I love these kind of hacks! I use dryer lint full of dog hair in a cardboard egg carton and top it with a little wax for fire starters too! I never run out of filling!
Hey guys! For everyone wondering, I had to film this all in one day... that means I had to use 2 pans! (Don’t worry... the Wagner is now stripped and beautifully reseasoned). I’ll be sure to show all the pans off in the next video I’m filming for this series on how to cook with a cast iron pan... it’ll be out in a few weeks!
Off topic from this video, but can Josh make a video on DIY mineral mix and fertilizer mix? I know he mentioned it in the zerowaste pantry chat, and wanted to encourage that video along. Also, for those wanting to start a garden now, with no homemade compost, no prepped/ammeneded soil, what do you recommend? Container gardening for this season?
Amron Corazzo actually the way I was taught that as long as there's no build up on the skillet there's no need to re season. I've had mine 30 years and it's been seasoned one time !
Thank you from the core of me. Ive had my cast iron skillet for almost 15 years and my ex used steel wool and Dawn dish soap on it. Its chipping now and you showed me how to fix it. Its the first thing I bought myself when I moved out of my childhood home and its been with me ever since. It's traveled to Great Britain and back, then throughout my chronic homelessness after my divorce. It means more to me then almost everything else I own.
Oh my, reading your comment gave me a name for your new cooking channel.. ‘The well traveled pan’ and you could show us some of the best cast iron recipes!
Found a couple of Wagner skillets at the yard sale cheap because there was a lot of build up on the pans. Run them through my oven's self cleaning cycle for 3 hours. Smoked up the house a little, so had to open the kitchen windows. When I removed them form the oven, they cleaned beautifully. Just dust to wipe off. I then run them under some hot running water and used a steel wool pad to get what very little that was left. Followed your instructions. Repeated 6 times. The pans look new with a dark black finish! I'm going to redo some of my other cast iron pans using this method. Thanks
When I first started seasoning cast iron the instructions only told you to do it once. Thanks for pointing out to beginners that you need to put multiple layers on.
Keep your cast iron seasoned by cooking bacon and other high fat animal foods in it. That's how it was done in the "olden" days. When needed, use refined coconut oil.
For those who have vintage, antique, or pieces whose handles can't go in a fire and you aren't averse to using chemicals try this method. Easy Off oven cleaner, the one with the yellow cap. Put the pan in a thick plastic garbage bag (I double bag just in case), put on your gloves, spray a thick layer of foam on the iron places, seal the bag, and come back 24 hours later. Rinse and repeat until you get it all off. Works like a charm for us, especially for corn stick molds. I cannot stress how much you should NOT put antique or vintage cast iron directly into a fire or hot ashes, especially for the hollow ware pieces like Eerie, Wagner, Griswold, and Favorite; with their age (and you don't know their history) they are extremely prone to cracking or the bottom warping.
My husband used an angle grinder on my cast iron pans which makes the pans glass smooth. After he did that I seasoned them twice with tallow and they were ready to go. My eggs do not stick at all and the pans are better than non stick! Best thing we ever did.
My dad was a heavy equipment mechanic and would come home with axle grease and oily diesel fuel etc. on his clothes. Biz powder will get out anything! When you do your wash, use a long soak cycle with the biz then wash as usual with your normal soap and you'll be amazed.
Wow this is so great! I have several pans and have tried seasoning them like others say and the coding still has never worked out for me. Beautiful job of explaining it and now I know what I did wrong. I only did one seasoning coat and put on too much oil! Again, thank you so much for this video.
As others have mentioned this is the best seasoning video I've ever come across! Especially the stripping how to! Thank you so much for putting this together in an easy to understand format.
I took out to the machine shop and finished the inside a smooth glass like finish and flattened the bottom to make better contact with the glass top electric stove use when it is raining and cant use the grills. I prefer the outside gas over the electric stove. My wife doesn't want gas inside the house 😢. Anyway making those surfaces really smooth helped out a lot. Flattening the underside makes for a faster heat up and more even cook and smoothing in the inside Makes it almost as nonstick as Teflon but with all the benefits of cast-iron
Thank you so much for doing this series I am 75 have been cooking with cast iron since I was a young girl I only did things the way my mother did I learn so much from your videos thank you again
Thank you!! I've been eagerly anticipating this video ever since your video about choosing cast iron. I've new to using cast iron, and have had a hard time finding good information. Your video just explained so many things that didn't make sense to me before, including why temperatures vary between tutorials, and why the dark stuff rubs off on the towel. Everyone else just says "it shouldn't" 😂 Oh and they use chemicals for stripping the pans - eek! Thank you so much for this high caliber tutorial. I'm actually looking forward to seasoning now!
Thanks so much for this information! I was afraid my cast iron was too far gone. I used the self cleaning oven method and followed your instructions. My pans look like new! I have more seasoning to do but it'll be worth it.
