fellow CI restorer.

[@theresas709]

There is something about people cleaning up old cast iron that makes me so happy. They look great but I have never seen anyone use butter to season.

[@TheMudbrooker]

It's clarified butter so it doesn't scorch like regular butter does. It works very nicely.

[@fritzcolburn]

My grandmother used straight lard and I seem to remember my great grandmother using bacon fat. I could be wrong there though.

[@1953SM]

@@fritzcolburn My mother used to use lard to cook with and season pans but I use olive oil to cook with and I save my filtered bacon grease to fry eggs and potatoes to add a little more flavor and season pans with so you can use either.

[@mistakenreaper2285]

That's very cool, man. What used you that was for you to clean but the oven cleaner. I remember back in the day. My grandfather spending all day just scraping stuff off

[@jeannieelliott9703]

Beautiful surroundings! Maryland, eastern Ohio?? anyway, You should be a science teacher. Very knowledgeable and articulate. lovelovelove this whole video.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Wisconsin.

[@fahadyounus1]

Why is this so satisfying to watch.. I don’t even cook

[@jamesmcmillan7845]

I have one, was my Grandmother Skillet, Wagner sold un-named cast iron at Woolworth and Walgreen's and it was the best stuff they made

[@MHow-qc3ns]

James McMillan: The info about Woolworth and Walgreens is very interesting. I just love finding trivia like this. Thank you for sharing.

[@schairphoenix4059]

Not sure if they were any better..it was the same foundry and iron used. Some people prefer the shorter walls and resulting lighter weight to the pan. EG National - Wagner, Victor - Griswold

[@Slassetter]

I was just watching a video and they were using a rust eraser that they ordered off Amazon. It worked beautifully! I’m going to try it. After I use the eraser rinse the pan with very hot water. Dry it and let it sit until it is real dry. Then you put the grease or whatever in it wipe it off and put in a 425• over for an hour or so. Remove, let cool and treat it with grease 3 or 4 times. I don’t know if it would work on crud or not.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Someone else mentioned that too, Lodge makes it. I'm gonna get one and some of the seasoning products out there and test them out soon.

[@choctawhatcheekid309]

I found the best way to remove rust and grim is to take it to a sand blasting company that uses baking soda for cast iron. It will cost about $10 per pan. Do it when humidity is low in your area and reseason as soon as possible to prevent rust. When you get pans back from blasting they will be grey metal color and look brand new like they just came out of sand mold from the factory.

[@brucea550]

Bead blasting and walnut hulls work well also. I have my own cabinet, but $10 is a great price!

[@milekh6681]

Over thinking it

[@markbir7979]

Great video. Very informative. I have about 30 pieces of of cast iron. Some ove 100 yrs old I live in the southeast so mostly mine are BSR. Cant teally know about tha older ones. Thanls again for so much great information.

[@markmailloux2083]

I've done hundreds of pots pans, kettles, and cauldrons, I use the bomb fire, lard and sand, mirror finish after seasoning, no chemicals, no power, should make a video

[@xenaswolf]

I'd love to see it!

[@lindahewett147]

Hi Mark, I'd like to try that. What do you do with the lard & sand?

[@ronshuman7656]

sir i have just started trying to find cast iron pans ect. my mom was born and raised in virginia,she did have and use cast iron back when i was young. so im somewhat familier with them even though i never knew much about finding and restoring them. i now live in florida and so far i have 4 or 5 ive had just hanging on the wall so after watching some videos i went to cleaning..and found out i have a nice wagner corn cob pan,and a criswald and a very nice 151/2 in pan that is unmarked but is twin to the 15 in bsr, but heres what happened after watching a few videos one guy said just build a fire and put the pan in for 24 hrs...i found out before trying this it would ruin the pan. so thankfully i didnt do that. the other thing was YOU said when doing electrologist ,to make sure to use bicarbonate of soda not baking soda. so my wife had a big box of baking soda and we got into a heated argument that you said bicarbonate to use, then i looked it up and it said the are the same thing, just different brands calls them different names. so please give us beginners the right info...just to keep our wives happy. thanks for the help

[@bettyschneider5268]

That's funny, by now you might be getting sick of me scrubbing pans? ... Lol 😆

[@arielenriquez8750]

Terrific video. I've used this method for many applications besides cleaning cast iron. Nothing new to me here. But I have to commend you on your pup. He's a beaut! Makes you one lucky dog..

[@EagleRun23]

dang, wish I found this before i started my project. I subbed.

