Giving a Cast Iron Skillet New Life

Make sure to go to the end of the post to find out about a cool giveaway…… Some of my favorite memories from my childhood are set in my grandparents kitchen. My Granny cooking on their gas stove….fried chicken, fried okra, cornbread, biscuits. Almost everything was made in a cast iron skillet of some sort. Who knew that cooking in cast iron would be all the rage again. Unfortunately some of the prices for cast iron are a bit ridiculous so I love scouring garage sales for cast iron pieces than can be refurbished and given new life. Just this past weekend, we participated in a community-wide yard sale. I told myself that I was NOT going to go buy other people’s junk and fill my house back up again but after a customer told me about a cast iron cornbread pan at a neighbor’s sale, I had to have it. I sent Dewey over and he was able to snag it. It wasn’t much to look at, covered in rust and with it’s tag still on.

I knew that with a little TLC that I would be baking cornbread  in no time. It is actually a pretty easy (though a bit stinky) rejuvenation process.

How to Rejuvenate (Season) a Cast Iron Skillet/Pan:

1. Clean your pan with hot water and a stiff brush or steel wool to remove any dirt or rust. (this may take a bit of elbow grease)
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
3. Coat the pan inside and out with cooking oil.
4. Put two racks in your oven. On the bottom one, place a layer of aluminum foil to catch any oil that may drip off the pan.
5. Bake upside down on the top rack of your oven for 1 hour.
6. Remove from oven with a thick pot holder. Cast iron gets very hot!

Other cast iron tips:

• Your cast iron won’t look nice and black like you expect after this process. However, it will get that way as you use it. Remember that you are increasing it’s non-stick seasoning every time you use it.
• After each use rinse with hot water and wipe out with a paper towel. I like to use a rubber scraper or nonstick safe scouring pad (but gently!). If you use steel wool or the like it will take the seasoning away.
• Don’t ever let your pan sit in water. It will rust.
• Make sure to dry your pan before you put it away to keep rust at bay.
• Cast iron increases the iron content of your food. Another cool perk.

Now my $3 pan is ready for use. After I find a new place to buy cornmeal in Calgary, I will be in business. I’m not the only one that likes to give something classic a new life. The folks over at General Mills are releasing the new Honey Nut Cheerios Hearty Oat Crunch celebrating the classic Honey Nut Cheerios you know and love, and mixing it up with crispy oat flakes and delicious nut clusters along with 7 additional new products.

Now for the free stuff!

The first 25 lucky readers to visit https://lmdhoc.wufoo.com/forms/get-your-box-courtesy-of-merry-with-children will receive a free box of the new Honey Nut Cheerios Hearty Oat Crunch cereal. It is delicious so definitely sign up! If you don’t get one of the free boxes, Like the Life Made Delicious FB page for a chance at free coupons for their new products.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Honey Nut Cheerios Hearty Oat Crunch Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills, and received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.