Must a new purchase always be stripped & refinished?

[Andrea Martin]

I just got a gatemarked long griddle.  There's no visible rust, & some carbonized build up that's baked on tight, but not an objectionable amount. I could use the griddle as is, but should I?  Is it always a good idea to strip the pan down to bare metal & season it?  Or do you sometimes leave it alone and appreciate the patina & all that history?

[Cheryl Watson]

I strip and restore all of my pieces.

I recommend stripping and re-seasoning, especially on pieces that are going to be actively used!

You just never know, 'what' a piece of cookware may have been exposed to or 'used' for over the many years of it's life.

I personally know of a couple that decided that they wanted to try out one of those old CI Skillets, so they bought one at an Auction, went home and cooked with it... with nothing more than soap and water.

They both ended up in the ER very ill.......... 

That skillet had been PAINTED with a Lead Based Paint..... (that beautiful black seasoning, wasn't seasoning)

I had warned them, and offered to strip and restore any pieces that they wanted to try, when they indicated interest.... they were kinda informal auction buddy/friends...

[Andrea Martin]

Well, that's certainly a convincing argument.  Thanks for your quick reply, Cheryl.

I have a pan in my e tank right now. It's a crusty, rusty, pitifully pitted #7  Wapak with a disfigured Indian logo. It came about 15 years ago as a freebie with an old handled griddle I wanted, along with a third (unwanted) piece. eBay purchase from the rural midwest. All smelled strongly of of some kind of spirit substance (gum Arabic?). I stashed the two unwanted pieces in the basement, but stripped & renewed the griddle ( & have enjoyed having it in my cookware collection.) When using it, I often wonder why the pans had that awful smell, & whether the previous owners injected/inhaled/smoked whatever it was they were cooking in them.

We cleaned the basement recently, & I rediscovered the little Wapak. Low  behold,  it sits perfectly flat on my new induction cooktop. So I resurrected my electrolysis stuff, & the Wapak crud is bubbling away. The third pan -- too wobbly & small -- is  serving as the rust receptor in the e tank. 

So -- the long griddle will get the tank treatment next. Maybe that old carbon isn't carbon 

[Duke Gilleland]

   "Maybe that old carbon isn't carbon" Better to be safe than sorry. I have been fooled more than once.

[Cheryl Watson]

Andrea, I also do stripping in Lye Bath before the Electrolysis.  I have found that running a 'clean' electro means less wear on the anodes, and better conduction overall.

My lye baths are packed and have been waiting for about 18 months! 

Filled both electro's last week, and will start getting all those pieces looking new in the next few days !  (It's gonna take a long while to get caught up!)

Most of my 'users' are either 'newer' (my #12 Wagner "bacon" skillet circa 1960's), or the skillets with 'warts' (sulphur pitting on bottom, usually), and it is a mixed bag, with each size being a different 'maker ! (Wapak, Wagner, Favorite and others...)

My higher value and 'look at only' pieces are cleaned, dried, and receive a coating of food grade Mineral oil to preserve.... 

[Andrea Martin]

I've been reading & enjoying your posts, Cheryl! You have quite the impressive set up -- your wheeled battery charger is to die for!   Will pass on a lye tank though, as we have small, curious grandchildren who like to snoop into things.  But I'm taking your advice & using Easy Off instead on the long griddle: it's soaking in a garbage bag as we type.

[Cheryl Watson]

Well, when the young 'uns moved in next door... they learned early that if they went NEAR those barrels, they were never gonna be allowed to visit Miss Cheryl ever again...
(but those barrels all had the metal clamp retaining rings with PADLOCKS!!)
Even when their little cousins visited with them (and me), the Neighbor kiddos gave their cousins 'the lecture'... (huge extended family!)

They are now 11 and 14, and still give them a Wide Berth! 

It is a privilege for the entire 'crew' to be able to come inside and 'play' with some Cast Iron Toys!

 They are fascinated by those real toys and the toy stoves!
(they also are fascinated by the 50" Flat Screen in the garage where my Electro's are... (which are always turned off when they enter)....)

And for good measure the back yard is Fenced in, and had gates padlocked if too many munchkins were running around and I was outnumbered!

PS... Yellow Cap Easy off I presume...?

[Andrea Martin]

What fun those iron things must be for the kids! Fun & fascinating at the same time. All kids love a menagerie of interesting things.

Yes, yellow cap. Which is hard to find in my area. The Ace hardware store said they couldn't get an allotment when cleaning supplies were scarce during the Covid lockdown (or some such excuse) & to try the grocery store. But the grocery store never has the yellow cap version, & I haven't seen yellow or blue cap at Home Depot here either.  I saw it when visiting Atlanta recently: the last can of either color at a Home Depot there. Too bad I couldn't take it back with me on the plane.

[Cheryl Watson]

Walmart has it in stock... and will ship.

Order $35 for free shipping!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Easy-Off-Heavy-Duty-Oven-Cleaner-Spray-Regular-Scent-14-5oz-Removes-Grease/25162098

 

[Andrea Martin]

Cheryl, I must thank you for the suggestion about cleaning with lye before putting a pan in an e tank. I used yellow cap Easy Off on my new long griddle, let it sit in a garbage bag overnight, & 90% of the crud washed away during the rinse. A second round of blue cap Easy Off & a Brillo pad got rid of all but 1% (and if that doesn't come off, then it deserves to remain!).  I won't bother with the e tank as there was only a little surface rust where the pan made contact with burners. And we're in a stretch of rainy weather for a few days.  The surface rust is nothing vinegar or Bar Keeper's Friend can't handle.
This is the easiest piece I've ever restored. So glad I didn't skip the easy peasy Easy Off step to let it sit in the e tank!

Also thank you for the link because now I'm out of yellow cap Easy Off :)

[Duke Gilleland]

I usually wait 'til summer to use the Easy Off and a black trash bag. Seal the bag up tight and lay out in the sun on concrete. 100+ degree heat REALLY gets it to working! 

[Andrea Martin]

Hmm, I wonder if sun warmth makes the less noxious blue cap stuff work better too? Time to experiment!  Some of my old pieces could do with a refresh anyway.

I took note of your comment that you have been fooled by "black" old iron too.  If it could happen to someone with your expertise, then I shouldn't rely on my middling knowledge.