cast iron

[Turtle Herder]

I have two cast iron skillets that get a lot of use around here. I rarely use anything else, to the point that I've thought about just getting rid of the others. But recently one of my skillets has been leaving black flecks on our food. The coating is coming off of the skillet. We're really careful not to wash with soap and I oil it after every use. Why is this happening? What can I do about it? Do I just need to scrape it all off somehow and then reseason? Here are some pics.

http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a540/grovesarah/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1448_zps87fa94e4.jpg (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/grovesarah/media/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1448_zps87fa94e4.jpg.html)

This is what the paper towel looks like after I try to oil the pan :hunh That just doesn't seem right.
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a540/grovesarah/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1452_zps696b21b6.jpg (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/grovesarah/media/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1452_zps696b21b6.jpg.html)

This is our good skillet, for comparison.
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a540/grovesarah/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1450_zpsbc3bfc96.jpg (http://s1282.photobucket.com/user/grovesarah/media/HOME-PC/Nikon%20Transfer%202/DSCN1450_zpsbc3bfc96.jpg.html)

[knitlove]

I would scrub it out and reseason it. i had that happen with the skillet that I didn't do an initial seasoning well on.

[Turtle Herder]

What do you recommend scrubbing it with? The scrubbing side of the sponge does nothing. Steel wool maybe?

[mystweaver]

:popcorn My skillet has already done that. I'm ready to get another (bigger) one, so perhaps I'll season it properly this time. :bag

[knitlove]

What do you recommend scrubbing it with? The scrubbing side of the sponge does nothing. Steel wool maybe?

I would use steel wool and maybe koser salt.

how do you normally clean your cast iron? After reading an artical in Cooks magazine I started using steel wool exculively. After I cook i scrub out any thing that has stuck and redistribute any oil/grease that is left and then I am done.

[JustMandy]

Sometimes the kind of oil you use is the problem. I have found lard to be the best thing to reseason and seal cast iron.

Scrub it with baking soda, maybe steel wool (the kind without soap in it) and then reseason. THen be careful not to over heat the pan when it's empty. Make sure there is some sort of oil/food/liquid/sauce covering the bottom of the pan when you are cooking.

[knitlove]

i use saflower oil on my pans to seasion them - it has a really high smoke point so I can seasion them and not set off all the smoke detecters.

[Mother of Sons]

It's just old seasoning. You can get all of the old seasoning off by putting it in the oven in self clean mode. I season with olive oil and I let it get quite hot. I use a drop of oil or two (literally no more than that) and a silicone basting brush on each side. Then I put t
It in the oven upside down at 200* for several hours and then let it cool in the oven. S far of all the methods I've tried that has given the nicest seasoning. Supposedly the best is flax seed oil but I've never tried it you just want to make sure the oil coating is very very thin. Several thin layers is better than one thick layer. I'm guessing there must have been a thicker layer of seasoning in those areas of the pan. Always season wile the Pan is hot. If its cold it will gunk up.

I always clean mine with a metal scrubby. Salt and a paper towel are good if there is too much oil.

Could someone be putting the pan in the dishwasher when you aren't there? My aunt used to do that to my grappas pans and it used to drive me crazy!

[hcearle]

I am just learning about cast iron and just bought our first. Thanks for posting this question! It's a good one!

[Turtle Herder]

Sometimes the kind of oil you use is the problem. I have found lard to be the best thing to reseason and seal cast iron.

Scrub it with baking soda, maybe steel wool (the kind without soap in it) and then reseason. THen be careful not to over heat the pan when it's empty. Make sure there is some sort of oil/food/liquid/sauce covering the bottom of the pan when you are cooking.

I've been seasoning with coconut oil. Is that an okay choice?

I went to the store today and forgot my list. Of course the one thing I forgot to buy was steel wool :doh

---------- Post added at 10:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 AM ----------

And no, it's definitely not getting put in the dishwasher. It's just DH and I and he knows better ;)

[Punkie]

We use these scrub brushes -- http://www.pier1.com/Flower-Dish-Brushes/PS37860,default,pd.html

[JustMandy]

I've been seasoning with coconut oil. Is that an okay choice?

I went to the store today and forgot my list. Of course the one thing I forgot to buy was steel wool :doh

---------- Post added at 10:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 AM ----------

And no, it's definitely not getting put in the dishwasher. It's just DH and I and he knows better ;)

Idk if Coconut oil is good or not. I only cook with it a little (it's usually raw in recipes I use) and my pans are already seasoned.

I think sesame oil is also okay if animal fat isn't your bag.

[hopeforchange]

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/