Love Casting » iron casting http://www.shotatlovecasting.com Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:53:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 How do you clean your cast iron skillet? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-your-cast-iron-skillet/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-your-cast-iron-skillet/#comments Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:53:31 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-your-cast-iron-skillet Continue reading →]]> Bought a cast iron skillet and wondering if I am cleaning it right. I am asking how YOU clean YOUR cast iron skillet.

I don’t want a link to a website.
I don’t want you to copy and paste an article
I just want to know how you clean your cast iron skillet, and any tips or advice you have.

When I bought my skillets – I have ten of them in various sizes – I seasoned them with vegetable oil in the oven. Then, after each use, I wipe them out immediately with either a dishtowel reserved for the purpose, or if I have to leave the skillet for awhile, I run hot water in it and wipe out the thing with a plastic dish scrubber and dry it on a hot stove top. I occasionally will wipe the inside, once it’s dry, with an oiled paper towel.
Half of my skillets I bought in junk shops and they had rusted. I filled them to the rim with cola and let ‘em sit (out in the garage out of the way) for two days, then dumped the cola and was able to remove the rust easily with steel wool – even though there was a lot of rust. I didn’t use cola on the outside but just cleaned off the rust on that surface with steel wool. I then had to re-season the items inside and out. What can I say – I’m nuts about cast iron cookware. But then, I’m also the kind of nut who loves to reenact the American Civil War.
I suggest you buy new cast iron skillets – they now can be bought pre-seasoned from Lodge and others…some people hate cast iron because it does demand more work to properly care for it, but I think there’s nothing better to cook in. I’ve even baked a cake in a cast iron Dutch (camp) oven…

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-your-cast-iron-skillet/feed/ 15 Can you melt silver for casting in an iron crucible? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-you-melt-silver-for-casting-in-an-iron-crucible/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-you-melt-silver-for-casting-in-an-iron-crucible/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:13:31 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-you-melt-silver-for-casting-in-an-iron-crucible Continue reading →]]> can you melt silver in iron? can you cast silver into a wooden ring mold?

thanks

sure, silver has a melting point of about 1640 (sterling) and iron of well over 2000F.

casting into wood isn’t going to give very good results. It will burn the surface of the wood. If it isn’t that much of a volume of silver probably not too much, but certainly some.

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-you-melt-silver-for-casting-in-an-iron-crucible/feed/ 2 What are the benefits of using a cast iron skillet? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:06:10 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet Continue reading →]]> One thing I hate about cheap skillets (which is all I have right now) is how the food sticks like glue to the bottom. Also, my potatoes in my Potatoes O’Brien don’t brown right. I’m thinking of getting a cast iron skillet from Lodge.

I prefer cast iron skillets for cooking. They seem to cook more evenly and seem to get better with age.

Plus it is great for whacking intruders with in the middle of the night!

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet/feed/ 15 What is the benefit of using a cast-iron skillet instead of a glass or aluminum baking pan? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-is-the-benefit-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet-instead-of-a-glass-or-aluminum-baking-pan/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-is-the-benefit-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet-instead-of-a-glass-or-aluminum-baking-pan/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:00:55 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-is-the-benefit-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet-instead-of-a-glass-or-aluminum-baking-pan Continue reading →]]> I am making corn bread this thanksgiving, and am finding a lot of recipes use a cast-iron skillet to bake the bread instead of a glass or aluminum baking dish. Does anyone know what the reason for using a skillet is?

I’m not sure if my cast-iron skillets are oven safe, so would prefer to use something else. What is the best alternative?

Thanks.

Your cast iron skillets are oven safe, though if they have wooden handles it would be better not to put them in the oven at high temperatures. They’re used for cornbread because the heat retention properties of cast iron give a nice crust on corn bread. The recipe I use calls for heating the pan before the batter goes in and that’s what makes the crust because the outside of the bread cooks as soon as it hits the hot pan. Not so good for a cake, where you don’t want a thick crust, but fine for cornbread. You can use any baking pan you want, but a thinner one won’t give the same thick-crusted traditional result.

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-is-the-benefit-of-using-a-cast-iron-skillet-instead-of-a-glass-or-aluminum-baking-pan/feed/ 5 What size cast iron skillet would you recommend for a novice cook? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-size-cast-iron-skillet-would-you-recommend-for-a-novice-cook/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-size-cast-iron-skillet-would-you-recommend-for-a-novice-cook/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:47:51 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-size-cast-iron-skillet-would-you-recommend-for-a-novice-cook Continue reading →]]> This will be my first cast iron skillet. I will be purchasing a Lodge Cast Iron Skillet made in the USA. Just not sure of size/type. Which is the most universal?
Lodge brand comes seasoned.

