Question for the group. Do I need to “scrape” the stuff off the old pan immediately after the lye bath? I let it drip dry for a few days but it seems there is still some stubborn black on the pan surface. It was in the soak about 2 weeks.
I usually clean them right after the lye with soap and hot water. Then directly into the oven to start the seasoning.
If everything doesn't just wash off, it needs to soak longer. It is cold out so it takes much longer in the cold. I'm not sure why. The pans can soak indefinitely without hurting them. I had one a few years ago that soaked for 2 months. It had no lie about 3/4" of scale on the outside of it. I would never let them drip dry. Just cause they can rust. I take them out of the lye bath and immediately carry it to the sink and wash it with warm/hot water, soap, and 0000 steel wool (or SOS pad or whatever you have). I lather, rinse, repeat many times. Then dry it and start the seasoning process.
Thank you. I will put it back in. Regarding the lye, is it safe as soon as rinsed well? I don’t want to be burning myself or anyone else in the house that might be near the sink.
Well, remember, for generations, our forefathers used lye soap. I'm using some currently. Lye can burn and can even blind people in certain concentrations. And I always warn people how to handle it the right way. But it's not like your finger disappears if a drop gets on it. In fact, (DONT DO THIS) I just reach in with a bare hand and pick my pan out of the solution in the tub. I carry it to the sink in the kitchen, which is off the garage, and I start to rinse it immediately. I have had no issues whatsoever. If I get some on my arm and not realize it and don't rinse it off, in a few minutes I know it because it starts to feel irritated. So, I rinse it off and it's fine. It feels sort of like chapped skin or something for a few minutes, but then it's gone. I don't know what all the technical safe handling precautions are, but I'm just super careful not to get it in my eyes or mouth. If you have cuts on your hand, it might irritate it. I'm not sure. Wherever you get it, rinsing it quickly seems to just wash it off and solve the issue. My experience at least. I've been sprayed in the face with OC and lye is NOWHERE NEAR that painful or irritable. If I were instructing you the right way, I would tell you to get you a pair of dishwashing gloves. Put those on and use them when you pull it out of the lye. When you rinse the pan off, rinse the gloves off and keep them for next time.
PSA: cast iron gets screaming hot. Used the thinner hot pad pulling the cornbread out of the oven a couple nights ago and got this wicked blister for my error. Don’t worry though, the cornbread was safe. Need to snap a pic of the food instead of the burn next time.
I am sure these questions have been addressed. I will ask them again. Is this an acceptable lye for using a lye bath. I am not buying from here. I will get it at Lowe's. www.ebay.com/itm/Roebic-HD-CRY-DO-2-Pound-Heavy-Duty-Crystal-Drain-Opener/332527611396?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D4ca73ff08a774d7fab71db11ed656005%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D11%26rkt%3D23%26sd%3D132007696108%26itm%3D332527611396&_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598 What are the suggested dimension for the container? How much water would be required to obtain a good solution using one pound of the drain cleaner linked?
I did a pretty badly corroded one by building a combo hardwood/charcoal fire and just sitting the skillet on it until the fire had gone cold, then using a HD drill and a knotted wire brush to take off all the ( now cooked crispy) buildup. Wash with water, dry on heat, re-season and start cooking. No chemicals involved.
YES.......it is labeled 100% LYE. Get a rubbermaid or plastic trough, fill with water, add all of the Lye and mix well. Add yur cast iron. let soak. as long as the fry/pot/griddle iron is covered with lye/water mix...you good to go. Time is your friend, as is scrubby brushes.
My collection. Some small fry pans are missing.....soaking in the lye tank. I had to move the cast iron to the wood table (the legs are 4" timbers, screwed and glued. Tabletop in 1x6" doubled up and screwed and glued.) because the heavy duty commercial wire kitchen rack collapsed. View attachment 21351
Fried some eggs this morning. I've been doing some reading and I think I am finally catching on to cooking with cast iron