[@TheMudbrooker]

You live and you learn. I gotta admit, it was tough watching you make things so much harder than they needed to be. :)

[@EagleRun23]

Josh Rick I got her corrected. And best news, she earned a spot in the kitchen! Wifey approves.

[@robertward553]

I use my gas grill to get all the build up off old pans, work great. I tried the oven cleaner and it worked ok but it was messy. For rust, I used a flap disk on my grinder, but I'll try the battery charger method. Great video.

[@fenalraun9561]

"Enjoy your cast iron, and we'll leave the light on for ya."

[@ibdalia69]

Fen, I put the speed on 1.25 ;-)

[@henrymoore5176]

Ha Ha, he does sound exactly like Tom Bodette!!

[@rbtpartsman]

I thought I was in a Motel 6, the video put me to sleep !

[@ibdalia69]

@@rbtpartsman I put 10 yr old totally rusty cast iron camp oven into a water and molasses mix for a few days, then hit it with a pressure sprayer. 80% better. Now will put it in out of date white wine and see what happens.In OZ.

[@barbarabullock140]

I have been watching your older videos and very impressive.

[@lisathornton8912]

I love the tone of your voice.

[@elym1300]

Home version of the Hindenburg is the best part. Nicely done, well explained, and clear. Yay!

[@rowdeo8968]

Oh yes, the voice: I thinke Mudbrooker is a famous radio announcer but is keeping under wraps as a down to earth kind of guy lol

[@countrystyle5076]

Yeah he's Joe from family guy.... But we'll never really know for certain... Lol

[@earthlingjohn]

This is the first Mudbrooker video I've watched and that was the same thought i had...perfect radio voice 📻

[@candyrobinson911]

I bought a pretty rusty cast iron skillet at a yard sale. Got it home, got the pan hot put some table salt in the pan and cut a potato in half and scrubbed the pan really good. Rinsed it then washed it with hot water and a smidge drop of dawn dish soap and a non abrasive sponge. Put on the atove, dryed on the stove and wiped it down with Crisco grease. Looked like a brand new old skillet.

[@jbowerman50]

I used to work in restaurants, the griddle is cast iron as well as some of the pans. We would heat the metal with oil on it, not too hot to smoke the oil, then add salt , we scrubbed with paper towels or a kitchen towel (laundry service) and the used an equivalent to crisco just to seal the metal. Every restaurant I ever worked at did it the same way.

[@MultiOutdoorman]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Might i just add that (despite battery charger having short circuit protection and fusing) a couple of zip ties to hold those charger leads in place, might be helpful ? Just in case those clips get knocked or lose their grip ? Thanks.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

My very favorite kitchen implement is a Griswold dutch oven. I love it.

[@duett445]

I use a rotary wire brush in my die grinder, crud and rust is removed in one go in no time. I do it out doors no chemicals no toxin no plastic

[@ssimba2785]

duett 445 You are right but don't forget that some of these people have all the time in the world. Cleaning with grinder will be too quick for them,

[@stephenferriols680]

Thank you. I learned a lot. I have a small cast iron pan from my grandfather.

[@familyluv1762]

Might want to use some CLR cleaner in your sink. Maybe that will help with your sink. Thanks for all the tips. Great video helpful information. If people gave cast a chance they would luv them. Healthier then all these new nonstick garbage out there people are using. Last forever

[@TheMudbrooker]

I have some pans over a century old that I use all the time, I figure they have another two or three hundred years worth of life left in them. :)

[@barbdavis6838]

Thank you so very much for sharing this. I have a dutch oven that needs to be done. I got it from my Daddy. This will help me do that. Kneady sent me here. 💙💙💙 I see that I'm way late on this video. 😊😊

[@crossdrawjohn1754]

Great video. Buy your pans from city slicker yuppies who can't be bothered doing a little bit of work using elbow grease. I love cast iron....I'm thinking bisques and grave maybe corn bread in a skillet . Yum Yum

[@ah5721]

Ya making me drool! I grew up in the city but I'm trying to become self sufficient. I; garden, bake, cook, sew, can and nalbind I looove my cast iron skillets and learned how to fry chicken, make cornbread, can etc from books. There's Hope for us city slickers! Who didn't grow up knowing how to do stuff

[@growsomethinwild]

Its not a good idea to leabe cast iron in vinegsr solution for more than half an hour. I loved your set up gor electrolysis. Great info. Will my dog get shocked if he touches the water?

[@rowdeo8968]

beautifully restored!!!!

[@ahorseman4ever1]

Probably the most inclusive video I have watched on rehabilitating cast iron. You earned my subscription. Both my girlfriend and I both agree this is the best cast iron restoration video we have watched.