Thank you; I was about to share this! My late 1800-early 1900s Eeri cracked by the handle and it spins like a top because of the extreme heat advice I followed. 😭 Thankfully one of my stove eyes is also warped, so it fits perfectly on it. 😂
One thing I would like to add regarding oils. In my experience, coconut, organic lard, flax, and even standard Crisco will put an amazing finish on your pans. Flax especially can leave your pan with a glass finish for a long time. One downside though is that flax seed oil does have a tendency to flake over time. I have noticed that with a couple of my skillets. If you dont mind re-seasoning pans though from time to time, it's not a problem.
But I tried on Gas top stove n it's not always easy I get partial glass glossy n partially lumpy flaky glossy lie a sand with glossy layer n crumbly how do I avoid it
Followed your directions. They turned out great. Was worried about a few my teenage son accidentally put through the dishwasher a few years ago but even they seem okay, slightly warped. Thanks so much.
Thank you for sharing this video. I totally see what I was doing wrong with my cast iron seasoning before--I just added tons of oil and baked it! lol I am definitely going to try this soon.
I have my mother's pan suspended on the cooking rack above a fire right now. no idea what year so being gentle. sticks with everything including bacon. yikes. I stole it and brought it home. haha. doing a cook out up high, then scrub the rust and last camp food out (seems though it was cleaned, it looks like a crusty center), then tonight with the medium coals, then tomorrow start the seasoning. Thanks for the video. I was sitting here thinking I'm doing this wrong... but seriously, hers is smooth, probably was grandma's so this is how I decided to do it... gentle
I have been using a mix of 1/3 beeswax, 1/3 canola oil and 1/3 avocado oil. melt the beeswax and the two oils and cool them in silicone muffin tins. I feel the addition of the beeswax give a better season. I generally try for four applications for a first season in a 400 degree oven.
Self cleaning mode - if you value your vintage Griswold, Wagner etc. I wouldn’t chance it they can crack or warp it’s not worth the risk. A little elbow grease is the safest.
As suggested, you can keep your used paper towels, but they also compost nicely since they're basically carbon. Mix with grass or anything with high nitrogen, and they're essentially the same as leaves. The same goes with non-waxed corrugated cardboard, writing paper, empty toilet paper rolls, etc.
Please would you make a video,( or have you done one already?), on how to store cast iron pans. I notice in background you seem to have over counter pans hanging. Thank you
Very informative and I come back time & time again to watch each time I need to season an old pan. Here’s my observation today tho…in the start of the video you said you had a Wagner went into the coals…next morning it’s a Lodge brand i noticed printed on bottom when it was time for you to show it was washed… it am I seeing things lol??
Consider purchasing bamboo "paper" towels that are washable. Just give them a quick hand wash with a drop of Dawn in the kitchen sink to get rid of the oil before throwing them in the wash. I've also seen people who designate a towel for applying oil and they keep it in a ziploc bag to reuse. I prefer the reusable bamboo towels though.
I've stripped and seasoned all of my pans in the self-clean oven and never had a problem. Having said that, I have had an electrician and a fire fighter tell me to be careful with that though, as there is always the possibility of an oven fire. I would assume that it wouldn't normally be a problem for people though, provided they are not doing pans that are really gunky and dirty. That might cause a problem due to all of the excess grease and gunk.
Hi!! You mentioned cooking a venison roast with potatoes in your Dutch oven. I would love to see a video on that! We’ve had such difficulty cooking the roasts because they are so dry and nonfatty. I would love some tips!
Ive done a decent amount of experimenting with venison roasts in crockpot and instant pot, I like crockpot better. The key point is venison doesn't have fat, so you must braise with lots of liquid instead. My favorite is to sear the roast in a stainless pan, move to crock, add 2 sweet onions/garlic/ butter to pan, deglaze with red wine or beef broth, add this to crock. Add 1qt beef broth, 1/2 bottle of red wine (usually Pinot or blend), ~1/2 Worcestershire sauce, pepper, other herbs. Start on high and then cook on low for 6-8 hours depending on the roasts (shank takes 8-10 usually). Add some carrots and rest of wine ~2-3hrs before done so they not mushy. Serve over potatoes or rice, strain the broth and make a thin gravy with a roux. Enjoy!! 😋
For oily or greasy cloths, put in a tub or bucket with warm water and some Dawn dish-soap. It is what was used in the restaurant I worked at to get grease and oils out of cloth from spills. It is also used on animals if there is an oil spill to gently clean them. I would not recommend any other dish soap for this purpose as it wouldn't work or be safe for animals. This should allow you to use cloths over and over again each week, and no more paper towels, or worry that it will harm the animals. You just pop them in the washer after a good soak.
5:03 How did your Wagner skillet from the beginning of the video turn into a Lodge skillet after you washed it?? I have never in my life seen that happen before!
