14
Jan
Dont leave the iron in the vinegar and water too long at a time because it will pit the iron. Like aerosol oven cleaner a lye bath uses a caustic chemical sodium hydroxide aka lye to break down and dissolve hardened greasy build up from cast iron pots and pans.
Be sure to thoroughly dry your pan.
How to clean cast iron with lye. Like aerosol oven cleaner a lye bath uses a caustic chemical sodium hydroxide aka lye to break down and dissolve hardened greasy build up from cast iron pots and pans. Compared to spray oven cleaner a lye bath can be very cost effective in that it can be re-used over and over and can also clean multiple pans at once. The ratio of lye to water is typically 5 gallons of water to 1 pound of lye.
Some use a stronger solution. Add your water to your tote first. Always add lye to the water and not the other way around.
This is a favorite method of mine to strip and clean an old crusty funky cast iron piece. With a little caution its easy and produces great results. Since lye will not remove rust the usual protocol when using lye is to de-crud with lye first then finish with 5050 vinegar and water soaking in 20-30 minute intervals and scrubbing with 0000 Steel Wool to take all the rust right off.
Dont leave the iron in the vinegar and water too long at a time because it will pit the iron. Lye Wash Cleaning Method. Soak cast iron pieces in lye water.
Mix 1 can of lye ie Red Devil with 4-5 gallons of water in a plastic container. Suspend pieces utilizing steel coat hangers. Step one is to spray a heavy layer of Easy Off oven cleaner on the cast iron.
This can be used to clean off heavy carbon build up but will not remove rust. This method is completely safe and washing the cast iron in soap and water will remove all the lye from the piece. Always add lye slowly to cool water and wear protective clothing such as long gloves.
Lye will react with metals such as aluminum cast iron and steel. It should be stored and mixed in ceramic stoneware glass or heat-resistant plastic containers. Glass should be used with caution because it may break due to the heat released when lye reacts.
Soaking cast iron in water is a recipe for rust. If you need to remove sticky or stubborn stuck-on food use a nylon scrubbing brush or a pan scraper and rinse under warm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry your pan.
If you do accidentally leave your pan in water for too long and it develops rust dont panic. Cleaning Cast-Iron Utensils Step 1 Add 1 can of lye to 4 or 5 gallons of water in a plastic container. Mix with a stainless steel spoon.
Among the variety of restoration tools available to the dedicated vintage cast iron cookware collector perhaps the most useful of all is cleaning by electrolysis. While a bit more work and expense than other methods to set up a properly designed and implemented electrolysis tank can remove both rust and build-up. To clean enameled cast iron wash it with hot soapy water just as you would with any other cookware.
Pour 1 cup kosher salt into a still-warm cast iron skillet. Use a paper towel or folded kitchen towel to scrub the pan with the salt until the pan appears clean. The salt will be nearly black Rinse out the pan and dry it.
Heat the pan over a stove eye on medium-low heat to remove excess water. Turn the eye off. Fill a bucket with five gallons of hot water and add about a pound of lye-based oven cleaning powder or liquid.
Specific ratios will vary from product to product but expect to something similar to these proportions. Mix the ingredients with a toilet brush long wooden spoon or other similar tool. Heat oven to 500F.
Rub a thin layer of vegetable oil all over your cast iron skillet with paper towels or rags wiping away any excess oil. Place the skillet upside down on.