{"id":3294,"date":"2023-09-14T21:00:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T21:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/all-recipes.arbweb.info\/?p=3294"},"modified":"2023-09-14T21:00:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T21:00:19","slug":"how-to-clean-cast-iron-cookware-with-electrolysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cocinacasera.arbweb.info\/es\/how-to-clean-cast-iron-cookware-with-electrolysis\/","title":{"rendered":"How to clean cast iron cookware with electrolysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

While out antique shopping about a week ago, Krissy brought home a nice Wagner #3 cast iron skillet from an antique mall in Delaware, OH. This particular skillet sat flat with no wobble, and had no immediately visible cracks or chips. Circa 1935 \u2013 1959.
\nIt looked like this when she brought it home:<\/p>\n

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As you can see, it had years and years of use. \u00a0There is good iron under all that burnt-on food, rust, and failed seasoning. \u00a0This #3 will be the subject of our topic in this post.
\nTo start cleaning cast iron with electrolysis, you\u2019ll need these items:<\/p>\n

1. A plastic tub, filled with water:<\/p>\n

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2. At least two steel plates to use as the anode in our circuit. \u00a0I use diamond plate steel but any scrap steel will do. \u00a0DON\u2019T use mesh or steel with holes in it! \u00a0Electrolysis works pretty much \u201cline of site\u201d from your cathode (the skillet) to the anode(s). Using metal with holes in it can cause a \u201cghosting\u201d image of the steel to come out on the cast iron. \u00a0I use an 8\u00a0gauge\u00a0wire with metal clamps I got from the hardware store to tie the two anode pieces together. \u00a0DO NOT USE ALUMINUM! \u00a0It\u2019s worth noting here that for the anode, you can use a steel drum or tank. \u00a0Completely\u00a0surrounding\u00a0the cast iron piece to be cleaned with the anode metal is best.<\/p>\n

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3. \u00a0You\u2019re going to need an electrolyte. \u00a0Use sodium carbonate at a rate of about a table spoon per gallon of water, maybe less. \u00a0Note: \u00a0This is NOT baking soda. \u00a0Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate.<\/p>\n

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4. Battery charger. \u00a0Only a manual battery charger will do. \u00a0An\u00a0automatic\u00a0or\u00a0trickle charger will not work. \u00a0I use a 12vdc 15 amp setting but will sometimes set it at 100 amp for a few minutes to get things going. \u00a0More than 30 or 40 amps is never really needed.<\/p>\n

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Now that you have your items collected, you\u2019ll need some way to suspend the skillet in the electrolyte solution. \u00a0NEVER let the cathode and anode metals touch while the battery charger is on or you may be resetting breakers or buying a new battery charger. \u00a0Below you can see that I use a 1\/2\u2033 piece of EMT and a piece of coat hanger to suspend the skillet, and also conduct the circuit. \u00a0Notice that the negative side of the battery charger is on the skillet, or cathode. \u00a0Those bubbles you see are hydrogen, use in a well ventilated area! \u00a0Your water at first will be clear to cloudy white from the washing soda. \u00a0Mine is orange with rust here because I have already done a few skillets with this water. \u00a0The solution will last quite a long time and will probably last longer than you can stand to look at it. \u00a0If you are using a steel drum you will need to line the pipe with rubber hose, or find another way to isolate the circuit. \u00a0You want the electricity to pass through the electrolyte.<\/p>\n

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Below are pictures of what the skillet looks like at about 12 hours into the process. \u00a0Notice the years of gunk and rust falling off of the pan. \u00a0Use a stainless steel scrubbie to remove as much as possible and put it back in the tank.<\/p>\n

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\u2026and here is the skillet at about 20 hours in\u2026 \u00a0Take it out and check it once in a while and keep using the stainless steel scrubbie in the sink to remove the gunk and rust until the skillet is free of it. \u00a0Go to the hardware store and get a little stainless steel or brass brush to get into the handle and\/or the branding. \u00a0I also use a knife or small screw driver to clean out the letters or branding.<\/p>\n