As a warning: I have heard of people starting a fire in their self cleaning oven process by trying to burn off an old pot or pan with real heavy build up of grease and residue. Rare but a real heavily built up pan can do that... On those pans you can use easy-off oven cleaner. Spray the pan, put in a sealed plastic trash bag overnight, then spray off outside with garden hose. USE GLOVES. and eye protection! Then use this video process to finish up.
jimmy fortrue Sounds too toxic for me...cleaning an oven is different than actually eating off the surface the oven cleaner has come in contact with. Just MHO =)
@@heartstonecampground1081 I understand, then doing it in a wood charcoal fire or even a gas grill could be another option. I meant specifically those pots or pans perhaps many years old and covered with a thick layer of grease and gunk... I bought a Dutch oven at a tag sale real cheap and it had a quarter inch layer on the outside... I wouldn't dare put it in a self cleaning oven... Just suggesting alternatives. The pot went through a rigorous cleaning and heating after the oven cleaner.... Personally I tend to doubt that strict sanitary/ chemical free conditions were in place during the production and shipping of a brand new pan to begin with. But I completely understand your concern and highly respect your comment... It is indeed a good point.
Great video! What happened to the Wagner skillet that you started with? After the fire, in the kitchen when you flipped it over you had a lodge skillet?
I really respect your channel and admire your lifestyle and dedication to the life of a homesteader. But, sorry, the pan you have in the kitchen is not the same pan you had at the fire pit. Kinda dents your reputation.
I find paper towels to be pointless, and it actually leaves residue and tears apart. I just lightly coat my fingers in coconut oil and spread it in a light coating. It works perfectly. No hassle, no waste and I rub the remaining oil into my skin as a moisturizer if there is any excess remaining.
Wait! I tried again with SOS and it worked! I hope the pan comes out good. I followed the instructions from somebody else and he had me putting on a great amount of Crisco! I should have know that was wrong. Well, guess what? That was sooooo wrong. My pan came out of the oven sticky and gummy. Hmm! Why do his method work for himself. I've tried other methods and they haven't worked. Everybody has a different opinion. It's very confusing. Who do you believe? Then I came across Carolyn's website and it sounded more logical than any other method I've tried.
been following you and your homesteading videos for alongtime and this is the first time youve made me shake my head and yell NO STOP! DONT DO THAT!!!.....Theres ZERO CHANCE ID EVER GIVE THAT ADVICE TO anyone ever dealing with vintage/antique cast iron!..ive been buying,restoring collecting and selling vintage cast iron for years and the fire method will ruin cast iron faster than anything. the #1 way to restore them is with a E-TANK OR Lye bath. if your only doing a couple pieces yellow cap easy off and a plastic bag works great. hundreds of videos on you tube ecsplaining this. Dont use a fire for vintage restorations!!!! follow you and love your videos love your site. but that hi-heat may not hurt modern heavy lodge but theres no way ill ever use it.
I followed the directions on the video exactly on my Wagner 12” skillet using an oven to do the initial cleaning. I put some coconut oil on all over, put it in a 375 oven for just over 30 minutes and after letting it cool and removing it from the oven, I saw little “pimples” on the surface. My thought was I didn’t wipe enough oil off. So I started over using steel wool to remove the seasoning. This time, after putting on the coconut oil, I really worked at getting any excess oil off, but I still got pimples, just fewer. I repeated this process 7 times today, each time those little pimples showed up (!) and that was in spite of all the effort I put in to avoid any excess oil. I’m left feeling very frustrated and disappointed! I can’t imagine what I might have done wrong. I anticipate that when I put this pan to the scrambled eggs test, it won’t prove to be non stick. That’ll be *really* disappointing.
I use a 100% cotton prewashed bandana to apply oil. most times when the oil in the bandana melts off on the iron. both to season and to maintain seasoning; between uses, keeping a bowl away from varments.
Hi there. I know this video is older but I hope you can answer my question in a future Q&A. I understand how to season a cast iron pan, is it the same process seasoning a cast iron pan but with a stainless steel handle? Just wondering if the handle will be fine in the oven.
Thanks for the video great tutorial Question, this might sound silly. I'm pretty new to this but if you use coconut oil which have a lower smoke point compare to canola oil or avocado oil that has high smoke point to season your pan. Will the coat of season go bad if you cook some recipes beyond the oil smoke point?
My cast iron pan has an enamel covering on the outside. Do you happen to know if I can use a self-cleaning oven to get rid of the seasoning on that, or will it ruin the enamel?
I just use a rag becuse paper towel leaves resdue .. Then just put the rag in a bag and put it in the freezer.. That way you can use it for next tme .. I"ve had my rag for years
I have a self cleaning oven, but it's the kind that you have to add a cup of water poured in the bottom of the oven. Can I use that to strip my pan? And if so, how long would I leave it in the self cleaning oven? I just found your channel, and I love all the wonderful information! I have always loved my cast iron, but have never been able to season it right, I'm so excited to try all your steps!
