Question About Cleaning A Rancid Dutch Oven...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

It wasn't mayo... In fact, it was an oven I just recently aquired. It went rancid from not being properly cleaned and stored. (Found out last night why too)

[doug hodder]

Here's a question....if you are doing Pizza in the DO, using parchment paper and not getting anything slopped on the side of the DO, how much cleaning do you need to do, ie reseasoning? Doug

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Damned near non at all.
The oven in question was rancid when I got it.

[JunkMan]

Since you are talking abouot cleaning a rancid dutch oven, how about cleaning a crusty frying pan?

I just picked up a Griswold #8 frying pan at a yard sale for a buck. It is VERY crusty (couldn't even read the name on the bottom until I scraped some of the crap off), doesn't look like the former owners ever cleaned it. I've scraped most of the crusty stuff off, and want to re-season it. How much of the crusty stuff do I need to scrape off? I've got the real heavy stuff off, but there is still a little left where the bottom meets the sides, that I am having trouble getting off. Should I sand blast it before re-seasoning it? Boil it out? Scrub with a scotch brite?

[Joanne]

I got an oven that was crusted and badly rusted. I finally had to use a wire wheel on my 3" angle grinder. You might get it off with a wire wheel on a electric drill. I wouldn't sand blast unless it's a last resort. You might want to see how well it cleans up in a gas BBQ on high or in a camp fire.

Joanne

Since you are talking abouot cleaning a rancid dutch oven, how about cleaning a crusty frying pan?

I just picked up a Griswold #8 frying pan at a yard sale for a buck. It is VERY crusty (couldn't even read the name on the bottom until I scraped some of the crap off), doesn't look like the former owners ever cleaned it. I've scraped most of the crusty stuff off, and want to re-season it. How much of the crusty stuff do I need to scrape off? I've got the real heavy stuff off, but there is still a little left where the bottom meets the sides, that I am having trouble getting off. Should I sand blast it before re-seasoning it? Boil it out? Scrub with a scotch brite?

[Ma3tt]

The ABSOLUTE best way to get to bare metal

http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

DO IT! No elbow grease! No scrapes, cuts, grinds, etc just a cool bubbling sound and a bare pan at the end.....

It is way fun! I brought brite orange rusted dutch ovens and pans back to life!

[JunkMan]

Joanne,
The wire wheel sounds like a good idea, don't know why I didn't think about that

Ma3tt,
I don't have any rust to remove, just a bunch of carbon and baked/burned on crap.

[Ma3tt]

I just worry about scratches with a wheel.

[Joanne]

I just worry about scratches with a wheel.

Hey Matt,

I didn't have any problems with scratches, but your method is much easier on the piece being cleaned. If I come across another oven that is in rough shape I will probably try the electrolysis method.

Thanks for the cool link.

Joanne