the waxy coating that comes on cast iron...

[prairie hill]

Anyone know how to remove it, before I season my new dutch oven? The directions say wash with detergent and hot water the first time to remove it, but it's WAX, and doesn't just "wash off".. When I run really hot water over it, I see little floaties in the water, but there is much more on it. Thanks for any insight.

[KatSchultz]

After washing it, you can cook the wax off before seasoning it.

Here is a good tutorial on doing so.
http://www.dutchovenmania.com/seasoning-cast-iron.html

[KatSchultz]

OH, or there is this:

http://www.dutchovendude.com/dutch-oven-seasoning.shtml

Says to use a steel wool brush, and soap and water

[Harry Chickpea]

It may not be wax. One major manufacturer pre-seasons with a coating of soy oil. Then again, it could be wax - which should burn off in the seasoning, and wouldn't hurt you if you ate it anyway, any more than eating a few jelly beans.

[prairie hill]

Thank you, Kat. Melting it off in the oven is what I thought of (I do the melting off in the oven with my candlesticks when they've dripped a lot and need "de-waxing" but the link you posted was additionally helpful. I'll just turn over when the insides (pot and lid) are melted out and let the other side melt off. Harry, it definitely is wax. I can scrape it off with my fingernail.
Thanks both of you for your replies.

[Fire-Man]

Prairie Hill, I use my outdoor gas grill to do this-----Makes the House Smell Better after its done!