I just got hold of an old dutch oven and the bottom of the pan is beautiful but the sides, not so much! They are bumpy with old build up . I think I understand the stripping process but am wondering if I can use BEAR fat to re season it? Or do I absolutely have to use some sort of refined oil? Thanks so much for your help!
Thank you for the video. I stripped it in the self cleaning cycle. That worked great. I seasoned using virgin olive oil very thin layers (i put way too much when i seasoned before). My pan stays gray. Never turns black. Has a sheen but still gray. I did 5 or 6 seasonings. Am i removing too much oil?
Self-cleaning ovens are deadly dangerous if used improperly and the temps they reach can cause heat damage to the cookware. Your oven's owner's manual specifically instructs the user to remove everything from the oven--even the racks. This is because the oven's heat control system expects to be heating air, not the mass of a cast iron skillet. Overheating is probable and a house fire can result. Remember, once you start the cleaning process it can't be stopped without shutting off the power to it. Fire pits WILL cause heat damage to cast iron. The damage is irreversible and cumulative. There is a high probability of mill scale (orange, purple and red tones on the surface). Scale prevents seasoning from sticking properly and it will flake off during normal cooking. Flaxseed oil is called flakeseed oil and the fru-fru organic stuff is the worst. It lacks the ability to form long-chain polymers and results in a surface that is hard, brittle and inflexible. Put it under repeated instances of heating, cooling and agitation it will flake off. You can get away with what you've done to a modern Lodge. Try these methods with an antique heirloom and you might turn a $400 treasure into a $10 doorstop.
I have used my self-cleaning oven setting to clean my cast iron this worked great I was able to take off everything the only oil that really worked was 100% flaxseed oil organic All other oils just came off they never became a hard finish like the flaxseed oil .
don't throw away the oily paper towels,keep them in a zip lock bag and use them to start the fire in your wood burning stove. Two uses for one item.
Wow i never even thought of this. Thanks for the tip
Love that idea!
My mom would keep one between her cast iron pans while they were stored between use. She had open shelves for her pots and pans.
Instablaster.
I love these kind of hacks! I use dryer lint full of dog hair in a cardboard egg carton and top it with a little wax for fire starters too! I never run out of filling!
I've watched so many cast iron videos in the past and this is absolutely the most informative and beneficial one so far. Thank you!
Hey guys! For everyone wondering, I had to film this all in one day... that means I had to use 2 pans! (Don’t worry... the Wagner is now stripped and beautifully reseasoned). I’ll be sure to show all the pans off in the next video I’m filming for this series on how to cook with a cast iron pan... it’ll be out in a few weeks!
Off topic from this video, but can Josh make a video on DIY mineral mix and fertilizer mix? I know he mentioned it in the zerowaste pantry chat, and wanted to encourage that video along.
Also, for those wanting to start a garden now, with no homemade compost, no prepped/ammeneded soil, what do you recommend? Container gardening for this season?
Homesteading Family thanks for clarifying. I didn’t know if I may have missed something on the video or not. Again thanks
Thank you!
When do you strip your pan and put a new season coat? I've had mine about 6 months.
Amron Corazzo actually the way I was taught that as long as there's no build up on the skillet there's no need to re season. I've had mine 30 years and it's been seasoned one time !
Thank you from the core of me. Ive had my cast iron skillet for almost 15 years and my ex used steel wool and Dawn dish soap on it. Its chipping now and you showed me how to fix it. Its the first thing I bought myself when I moved out of my childhood home and its been with me ever since. It's traveled to Great Britain and back, then throughout my chronic homelessness after my divorce. It means more to me then almost everything else I own.
Oh my, reading your comment gave me a name for your new cooking channel.. ‘The well traveled pan’ and you could show us some of the best cast iron recipes!
Magically changed from a Wagner pan to a Lodge just by stripping of the seasoning...amazing!
I love your German Shepherd! They are my favorite breed of dog. Good family dogs and a natural protector.
Found a couple of Wagner skillets at the yard sale cheap because there was a lot of build up on the pans. Run them through my oven's self cleaning cycle for 3 hours. Smoked up the house a little, so had to open the kitchen windows. When I removed them form the oven, they cleaned beautifully. Just dust to wipe off. I then run them under some hot running water and used a steel wool pad to get what very little that was left. Followed your instructions. Repeated 6 times. The pans look new with a dark black finish! I'm going to redo some of my other cast iron pans using this method. Thanks
I’ve always been confused and a bit intimidated with the seasoning process but you’ve shown how easy it is todo. Thanks!
When I first started seasoning cast iron the instructions only told you to do it once. Thanks for pointing out to beginners that you need to put multiple layers on.
Keep your cast iron seasoned by cooking bacon and other high fat animal foods in it. That's how it was done in the "olden" days. When needed, use refined coconut oil.
