3-yrs in storage (cast iron & herbs), now what?

[turf3]

You will not need to take the pan down to bare metal and re-season.

Wash it out with hot soapy water and a plastic scrubbie (I use the "Dobie" brand but I think another common one is "Chore Boy". Not Scotchbrite abrasive. Not steel wool. Doing so will remove the rancid grease but will not remove the seasoning.

Rinse it with hot water.

Dry it with a tea towel.

Declare victory.

I swear, if our grandmothers who used a cast iron skillet for everything had done all the ridiculous cast iron cookware voodoo people trot out, they would never have gotten anything else done!

[A.Typical.Girl]

Originally Posted by JimG2

You almost can't ruin cast iron...

Hi, Jim. Mine rusted after several years in storage. I did everything I could at home, but I'm a girl with not much upper body strength, so when it comes to scouring off rust with elbow grease, I was exhausted after hours & it made little difference. One looked okay, but everything tasted like iron. I recently relocated, so would have had to leave them behind anyway, so it's fine.

In any event, none of it was superior quality or pricey... all Lodge. Maybe someday I'll get another Dutch oven. Nothing better than a roast & potatoes in a cast iron pot. Right now, I live in a 4th floor walk-up... I'm not going to carry one up the stairs.

Sounds like you've got a lovely collection. I'm sure your son will love your gift. At the moment, I've got to economize & live minimalistically.

Thanks for the help, Everyone.

[A.Typical.Girl]

Originally Posted by turf3

You will not need to take the pan down to bare metal and re-season.

It's all gone now, Turf. As mentioned in the last 2 posts, I won't invest in it again, but thank you. This was my post from 1-yr ago... the pans weren't salvageable, but it's irrelevant, cuz in moving, I'd have to have left them behind regardless of outcome. You'll have to read the past posts.

Thanks for your help.

[gentlearts]

I soak my cast iron in very hot soapy water for about 15 minutes- no longer, scrub it with a metal scrubby, and then dry it thoroughly with a paper towel. If there are any dull spots on the surface, I rub a tiny amount of vegetable oil on it before i put it away. It came pre seasoned, and the finish has stayed very well despite my not babying it.