Cleaning a Lodge Signature Series with lye?

[Spurgeon Hendrick]

Today I bought a Lodge Signature Series skillet at an estate sale. According to the Lodge catalog (2007) the hadlea are made of stainless steel. So, i’m Assuming they would not be harmed by a lye bath.

However, I’m going to try giving it a good scrubbing with regular Dawn detergent first and see how it looks. I may not need to completely strip it to the bare iron. It looks to be it pretty good shape.

Whataya think?

[Russell Ware]

If you don't know the history, throw it in the lye. As long as there are no enameled or aluminum parts, lye will not damage it.

[Spurgeon Hendrick]

Well, I washed it this morning ... and even using the rough side of a blue sponger, it is still sticky. At some point, the owner must have coated it with a thick layer of grease and when the put it on the grill, it left grill marks on the bottom. It’s a beautiful skillet, though. I’m gonna keep my eye out of the other skillet and pots in this series. This one is the 12 inch. The catalog says they also made a 10 inch.

[Sandy Glenn]

If you don't know the history, throw it in the lye. As long as there are no enameled or aluminum parts, lye will not damage it.

I'm with Russell on this.  To me a lye bath is the easiest and most effective way to clean iron.
That really is a nice skillet... great size, too.

[Spurgeon Hendrick]

Roger that. Thanks. I think I'm going to use Easy Off on this one. The handle on this skillet is so long, and with the assist handle on the other side, I don't think I could get it fully submerged in my lye bucket. The handle would stick out for sure. And, even though the handle doesn't need to be in the lye, I'm worried the lye would leave a ring around the handle. It shouldn't, but with my luck it would.

[Cheryl Watson]

For those stainless steel handles, a spray down with Dawn Power Dissolver should remove any globs, and follow up with Barkeepers Friend should have those stainless handles looking new again!  :)