My tenants moved out and left some items amoung them a cast iron dutch oven in terrible shape. I would like to salvage it if possible. It has food caked and burned all over it and rustd badly also. Does anyone have suggestions on making this usable.

Thanks

i found an old badly rusted iron pot made in usa way back when. i took a 5 gallon bucket put 4 gallons of white vinegar in it put the pot in make sure it completely submerged put on a bucket lidd and put it in the basement for 10 days.after thati used a brush with steel brissels removed as much as possible of the rust and returned the pot into the bucket for an other 10 days.it worked like a charm.before you are going to use it you have to season it CRISCO is great for this. google cast iron pot seasoning and you find instruction for that.i did mine on the outdoor gas grill so not to stink up the house.i use this pot at least once a week.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: beers1,

Thanks for your response. I've heard vinegar is good to treat rust so this is a good suggestion. Thanks

I did not know this about vinegar.
Thanks for asking the question and thanks for the info beers1!
Awesome!

Depending on how bad it is corroded, you might want to find a place to have it media blasted. That will take it back to the base metal and after that, normal care should be sufficient so it lasts for many years.

I've used baking soda with just enough water to make it into a paste on various pots and pans, but I don't recall if I've ever used it on a cast iron pot.

As has Beers, I've also used white vinegar. I've read the lemon juice has cleaning properties but haven't tried it on pans.

Good luck. It's too bad your tenants were so inconsiderate.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GardenSprite,

i found a old rusty dutch oven also
the best way, and the way recomended by griswald
is to put the dutch oven in the oven at 400 degrees plus
bake for 2 hrs
take out and with a wire brush or a grinder with a wire brush clean it
using lard or crisco NOT veg oil
coat the cast iron with it
put back in oven at 350 for 45 minutes
remove
wipe excess oil off
do NOT wash ol off
your pot is now seasoned and ready to cook in
when you use dutch oven, always..after cooking and washing, coat with crisco/lard bake, wipe off
this will keep it seasoned
your old cast fry pans, treat this way also
if you dont want that old dutch oven
I'll take it!!!as is dirty food and all
and i'll pay the shipping

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Frodo,

Thanks for the info Frodo but I will keep it. Its the perfect size for me and I look forward to getting it in usable shape. I've bought 2 gallons of vinegar to try Beer's suggestion and will follow with your suggestion of seasoning it.

use CRISCO to season the put. if you can find any information as to why and who invented CRISCO you will understand my recomandation...

responding to old post...fyi
in wally world in the camping section there are dutch oven liners, insert liner, cook, then throw away liner
helps with clean up

Frodo, of what material are these liners made? Are they plastic?

The ones I've seen are made of Parchment paper.


http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-A5...Liners/dp/B0073E1O6U

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sparky617,

In Scouts we'll line them with heavy duty foil when doing Dutch Oven Cobblers. If the foil leaks, which is especially a problem when piecing together regular foil, getting foil off of the Dutch oven after being glued in place with sugar from the fruit in the cobber can be a challenge. Especially if you don't have any left over heat from the charcoal to heat up the water.

Cleaning Dutch ovens is pretty easy, fill it with water, heat it, use wadded up aluminum foil to scrub anything that is stuck. Dump the water, dry it, rub it down with oil and reheat. The last step isn't required every time you use it. Never, ever use soap to clean cast iron. If you do, it will definitely need to be seasoned again.

Sparky, are you aware that the issue of toxic effects from cooking with aluminum foil is still unresolved? At one time, it was considered that foil might contribute to development of Alzheimers. Although I've read that theory has been discredited, there are still some concerns over studies done in the Middle East:

http://www.thenational.ae/news...rosis-and-alzheimers

http://www.albawaba.com/editor...e-alzheimers-425441v


It's hard to credit or discredit this work without doing a more extensive search for studies done elsewhere, as it may be that the source of the manufactured foil may be an issue (especially if it comes from a certain Pacific Rim country).

Just FYI.

Parchment, on the other hand, has been used in cooking for years. I haven't found any sources I consider credible as to whether or not it has side effects. Not saying it does or it doesn't; I just haven't found sources I consider reputable.

i never had a problem cleaning my cast iron pot after using it no matter how much food is stuck on it.all i do is use our prewash appliance she has 4 feet and along tounge also a waggy tail. than i rinse it and put on the burner on hot. no need to use stuff that you pay for than dispose of it in the land fill.not very eco friendly..

This message has been edited. Last edited by: beers1,