Care of Antique Cast Iron Cookware

Antique cast iron may have rust spots.

Cast iron cookware is a naturally non-stick material that is durable and long lasting. Antique cast iron cookware will probably require seasoning, which is a process by which you bake food-grade oil into the surface to prepare it for cooking. Before seasoning an antique cast iron piece, be sure to clean it properly. With correct care, antique cast iron will become more non-stick over time.

Things You'll Need

• Steel wool
• Kosher salt
• Hot water
• Nylon scrub brush
• Food-grade shortening or cooking oil
• Paper towel
• Cookie sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Wooden spoon

Instructions

1. Gently rub any rust spots on the antique piece with a piece of steel wool. Rub the steel wool in a circular motion until the rust is gone.

2. Sprinkle the entire interior surface of the piece with a layer of kosher salt. Add enough hot water to form a paste and scrub the inside of the cookware with a nylon scrub brush. Rinse the piece and set it in an oven at 150 degrees for 20 minutes to dry it.

3. Coat the inside of the cookware with a thin layer of shortening or cooking oil, using a paper towel. Coat the bottom and sides of the inside of the cookware. Cover a cookie sheet with a piece of aluminum foil and set the cookware upside down on the sheet.

4. Put the cookie sheet and cookware in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour. This will produce smoke, so open your windows or turn on the fan over the stove. Take the pan out and let it cool.

5. Limit your high-heat use of the piece to ovens or gas stoves. If you have an electric stove, only use the piece over medium or low heat to prevent warping.

6. Do not pour cold liquid into a hot antique cast iron piece or it may crack.

7. Scrape the piece out with a wooden spoon after use, or soak it in warm soapy water to remove burnt-on food. Dry the piece in the oven at 150 degrees whenever you get it wet.

8. Avoid cooking tomatoes or any other high-acid food in the piece because they wear the finish.

9. Re-season the cast iron piece whenever the bottom stops looking smooth and shiny.

References

• What's Cooking America: How to Use Cast Iron Cookware
• Chow: Cast Iron Cooking