@@allieshepherd7860 that would require constant usage of the pan though. Otherwise the animal fats will rot on the pan if not used for a while
For those who have vintage, antique, or pieces whose handles can't go in a fire and you aren't averse to using chemicals try this method. Easy Off oven cleaner, the one with the yellow cap. Put the pan in a thick plastic garbage bag (I double bag just in case), put on your gloves, spray a thick layer of foam on the iron places, seal the bag, and come back 24 hours later. Rinse and repeat until you get it all off. Works like a charm for us, especially for corn stick molds. I cannot stress how much you should NOT put antique or vintage cast iron directly into a fire or hot ashes, especially for the hollow ware pieces like Eerie, Wagner, Griswold, and Favorite; with their age (and you don't know their history) they are extremely prone to cracking or the bottom warping.
I've watched many C I videos on TH-cam, this is one of the best.
My husband used an angle grinder on my cast iron pans which makes the pans glass smooth. After he did that I seasoned them twice with tallow and they were ready to go. My eggs do not stick at all and the pans are better than non stick!
Best thing we ever did.
Spent the entire day stripping and reseasoning my cast iron. Thank you so much for this wonderful series! It was incredibly helpful.
My dad was a heavy equipment mechanic and would come home with axle grease and oily diesel fuel etc. on his clothes. Biz powder will get out anything! When you do your wash, use a long soak cycle with the biz then wash as usual with your normal soap and you'll be amazed.
What I like about this video is, even though other people don't do things exactly the way I do, we can still both come out with satisfactory results.
Wow this is so great! I have several pans and have tried seasoning them like others say and the coding still has never worked out for me. Beautiful job of explaining it and now I know what I did wrong. I only did one seasoning coat and put on too much oil! Again, thank you so much for this video.
As others have mentioned this is the best seasoning video I've ever come across! Especially the stripping how to! Thank you so much for putting this together in an easy to understand format.
I took out to the machine shop and finished the inside a smooth glass like finish and flattened the bottom to make better contact with the glass top electric stove use when it is raining and cant use the grills. I prefer the outside gas over the electric stove. My wife doesn't want gas inside the house 😢. Anyway making those surfaces really smooth helped out a lot. Flattening the underside makes for a faster heat up and more even cook and smoothing in the inside Makes it almost as nonstick as Teflon but with all the benefits of cast-iron
Thank you so much for doing this series I am 75 have been cooking with cast iron since I was a young girl I only did things the way my mother did I learn so much from your videos thank you again
Thank you!! I've been eagerly anticipating this video ever since your video about choosing cast iron. I've new to using cast iron, and have had a hard time finding good information. Your video just explained so many things that didn't make sense to me before, including why temperatures vary between tutorials, and why the dark stuff rubs off on the towel. Everyone else just says "it shouldn't" 😂 Oh and they use chemicals for stripping the pans - eek! Thank you so much for this high caliber tutorial. I'm actually looking forward to seasoning now!
This is the most thorough but least complicated video I've seen on cast iron. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just did the procedure you recommended for seasoning. I used my BBQ, it worked out great. Four times and I am very happy. THANK YOU
I ordered a stargazer and I can't wait to compare it to my flawless Griswold No. 6! I'm from PA and never knew about stargazer. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this information! I was afraid my cast iron was too far gone. I used the self cleaning oven method and followed your instructions. My pans look like new! I have more seasoning to do but it'll be worth it.
I use the blue shop paper towels, they leave basically no noticeable paper towel debris and they are washable and reusable.
Am I sixteen and watching this video because I enjoy it? Yes. 😂😂
I was gonna ask how you care for yours after each use. I love your channel. It’s my favorite homesteading. Thanks Carolyn!
You have answered ALL my questions and concerns i had with seasoning my cast irons!! Thanks so much!
If you put vintage iron in a fire, its very easy to warp the pan. Look up lye bath or electrolysis tank. Very easy and much safer for the iron.
Thank you; I was about to share this! My late 1800-early 1900s Eeri cracked by the handle and it spins like a top because of the extreme heat advice I followed. 😭 Thankfully one of my stove eyes is also warped, so it fits perfectly on it. 😂
Wow! By far the best video on cast iron care. You make it look so easy, thanks.
Stargazer is my favorite skillet ever. It takes the best of old and new cast iron and its cheaper than all competive smooth cast iron.
I am so excited to have found you!! I watched all your videos on how to season cast iron and it worked beautifully!! Thank you!!
Best seasoning video on YT. Great tutorial.
Glad you enjoyed it!
One thing I would like to add regarding oils. In my experience, coconut, organic lard, flax, and even standard Crisco will put an amazing finish on your pans. Flax especially can leave your pan with a glass finish for a long time. One downside though is that flax seed oil does have a tendency to flake over time. I have noticed that with a couple of my skillets. If you dont mind re-seasoning pans though from time to time, it's not a problem.
