wilkes

to get the build up off outside of skillet put in hot fire pit get real hot and tap the outside real gently every so often with the flat side of a ball peen hammer till all build-up is off, then reseason.

clean skilett with soap and water,dry off put it in preheated oven at 500 degree for 3-4 hours, then while still hot rub entire inside with beef suet. this will season it real good. then when cleaning just wipe it clean with hand towel. you can get suet at most stores in the meat deparment,just ask butcher.this is the way my grama did hers,she lived to be 98,lol.

to season or reseason a black skillet...my great granny told me once....use your potato peelings in your black skillet add water and bring to a boil...boil for about 15 minutes, pour off, wipe out with a paper towel or dish towel, then take a little oil on a towel and rub all over the inside of the pan. This is how i do mine.

Grease & Bake cornbread in the skillet and it will help season it. Don't wash the skillet, just wide it out with a damp diskcloth. Put away dry everytime.

The advice (luckyclover4u2 ) is the only way I know to get the grunge off the outside ,
That is the way it's been done for years and years.
Just remember to re-season your pans after you burn off the build up.

Good advice clover ,,,,thanks,,,,

I have reconditioned some cast iron skillets for friends and they did have a lot of buildup on the outside. I started a fire in my firepit outside and when the coals were red hot I placed then pans in them. I would pull them out periodically and scrape them with a wire brush or my spatula which is the same one that I only use with my skillets. After this is done you will have to reseason the skillets. Also be careful as to what wood you use in the fire. Don't use pine or soft woods. I use locust because of the intense heat it provides and it doesn't have sticky pitch residue left behind.

Can one of y'all give me tips on getting the caked on baked on crap off the outside of my skillet? My grandpa used to say something about putting it in the fire (they cooked and heated with wood) to burn it off.

I have about 10 peices of Cast Iron 4 or 5 came from my mother that died in 1975 and they are still i great shape .I have pans from 4inch up to 24 inch dutch ovens and two ear cornbread pans and a round corn bread pan.

And I want some more.

mine's going 16...

luckyclover that is the exact way I do mine and it has been cooked in for over 20 years.

I never even get soap close to my cast iron skillets!!!! Just keep them wiped out with paper towels and when they need a good cleaning I add water to the skillet and scrap with a spatula wil water is boiling. I also keep a grease pot next to the stove in which I put bacon grease in every time I fry bacon. After every use I put a little bacon grease back into the skillet and wipe with paper towel. Remember to always smile at your skillet. If it smiles back, then it's perfectly seasoned.

I washed my pre seasoned one with mild soap and water and dried it off.
I lightly sprayed it with vegetable oil and placed it on our new gas grill...cranking up the heat for about 10 minutes.

Thanks Bushman....I bought this skillet specifically for the grill...been watching too much Bobby Flay....lol

"Sunday Hash..."
Brown sausage with green pepper and onion
add eggs and cheese..

Put some good bread on the grill with real butter.

Thanks Bushman, That is a good thing to have around.... a how to for seasoning cast iron cookware!
Thanks brother!!

How to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

Scrub a new skillet with steel wool to remove its protective coating, and wash with mild, soapy water.
(If reseasoning an old skillet,or pre seasoned just scrub with hot water and a brush.)
Use a paper towel to coat the skillet with vegetable oil.
Heat, uncovered, for 2 hours in an oven at 250 degrees F.
Let cool before use.
Tips & Warnings
Once you've seasoned a skillet, avoid washing it with soap whenever possible.
Clean instead by wiping with a damp cloth after each use.
If you must wash it, clean with mild soap, avoiding detergents and scouring pads;
rinse and wipe dry immediately after washing, then oil lightly with vegetable oil.
If food sticks to the skillet after cooking,
rub with a paper towel and an abrasive such as salt, then reapply vegetable oil. Store uncovered.
If food starts sticking to the skillet during cooking, reseason it.

I love my cast iron skillet!
I bought a pre-seasoned one today...it still feels a little rough tho...