WILL EDIT THIS MESSAGE AT A LATER TIME WHEN I HAVE GONE FROM RESTORING/DE-SEASONING TO COOKING GOOD MEALS IN THESE OVENS. TO ANYONE RESTORING OR DE-SEASONING A DUTCH OVEN, PLEASE DO NOT USE A METAL SCRUBBER AND USE VINEGAR CAUTIOUSLY AS VINEGAR IS CAUSTIC TO CAST IRON AND NEEDS TO NEUTRALIZED AFTERWARDS. My ovens are coming along fine. I just didn't do them the way I wrote.
I was taking a walk today and found some cast iron Dutch Ovens (DO's) with tops left for the garbage. People do that when they don't know how to restore them. Of course, I left a note for the people telling them how to restore the ovens and how to to contact me if they wanted them back.
The way I've been told to get rust off of DO's is to soak them in Coca Cola or (better) a cheap knock of. I don't usually drink soft drinks, so I don't know if Coca Cola is gluten free or if there is a safe cheaper priced coca cola. I'm within shopping distance of Publix, Albertson's, Winn Dixie, and Wal-Mart's which probably have their own store brands.
I think I might also be able to use Alka Seltzer. Is that safe? I've mainly been going by the ingredients on the foods' label and avoiding wheat, "modified food starch," and "natural flavorings."
After I get the rust off the DO's, I use a mild abrasive cleanser without toxic chemicals like Bar Keeper's Friend or Bon Ami, a stainless steel scouring pad, and some elbow grease to clean it up. I've been told that apple cider vinegar is good for completely de-seasoning a DO, but you must season it again. Otherwise, not only will you risk rusting the DO, whatever you cook in it will taste like the vinegar. Come to think of it, I will have to do the vinegar de-seasoning anyway, but it's still good to know about the Coca Cola.
I season the DO with olive oil either indoors placed on an old baking sheet with oven set at 500 degrees F. or outdoors on a campstove or over a campfire. I didn't get a brand new DO completely seasoned doing that for an hour, but at least you've protected it from rusting that way. It's cooking in it over a period of time that gets it seasoned and adds good wholesome homemade flavor to whatever you cook or bake in it.
Sheila
