I'll not talk bad about anyone on this open forum, but for some of you newer folks here is a excellent example on how NOT TO clean cast iron.
Restore a cast iron skillet on an open fire
by: xxx
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Guide viewed: 1221 times Tags: seasoning | cast iron | skillet | camping
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Many will gasp at the thought of this, but cast iron skillets can stand up to a LOT of abuse. They are the only pan for cooking over a camp fire, for good reason. You can heat them to extreme temperatures, and the only thing likely to suffer any damage is the seasoning. You can also scour them with steel wool, or a steel scouring pad without hurting them one bit. When I am camping I scour my pans with creek gravel, and never damage the seasoning.
When you get a pan that is rusted, or has buildup on the outside, you can strip it down, and make it good as new, whole you are camping, (or you can do it at home, but it is not as much fun).
First, if your pan is rusted, use a steel pad to get most of the rust off. Pitting can be a problem, but I have a deeply pitted pan that works as good as the pan I bought new.
Next, build a big hot fire, and throw your pan in the coals. OK, just set it in there. Throwing is not good for your pan. Let the pan get red hot or close to it, all over. If you have build up it should be flaking off every inch of the pan.
Now take your pan to the river. A heavy piece of stiff wire hooked through the handle is one good way to handle it at this point. Welding gloves, or any tool in the old tool box that will work is fine also, as long as it is not covered in traney fluid or something disgusting. Let the pan cool a little if it is still red, then hold it away from you while you dip it in the water. This is called quenching.
Now when the pan has cooled, scour it with the rocks to get any carbon (black flaky stuff) off. The bottom of the pan is generally the worst. I like to lay it on the rocks and spin it like a steering wheel.
This process should not cause any damage to the environment, unless you happen to kill a fish, while quenching by some twist of fate. You're body puts more pollution in the river when you swim..
Finally, by the time you get back to camp, your fire may have died down enough to season your pan. Oil it inside and out with plenty of oil, and set it on the grill upside down. Leave it for a half hour or so then oil it again and heat it right side up. Repeat the inside seasoning a couple times, and scour off any excess oil that starts to get thick inside the pan right away. Avoid anything salty or acidic in your pan for a couple weeks, and as always keep it dry and lightly oiled all the time, except when washing.
