Funky Cast Iron

[captain_slinky]

Hey, remember that great big beautiful cast-iron Dutch Oven i found by the dumpster a few months back? The one in beautiful condition?

It has a funky smell to it.

Like... kind of a fishy smell, kinda a "Bad Poultry" smell. I thought it would go away after a few uses, but it's still there and STRONG.

SO! CAST-IRON OWNERS!!! Do you suppose it's safe to use some bleach on it to try and get rid of the smell? I know you should never use Dawn on cast iron because it ruins the seasoning, but maybe that's what I need to get rid of is a bad seasoning on it? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!?!?

Comments

[rogh-sensei.livejournal.com]

Scour that fucker within an inch of it's life. The seasoning can be replaced; just coat the thing in oil and bake in the oven.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Been scouring FOREVER!!! Do you think it's safe to introduce chemicals and soaps in to the equation?

[rogh-sensei.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Solvents, detergents, Comet, whatever. Just make sure you dry the newly-cleaned vessel VERY thoroughly (bake it for a while on high heat to be sure) and then re-season by coating the whole thing liberally with oil and baking that for a while.

[firefly-pink.livejournal.com]

You cleaned and re-seasoned after finding it right? Otherwise it's like using a plate that some one left out sitting and the dog licked clean. Looks clean, but isn't. *yuck*.
As long as you wash it and don't soak it you can use soap. And you should totally re-season. Sounds like the old season has gone rancid. *bleck*

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/CastIronPans.htm

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

So you're saying that I'll have to wash those DISHES I found, too? YEESH!

Actually, I did not clean the pan very thuroughly and re-season; all i did is wash it like I would a regular cast-iron pan (hot water and scrubbing) before I started using it :(

Stripping it now, it's quite a chore... and will re-season after!

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

One thing i've done before with really heavily burnt-on ick is to put it on the electric burner... then leave it there... until the seasoning & scaling begins to BURN OFF. Literally. It'll turn red, then white, then turn into flaky white ash that can be brushed off. You may have to watch it & move it around on the burner to make sure everything that needs to go gets burnt off.

Can't say anything about whether it'll set off the smoke alarms, you may want to have all the fans going & all the girls away if you try this. (might want to save this trick for a last-ditch effort...)

Learned the trick from the Very Disreputable Executive Chef I know, and i've used it to get off stuff that scouring & solvents couldn't even touch.

Yep.

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

I would suggest using a camp stove or grill and burning the old seasoning off outside. I always make the hubby do this and blackened fish/chicken outside.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

The method I found was to spray the entire pan with oven cleaner and throw it into a big plastic bag. Tie up the bag and leave it for a couple of days. Take out the pan and wahs it off then re-season it.

The oven cleaner is supposed to remove everything on the pan.

It sounds like you're going to have to remove any seasoning on it to get rid of the smell...

Hi, I am Freydis' housemate

[auntiematter.livejournal.com]

BASED on What I Did:

Buy the nastiest most potent oven cleaner you can in good conscience by. Take the pot OUTSIDE. (the outside part is important) Put in on top of:

A layer of newspaper
A layer of foil
Another layer of newspaper

SPAY it until you think you have sprayed too much. Wrap it with the newspaper, foil layer and newspaper and enclose it in a tied close plastic bag. Leave it for a day.

If you have a dishwasher and the pot will fit, do the unthinkable. Run the pot through a cycle. Once the dry cycle starts, take the pot out and put it into a 400F oven for any hour. LET IT COOL.

IF you are not a vegetarian, rub the inside of the pot with bacon. If you are, use butter. Leave it over night. Wash it the next day and re-season.

This worked for me.

Re: Hi, I am Freydis' housemate

[auntiematter.livejournal.com]

eek. If you don't have a dishwasher or the pot won't fit, wash it really well in the sink.

Re: Hi, I am Freydis' housemate

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

WOW. That... that's hard-core. Thanks!

Re: Hi, I am Freydis' housemate

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Bacon!!!

Frying Bacon is the best seasoning EVER.

[freydis.livejournal.com]

I had my housemate read this, as she's a cast iron fanatic.

She says to remind you that the animal fat is very important. But she doesn't know why.

Hope it all helps.

[lynna12000.livejournal.com]

Try soaking it in a vinegar and baking soda mixture. Both are good deoderizing agents, and the fumes are not toxic.