By novice I mean I can cook basic homecooked foods. I have been cooking for years. I guess I should have said intermediate.

Unless you have ever cooked with a cast iron skillet, you might want to re-think your purchase until you have more cooking skills (since you indicated "novice cook").

Cast iron skillets REQUIRE special preparation when you first obtain one. They have to be "seasoned" and it can be difficult to someone unfamiliar with it. They also are not cleaned as you would normal cookware. "Cleaning" them can cause you much grief and headaches during use.

The other reason to wait until you have more experience, is you will know what size you’d like to have. My Mother & Grandmother both had several sizes depending on what they were going to use them for…small (8") for eggs, medium (10") for cornbread and a huge one (15") for frying chicken/fish.

Save your money until you know for sure what you want to use the skillet for, then you might want to buy a pre-seasoned one from a flea market or yard sale to try it out.

Good luck and happy cooking

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-size-cast-iron-skillet-would-you-recommend-for-a-novice-cook/feed/ 10 What kind of casting is used to make cast iron disc brakes? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-kind-of-casting-is-used-to-make-cast-iron-disc-brakes/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-kind-of-casting-is-used-to-make-cast-iron-disc-brakes/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:24:42 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-kind-of-casting-is-used-to-make-cast-iron-disc-brakes please i neeeed to know! i beg you!
or forging… i don’t know :(

this is why i need your help lol

Disc brake rotors are sand casted.

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/what-kind-of-casting-is-used-to-make-cast-iron-disc-brakes/feed/ 1 How do I remove rust from a cast iron pan? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-i-remove-rust-from-a-cast-iron-pan/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-i-remove-rust-from-a-cast-iron-pan/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:22:33 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-i-remove-rust-from-a-cast-iron-pan Continue reading →]]> My husband left my mothers hand me down cast iron pan in the sink one night and now it has rust in it. Does anyone know how to get rid of the rust spots? I tried salt and oil with a brillo pad, and it seemed to lessen the spots but not completely abolish them. Thanks!

coat it in cooking oil, let it sit for a week, then wipe it clean

if its still there, try it again

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-i-remove-rust-from-a-cast-iron-pan/feed/ 8 Fire & Ice – IAC Iron Casting Symposium http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/fire-ice-iac-iron-casting-symposium/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/fire-ice-iac-iron-casting-symposium/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:08:21 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/fire-ice-iac-iron-casting-symposium Fire and ice pyrotechnics at the Indianapolis Art Center Iron Casting Symposium – October 2008

Duration : 0:1:26


[youtube Un-F-MqrEEE]

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/fire-ice-iac-iron-casting-symposium/feed/ 1 Can a pin hole in the enamel on enamel-coated cast iron cookware cause enamel to crack? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-a-pin-hole-in-the-enamel-on-enamel-coated-cast-iron-cookware-cause-enamel-to-crack/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-a-pin-hole-in-the-enamel-on-enamel-coated-cast-iron-cookware-cause-enamel-to-crack/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:33:59 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-a-pin-hole-in-the-enamel-on-enamel-coated-cast-iron-cookware-cause-enamel-to-crack Continue reading →]]> We just got a shipment of enamel-coated cast iron cookware today and the skillet seems to have unfinished enamel on it. There’s a small, pin-sized hole on the bottom on the inside. We were wondering if anything could get between the enamel and the cast iron or if it might chip at a later date?

Or any other problems it might cause? Please let us know if we need to return the product.

I would return it. Once a chip or opening occurs on enamel coated cookware,rust will start forming, and continue to form. Resulting in an on going rust,and chipping off of the enamel.Can you understand this? Maybe it just sounds funny, but that is what happens. Byee

]]> http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/can-a-pin-hole-in-the-enamel-on-enamel-coated-cast-iron-cookware-cause-enamel-to-crack/feed/ 1 How do you clean a really gross cast iron pan? http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-a-really-gross-cast-iron-pan/ http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-a-really-gross-cast-iron-pan/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:29:24 +0000 admin http://www.shotatlovecasting.com/iron-casting/how-do-you-clean-a-really-gross-cast-iron-pan Continue reading →]]> I know you aren’t supposed to use soap on a cast iron pan, but I found one at the bottom of a pile of dirty dishes thats really crusty, and I don’t know how to get it clean without soap. Any ideas? Can I use soap if I re-season it? (How do i do that?)

Thanks!

My cast iron skillet belonged to my great grandmother and I have NEVER used soap or water on it.

Pour some salt in it (enough to cover the bottom of the pan) and use paper towels to scrub it out. The salt will absorb any grease and scrub off the "crusty" stuff. Continue using the salt until it’s clean.

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