But I tried on Gas top stove n it's not always easy I get partial glass glossy n partially lumpy flaky glossy lie a sand with glossy layer n crumbly how do I avoid it
@@xavijj5435 you really need the all around heat an oven provides. Stove top heat is too spotty. Good luck and happy cooking :)
What about avocado oil?
Can use expired coconut oil? It’s expired and not edible, so can use if for seasoning?
Or how about peanut oil? And at what temperature please
Followed your directions. They turned out great. Was worried about a few my teenage son accidentally put through the dishwasher a few years ago but even they seem okay, slightly warped. Thanks so much.
Thank you for sharing this video. I totally see what I was doing wrong with my cast iron seasoning before--I just added tons of oil and baked it! lol I am definitely going to try this soon.
I have my mother's pan suspended on the cooking rack above a fire right now. no idea what year so being gentle. sticks with everything including bacon. yikes. I stole it and brought it home. haha. doing a cook out up high, then scrub the rust and last camp food out (seems though it was cleaned, it looks like a crusty center), then tonight with the medium coals, then tomorrow start the seasoning. Thanks for the video. I was sitting here thinking I'm doing this wrong... but seriously, hers is smooth, probably was grandma's so this is how I decided to do it... gentle
I have been using a mix of 1/3 beeswax, 1/3 canola oil and 1/3 avocado oil. melt the beeswax and the two oils and cool them in silicone muffin tins. I feel the addition of the beeswax give a better season. I generally try for four applications for a first season in a 400 degree oven.
I love your guyes teachings. Such a blessing to the world❤️. Couldn't figure out why my eggs were sticking to the pan. Lol
This worked amazingly! I was given a cast iron pan that once belonged to my mom. I also used the oven self cleaning method…
How long did you put it on the self clean cycle? My oven gives me the option of 2 hours all the way to a 5 hour cycle
Self cleaning mode - if you value your vintage Griswold, Wagner etc. I wouldn’t chance it they can crack or warp it’s not worth the risk. A little elbow grease is the safest.
Thanks for your beautiful advice and your time 🥰
As suggested, you can keep your used paper towels, but they also compost nicely since they're basically carbon. Mix with grass or anything with high nitrogen, and they're essentially the same as leaves. The same goes with non-waxed corrugated cardboard, writing paper, empty toilet paper rolls, etc.
Please would you make a video,( or have you done one already?), on how to store cast iron pans. I notice in background you seem to have over counter pans hanging.
Thank you
Very informative and I come back time & time again to watch each time I need to season an old pan. Here’s my observation today tho…in the start of the video you said you had a Wagner went into the coals…next morning it’s a Lodge brand i noticed printed on bottom when it was time for you to show it was washed… it am I seeing things lol??
I like your dog,he looks chilled
Consider purchasing bamboo "paper" towels that are washable. Just give them a quick hand wash with a drop of Dawn in the kitchen sink to get rid of the oil before throwing them in the wash. I've also seen people who designate a towel for applying oil and they keep it in a ziploc bag to reuse. I prefer the reusable bamboo towels though.
I got a cast iron not too long ago and didn't know you should do all this to keep it up. I knew you should wash and reseason but that's about it!
Great video! I just keep re-seasoning my pan every few months or so and only apply one layer each time. Never had any issue.
I've stripped and seasoned all of my pans in the self-clean oven and never had a problem. Having said that, I have had an electrician and a fire fighter tell me to be careful with that though, as there is always the possibility of an oven fire. I would assume that it wouldn't normally be a problem for people though, provided they are not doing pans that are really gunky and dirty. That might cause a problem due to all of the excess grease and gunk.
I'd bet if you could look into it you'd find a lot of those fires were started with a pan that was not cast iron.
Hi!! You mentioned cooking a venison roast with potatoes in your Dutch oven. I would love to see a video on that! We’ve had such difficulty cooking the roasts because they are so dry and nonfatty. I would love some tips!
Instant pot works great for venison roasts!
Ive done a decent amount of experimenting with venison roasts in crockpot and instant pot, I like crockpot better. The key point is venison doesn't have fat, so you must braise with lots of liquid instead. My favorite is to sear the roast in a stainless pan, move to crock, add 2 sweet onions/garlic/ butter to pan, deglaze with red wine or beef broth, add this to crock. Add 1qt beef broth, 1/2 bottle of red wine (usually Pinot or blend), ~1/2 Worcestershire sauce, pepper, other herbs. Start on high and then cook on low for 6-8 hours depending on the roasts (shank takes 8-10 usually). Add some carrots and rest of wine ~2-3hrs before done so they not mushy. Serve over potatoes or rice, strain the broth and make a thin gravy with a roux. Enjoy!! 😋
Just went and ordered the stargazer skillet thank you
For oily or greasy cloths, put in a tub or bucket with warm water and some Dawn dish-soap. It is what was used in the restaurant I worked at to get grease and oils out of cloth from spills. It is also used on animals if there is an oil spill to gently clean them. I would not recommend any other dish soap for this purpose as it wouldn't work or be safe for animals. This should allow you to use cloths over and over again each week, and no more paper towels, or worry that it will harm the animals. You just pop them in the washer after a good soak.