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Once you think you have the skillet free of gunk and rust, put it back into the tank for a few hours. \u00a0Once you remove the skillet from the tank, take it to the kitchen and use a product called Bar Keepers Friend and your stainless steel scribbie and brushes to clean it. \u00a0You will see that the BKF will get gray fast from the carbon in the iron. \u00a0Rinse. \u00a0Now, use your dish soap and wash the skillet as you would any other skillet.
\nStart your oven on 375. \u00a0Use paper towels to completely dry the skillet. \u00a0Your getting ready to bake it for 20 minutes, failing to remove as much water as possible will cause rust spots on the piece in the oven as the water evaporates. \u00a0Your paper towels \u00a0will be gray with carbon from the naked metal. \u00a0This is fine. \u00a0Bake the naked piece for 15-20 minutes using NO seasoning or oil of any kind. \u00a0This will completely dry the piece and \u00a0open the pores of the metal for the seasoning process. \u00a0Below is what the skillet looks like at this stage.<\/p>\n

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The above skillet is HOT! \u00a0It\u2019s just below 375 degrees. \u00a0Use an oven mitt for this. \u00a0Let it cool a bit if you\u2019d like but you want it hot enough to melt the Crisco when you apply it.<\/p>\n

Seasoning the skillet :<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Seasoning the skillet is easy. \u00a0Everyone has their own way of how they think it should be done. \u00a0I\u2019ll stick to the facts and keep it short. \u00a0Seasoning has nothing to do with adding spices to the pan. \u00a0Seasoning is a process where you are heating \u201coil\u201d past its smoke point so that it chemically hardens and bonds to the metal. \u00a0Use no oil. \u00a0Cook with oil all you want but don\u2019t use it for seasoning. \u00a0You want to use something that is solid at room\u00a0temperature like Crisco. \u00a0With the skillet HOT, start applying a thin layer of Crisco to the pan with a folded square of t-shirt or\u00a0cotton. \u00a0The entire pan. \u00a0Top, bottom, handle, everything. The t-shirt will get gray or black from the carbon coming off of the bare metal for the first coat. \u00a0Apply a very light coat. \u00a0The hot metal will melt the Crisco and soak up what it wants. \u00a0Wipe the skillet so it looks wet but don\u2019t apply so much that it leaves streaks or you will have streaks permanently\u00a0bonded in your cast iron.<\/p>\n

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Once you have your skillet coated, put it in the oven face down for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. \u00a0I use the oven mitt the entire time because, well\u2026 \u00a0It\u2019s hot.<\/p>\n

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There, your 1st coat of seasoning is done. \u00a0Easy right? \u00a0When the timer goes off after 45 minutes turn the oven off and get the skillet out with the oven mitt and place back on your work surface. \u00a0You will notice that the skillet is coated or sealed with a slick, hardened layer of Crisco. \u00a0It is not greasy or oily at all. \u00a0While the skillet is still hot, add a 2nd coat of Crisco to the entire thing and put it back in the oven at 375 for 45 minutes. \u00a0I usually do 3 or 4 coats before the skillet is ready to use. \u00a0You can pause between coats if you have to leave or\u00a0something\u00a0but bring the skillet up to\u00a0temperature\u00a0before applying another coat.<\/p>\n

Finished skillet ready for use. \u00a0It has a hard, slick, non-oily seasoning that if treated properly, will become as non-stick as\u00a0Teflon\u00a0and last a lifetime.<\/p>\n

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Cook something\u00a0greasy the first couple of uses\u2026 \u00a0Burger, or bacon is best.\u00a0After the skillet is seasoned, never use soap to clean it. \u00a0Wipe it out with water, dry, apply a light layer of oil or Crisco to the cook surface and bring the oven up to 350. \u00a0If it is very dirty, use a bit of oil and salt to scrub it. \u00a0Salt is very abrasive. Or use a green scotch brite pad. \u00a0Rinse with water and towel dry. \u00a0Once the oven is up to\u00a0temperature, pop the skillet in to dry face up, turn the oven off and let it cool as you go about your day.<\/p>\n\n

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