Prepare to have your mind blown! This was one of my great-grandmother's 100+ year old cast iron skillets. It needed some work to make it look good again. I found an easy way to clean cast iron pans!
I happen to have a cast iron pan from my Irish great-grandmother as well as two from my Polish great-grandmother. They all needed some love and attention.
The history of the pans mean a lot to me. So I wanted to restore these cast iron skillets back as best I could.
Table of Contents
Years before (I did this in 2013) I read somewhere that if you put your cast iron pans in your oven and set it to self clean the will be almost as good as new.
I was skeptical but interested. It seemed so easy and I figured what's the worst that could happen? So I put the two large pans in to see what would happen. I set the oven self-clean to 4 hours and underneath I lined the rack with aluminum foil to catch any grease.
I was a little nervous. Happily, the pans didn't explode into flames and they didn't melt! Our house is still standing. Once I was able to unlock the oven, the lower rack lined with foil was covered in tiny little ashes.
So was part of the bottom of the oven and the inside of the pans. The pans were also no longer jet black - they were more dark brown with some visible rust spots.
Look at all that gunk on that cast iron skillet from years and years of use. If only that pan could talk! The insides weren't bad but boy did these pans need some love and attention.
After the cast iron pans were cool enough to handle (which took about an hour) I rinsed them out, scrubbed any rust spots off. Completely dried them on my stove and then oiled them down.
I then put them back in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour to re-season them (I actually did this twice over 2 days). Now they are once again black and let me tell you. , the little one, which I had never cooked with, hasn't left the stove - it makes eggs each morning like nobody's business! AMAZING!
How to strip / restore cast iron pans
- There are a number of was to restore old cast iron pans, I went with what I felt the easiest was which was using my self cleaning oven to clean them. This only works if you pan is all cast iron (nothing wooden)
- You can choose to use a wire brush to really scour off the build up like you see on the photos.
- I have read of people building a fire outside and once the wood burns down, they bury their cast iron pans in the red hot coals to strip it before reasoning. Sounds cool however I will stick with the cast iron pan self cleaning oven method.
- I have heard of people using self cleaning sprays or harsher liquids, I choose not to do those.
My Irish great-grandmother lived until age 99. My polish great-grandmother lived until age 99. My Polish grandmother lived until age 102 and my Irish grandmother passed away in her 80's after having a stroke years earlier.
I assume using their cast iron pans later in life was not something they did often due to their weight. I hadn't noticed them cooking with them.
Here is the after of the above pan, amazing right?? With little effort.
Get ready....
Tips
- If your pans are slick and oily clean them first. If not that residue will melt into your oven.
- I read that it is a good idea to soak them in a vinegar and water solution for an hour after they come out to remove the rust, which I didn't do. My pans didn't have too much rust.
I'm not an expert by any means on this...just sharing my own personal mind-blowing experience.
All 3 of my inherited cast iron pans are over 100 years old. I am so happy that they are now pretty enough to display. Update. I updated this post in 2022. I have never needed to put them back in the oven on self clean.
SO if you have cast iron in need of a makeover - do a little research, make sure you are comfortable and go for it! I am SO happy I did!!
Now if only I could put myself in something like that and be restored just as easily to my 22 year old beach ready body!! Hey, a gal can dream!!
If you found this tip helpful, I also am ridiculously happy with this super easy and fun Toothpick Dispenser (homemade holiday gift alert people!!) and THIS trick that keeps my everyday pans beautiful is A-MAZING!! My favorite thing about all 3 of these...they are all SO simple!!!
Clean Cast Iron Pans
Instructions
- Line your bottom oven rack with aluminum foil.
- Lay 1 or two cast iron pans upside down on the top rack, not touching one another.
- Close and lock oven and set to self clean for 3 or 4 hours.
- After cycle is finished, open oven and allow pans to fully cool. May take over an hour. Once cool, use a wire brush or brillo to remove any rush spots and residue. Was with a bit of dish soap and water, dry fully with paper towels and then fully dry on your stove for a few minutes over low heat.
- Once cool enough to handle, re-season and there you are, good as new!
- I have done this with success on multiple pans, however do so at your own rish. If a pan has a crack in it it may make it worse. OR a small chance exists that it may crack a pan. Only do this with cast iron pans that are fully cast iron (no wooden or plastic handles).
Monica H says
That's so awesome and your pans looks great!
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
What a great post! While my cast iron pan isn't all that dirty, I haven't used it in YEARS so you have inspired me to get it out and season it 🙂
Magic Mommy Reviews says
Im going to try this. Great post. The came out so good.
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
Awesome! Mine isn't that dirty, though I know what to do if it does get dirty.
ginabad says
OMG, I need this so much, thank you! We used to use our norwex cloth to clean it but that got destroyed (I think someone used it as a potholder.) This is a great tip, esp for someone who only cooks with cast iron!
Ckrusch says
Wow, that's amazing!
Erin Jay says
I already knew this tip from my husband. Good post.
Alexandra @ Confessions of a Bright-Eyed Baker says
This is CRAZY! I don't have any cast iron pans (I wish I did!) but I do have a blue steel crepe pan and when I was researching how to season it I remember coming across this method for cleaning. It's amazing to see how well it worked!
Ruby r Cook says
Can also t cast RN in bod for burning off the exterior dating . does well!
Can check when completed! Just toss.I he coals hot ether wood or charcoal
Ruth says
I never knew this. Mine is 150 yrs old and has layers of good stuff over all these yrs. I use it regularly and I have often thought if I could clean it. I'm not sure I want to but am curious to give this a try. ??
Marilyn Dilley says
What if I don't have a selfcleaning oven ?
Colleen says
Try placing your pan(s) in the oven upside down on the top rack. Place a large baking sheet or aluminum foil on the bottom rack to catch any oil that may drip off the cookware. Bake at 450-500 degrees F for one hour. After its totally cool, re-season. Good luck!
Guiola Moreland says
My instructions say to remove all racks before turning on self- cleaning oven...
Colleen says
I don't, I leave mine in, however I guess follow your manufacturers instructions (I have no idea what mine say).
Jim Marshall says
What do you recommend for reseasoning? Thanks!
Colleen says
Hi Jim, after a proper cleaning, rinse off, dry with towels and then get ever inch coated (handle too) with Crisco or vegetable oil. Just enough to make it look wet without too much. Turn pan upside down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and heat in oven at 350 for an hour.
PL Penderhausen says
Not recommended by cast iron collectors, manufacturers or the manufacturers of the self cleaning stoves. Do this at your own risk.......
Jan Grant says
Awesome ideas!! Love my cast iron ! Mine is 50 years old and a wedding gift from my Grandmother!
Colleen says
Bet you cooked up many delicious memories!!