5:03 How did your Wagner skillet from the beginning of the video turn into a Lodge skillet after you washed it?? I have never in my life seen that happen before!
Thank you for this excellent video on how to best season my cast iron pans ❤
As a warning: I have heard of people starting a fire in their self cleaning oven process by trying to burn off an old pot or pan with real heavy build up of grease and residue. Rare but a real heavily built up pan can do that...
On those pans you can use easy-off oven cleaner. Spray the pan, put in a sealed plastic trash bag overnight, then spray off outside with garden hose. USE GLOVES. and eye protection!
Then use this video process to finish up.
jimmy fortrue Sounds too toxic for me...cleaning an oven is different than actually eating off the surface the oven cleaner has come in contact with. Just MHO =)
@@heartstonecampground1081 I understand, then doing it in a wood charcoal fire or even a gas grill could be another option. I meant specifically those pots or pans perhaps many years old and covered with a thick layer of grease and gunk... I bought a Dutch oven at a tag sale real cheap and it had a quarter inch layer on the outside... I wouldn't dare put it in a self cleaning oven... Just suggesting alternatives.
The pot went through a rigorous cleaning and heating after the oven cleaner.... Personally I tend to doubt that strict sanitary/ chemical free conditions were in place during the production and shipping of a brand new pan to begin with. But I completely understand your concern and highly respect your comment... It is indeed a good point.
@@jimmyfortrue3741 yeah there's no way I'd put oven cleaner on porous metal I intend to cook with.
I just tried to strip a pan with the self cleaning oven method and my wife almost left me it put off so much smoke. Not doing it that way again!
Perfect timing! I have inherited some very old cast iron pans that need to be reseasoned. 😁👍🏼💖
Yes!! I've been waiting for this video. I dont have any cast iron, but I'm actively looking trying to find a good one at an antique store.
I used duck fat for my seasoning. I only have one cast iron and it's been working great
Love this video. So clear and easy to follow! Thanks!
Great video! What happened to the Wagner skillet that you started with? After the fire, in the kitchen when you flipped it over you had a lodge skillet?
I was also wondering this!
Noticed that too
Yes, she put a Wagner skillet in the coals and pulled out a Lodge. lol
I really respect your channel and admire your lifestyle and dedication to the life of a homesteader. But, sorry, the pan you have in the kitchen is not the same pan you had at the fire pit. Kinda dents your reputation.
@@robertmarks4349 oh snap!
Thanks for the tips! I have been putting this off for a long time but I am trying it today.
So glad t find you! I love your voice and knowledge. Thank you!
This was phenomenal, a very big help to me!
Thank you so much for this series! I followed your steps exactly and it worked 👍🏻
Thank you so much for this series. I only use caste iron so this was very helpful for me.
I love your teaching style and I appreciate the information very much.. thank you.
I find paper towels to be pointless, and it actually leaves residue and tears apart. I just lightly coat my fingers in coconut oil and spread it in a light coating. It works perfectly. No hassle, no waste and I rub the remaining oil into my skin as a moisturizer if there is any excess remaining.
Wait! I tried again with SOS and it worked! I hope the pan comes out good. I followed the instructions from somebody else and he had me putting on a great amount of Crisco! I should have know that was wrong. Well, guess what? That was sooooo wrong. My pan came out of the oven sticky and gummy. Hmm! Why do his method work for himself. I've tried other methods and they haven't worked. Everybody has a different opinion. It's very confusing. Who do you believe? Then I came across Carolyn's website and it sounded more logical than any other method I've tried.
How often should you season? Great video! Thx you! And yes someone mentioned a video on how to store cast iron would be lovely
Thank you. You saved me from many mistakes.
I find and old holey cotton T-shirt that I'm going to throw away makes a good whipe rag. Cut it in strips and go to work.
what a beautiful german shepherd ❤
Thank you! I have been waiting for this video!!!
How can I strip it in the oven? I've learned a lot from these TH-cams! I used to live in Bonners Ferry in 2009-2011. Gorgeous country!
been following you and your homesteading videos for alongtime and this is the first time youve made me shake my head and yell NO STOP! DONT DO THAT!!!.....Theres ZERO CHANCE ID EVER GIVE THAT ADVICE TO anyone ever dealing with vintage/antique cast iron!..ive been buying,restoring collecting and selling vintage cast iron for years and the fire method will ruin cast iron faster than anything.
the #1 way to restore them is with a E-TANK OR Lye bath. if your only doing a couple pieces yellow cap easy off and a plastic bag works great. hundreds of videos on you tube ecsplaining this. Dont use a fire for vintage restorations!!!!
follow you and love your videos love your site. but that hi-heat may not hurt modern heavy lodge but theres no way ill ever use it.
