by Bluebunny » Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:36 am
Hi Cecil,
I rarely buy new cast iron...I look around in yard sales for them. I make a campfire in the backyard, roast some weenies and talk with friends. Later in the evening, I put the iron in the campfire. For you, take the steel handle off first. Just lay it in the fire, and leave it in the hot hot coals and go to bed. It will completely ash-out the old residue, slow cool, and be ready for the next step. The next step if to wash and scrape with a pancake flipper and dry on a stove flame, Then for the next six cookings or so, only cook bacon in it. The results are better than a new one! Better than teflon! I suppose an alternate is to send it through a clean-cycle in your oven, although its not as hot, and I haven't tried it...The key is to get it way-beyond smoking hot, then slow-cool it. The steel wire handle will discolor and warp, so remove it first.
Kind Regards, Butch