Much has been written lately about the process of seasoning cast iron cookware in order to make it usable in the kitchen, but many people ask "How do I restore that old piece of cookware that been out in the shed for years and looks so ugly?" One of the beauties of cast iron cookware is its ability to rise from the dead and lead a useful functional life.
Older cast iron utensils are particularly tough and restore well. Before starting, inspect the piece carefully for cracks or heavy deep pitting on the surface. If this is found, it is probably not worth your time and effort to restore it unless the utensil is just going to be decorative and hang on the wall or sit on a shelf as a reminder of the past.
The first step is to is to thoroughly clean it with lots of hot soapy water, a nylon scrubber, a stiff brush and some elbow grease to get rid of the crud and soot. When this is done, step back and check the results. If there is a lot of rust, steel wool will work or an electric drill with a wire brush attached will remove the rust.
If at this point there is a lot of crud left on the pot, there are several things you can do. The easiest solution is to build a roaring campfire and place the pan in the fire. It will take some time, but the extreme heat will burn off all the caked on buildup and you will have a new pot ready to be cleaned and re-seasoned.
Another method is to soak the piece in a strong solution of lye dissolved in water. Get a plastic container such as a trash can big enough to completely submerge the pan. Lye is extremely caustic so this is best done outdoors and you will need to wear the proper gloves and goggles. A can of lye in 2 to 3 gallons of water should do the trick. Let it sit up to a couple of weeks, depending how warm the water is.
After the carbon is removed, yes the black coating is carbon. not grease, go back to the rust removal process. When it looks like you have all the rust removed, an overnight soaking with Lime-Away is helpful. Lime-Away is a strong acid so do not leave it in the utensil for an extended period. Now wash the piece with strong detergent, rinse and dry thoroughly and season just as you would with a new piece.
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