Lv the hanging pans! U are good cook by the looks of the potholders. LOL. THX
I followed the directions on the video exactly on my Wagner 12” skillet using an oven to do the initial cleaning. I put some coconut oil on all over, put it in a 375 oven for just over 30 minutes and after letting it cool and removing it from the oven, I saw little “pimples” on the surface. My thought was I didn’t wipe enough oil off. So I started over using steel wool to remove the seasoning. This time, after putting on the coconut oil, I really worked at getting any excess oil off, but I still got pimples, just fewer. I repeated this process 7 times today, each time those little pimples showed up (!) and that was in spite of all the effort I put in to avoid any excess oil. I’m left feeling very frustrated and disappointed! I can’t imagine what I might have done wrong. I anticipate that when I put this pan to the scrambled eggs test, it won’t prove to be non stick. That’ll be *really* disappointing.
Excellent video! Best I’ve seen on seasoning. Thank you👍
I use a 100% cotton prewashed bandana to apply oil. most times when the oil in the bandana melts off on the iron. both to season and to maintain seasoning; between uses, keeping a bowl away from varments.
You read my mind! I was hoping you would do a video on this!!! 💗
How did that Wagner fry pan in the fire pit suddenly transform into the Lodge?
Probably ruined the Wagner.
Cowboy Kent Rollins advises using bandanas for wiping cast iron cookware. They don’t have lint like paper towels. I have found they work well.
Hi there. I know this video is older but I hope you can answer my question in a future Q&A. I understand how to season a cast iron pan, is it the same process seasoning a cast iron pan but with a stainless steel handle? Just wondering if the handle will be fine in the oven.
Thanks for the video great tutorial
Question, this might sound silly. I'm pretty new to this but if you use coconut oil which have a lower smoke point compare to canola oil or avocado oil that has high smoke point to season your pan. Will the coat of season go bad if you cook some recipes beyond the oil smoke point?
My cast iron pan has an enamel covering on the outside. Do you happen to know if I can use a self-cleaning oven to get rid of the seasoning on that, or will it ruin the enamel?
I was doing all the things you said not to do. Thanks! :)
Very informative video thanks for the knowledge.
I just use a rag becuse paper towel leaves resdue .. Then just put the rag in a bag and put it in the freezer.. That way you can use it for next tme .. I"ve had my rag for years
The dog..."Will you just hurry up and fry me some bacon!?!?"
I have a self cleaning oven, but it's the kind that you have to add a cup of water poured in the bottom of the oven. Can I use that to strip my pan? And if so, how long would I leave it in the self cleaning oven? I just found your channel, and I love all the wonderful information! I have always loved my cast iron, but have never been able to season it right, I'm so excited to try all your steps!
I just got hold of an old dutch oven and the bottom of the pan is beautiful but the sides, not so much! They are bumpy with old build up . I think I understand the stripping process but am wondering if I can use BEAR fat to re season it? Or do I absolutely have to use some sort of refined oil?
Thanks
so much for your help!
Thank you for the video. I stripped it in the self cleaning cycle. That worked great. I seasoned using virgin olive oil very thin layers (i put way too much when i seasoned before). My pan stays gray. Never turns black. Has a sheen but still gray. I did 5 or 6 seasonings. Am i removing too much oil?
Self-cleaning ovens are deadly dangerous if used improperly and the temps they reach can cause heat damage to the cookware. Your oven's owner's manual specifically instructs the user to remove everything from the oven--even the racks. This is because the oven's heat control system expects to be heating air, not the mass of a cast iron skillet. Overheating is probable and a house fire can result. Remember, once you start the cleaning process it can't be stopped without shutting off the power to it.
Fire pits WILL cause heat damage to cast iron. The damage is irreversible and cumulative. There is a high probability of mill scale (orange, purple and red tones on the surface). Scale prevents seasoning from sticking properly and it will flake off during normal cooking.
Flaxseed oil is called flakeseed oil and the fru-fru organic stuff is the worst. It lacks the ability to form long-chain polymers and results in a surface that is hard, brittle and inflexible. Put it under repeated instances of heating, cooling and agitation it will flake off.
You can get away with what you've done to a modern Lodge. Try these methods with an antique heirloom and you might turn a $400 treasure into a $10 doorstop.
Before putting the pan in the pit she said it was an old Wagner pan that after washing it in the kitchen it said Lodge on the bottom
I have used my self-cleaning oven setting to clean my cast iron this worked great I was able to take off everything the only oil that really worked was 100% flaxseed oil organic All other oils just came off they never became a hard finish like the flaxseed oil .
Use the greased papertowels as firestarters. No guilt!
Thank you for this great cast iron video!!! Unrelated question... What breed is your beautiful dog???
Big $. Nice! Great production. Thanks.
Great info . . thanks so much !!!
And . . love your kitchen.