Storing Skillets In The Garage

[C. B. Williams]

would a dehumidifier work if you put that in the garge?

Ryan: To a point. In my case, my garage is one end of my basement. It has one heated wall and the ceiling is the floor of a heated space, so I don't have much of a problem. The temperature stays fairly constent. If it is detached or open to the elements (not enclosed) there is a real problem here. I see carports here that have water runing off the floor, which is condensation on the cold slab in certain conditions. To dehumidify, the water vapor must be collected and go somewhere. As was said earlier, the location has a lot to do with it. I have heard it said that the reason your carport slab "sweats" is because it doesn't has a vapor barrier under it. Not true, when the slab surface is below the dew point, it will "sweat" er condensate.

[Jeff Seago]

What if the items were to be stored in an airtight container such as a sealed 55 gallon drum or some such object.  In with the iron would be those moisture pad things??  If you limit the moisture to what is in the barrel and you have that contained in moisture absorbing thingies then you should not have a problem??  How would the moisture get in and airtight container??

I have no idea I am just throwing this out there  :-/

[fsauter]

Here's two cents worth from a chemist. Neither paper towels (I think) nor newspapers (I know) are acid-free papers. Yellowing of paper with age is a sign that it is not acid-free. Acid + iron + moisture = rust. For long term storage I would use the thin polyethylene foam sheet that many items come packed in and store the items in as dry an area as possible. The poly foam has no acid or other harmful content. Plus, it's a nice thin cushion.
Now I go a little out on a limb. Gun oil is pretty darn good at preventing rust. A thin layer on my tools works very well. I might consider it for long-term storage. Wouldn't try it unless we were really talking long term. Years maybe. Of course, you'd have to wash it off before using the CI for cooking.

[C. Perry Rapier]

Hello Fred. Thank you for your thoughts. I would think that a liberal dressing of mineral oil to a piece, and then that piece wrapped in newspapers paper towels, would tend to offset the possible adverse effects of acid in the newspaper or paper towels. I am just saying this because my results have been good for doing this. And I can see what you are saying about long term, maybe using good gun oil.

[Jeff Seago]

Why hasn't anyone suggested storing the skillets inside and perhaps placing one of the room occupants in the garage??  People don't rust so that should solve your problem  :)

[Andrew Bunch]

I hate cleaning a piece of iron that has been coated with mineral oil,the lye does not break it down and it contaminates my lye bath.

[Chris Stairs]

I hate cleaning a piece of iron that has been coated with mineral oil,the lye does not break it down and it contaminates my lye bath.

Andrew,
  I have only ever bought one item that had been treated with mineral oil. I did not put it in my lye bath though. I just gave it a good scrub with an SOS pad and some Dawn dish soap. It came right off, and was ready to season.

Chris