Iron skillet in self-cleaning oven?

[Belfrybat]

I'm going to turn on the self-cleaning part of my oven tomorrow morning, and wondered if I can put the iron skillet in it? I know I'll have to re-season, but the outside is so cruddied up, I have to do something.
I know one way to clean them is to build a fire and immerse the skillet in that, so wondered if the oven would do pretty much the same thing?

[wwubben]

Yes----that works fine.I put my cruddy cookie sheets in at the same time.

[||Downhome||]

I use the Drill press with a wire wheel in the chuck.
You could also just use a drill with a wire wheel.
I like the press though cause I only have to handle the pan.

[whiterock]

yes, it will work, have done several that way. suggest you open a window while doing this, as while reseasoning.

[CountryWannabe]

Check with your oven manual to make sure that it's OK to leave the shelves in the oven while doing the self clean cycle. It was fine with my old one, but my new one says not to. Says the high temperature will spoil the surface and may affect their ability to slide in and out of the oven body. So much for progress!

Mary

[simi-steading]

I used to use a hammer to lightly knock off most the built up stuff... I figure it helps hold heat in the skillet if you don't take it all off..

Other wise, I toss it in a fire... I don't know I'd like all the smoke of everything burning off it in my house..

[mrs whodunit]

We dont worry about the outside. As long as the inside is clean and seasoned we are happy.

[badlander]

Brilliant idea. I have a small iron skillet that needs something done to it. Think I'll give this a try.

Just shows that logging on to Homesteading is a learning experience!

[MichaelK!]

I just refinished two cast-iron 10" pots a few months ago that way. They came out clean, but rusted, which cleaned off easily though. I then re-seasoned with 5 coatings of vegatable oil at 450F for an hour each.

After the first one or two coats, you wouldn't even say it was seasoned, but by #5 it had such a deep black glow it was presentation quality.

[haley1]

i thought you are supposed to take out oven racks when cleaning as the high heat damages the chrome?

[badlander]

I am on my second electric self cleaning oven. Still have and use the first. I've never removed the racks during cleaning and never had any issues other than the racks coming out free of baked on crud from drip overs.

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has had any problems.

[Belfrybat]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to do the deed tomorrow morning. It's supposed to be 15 - 16 degrees here in the morning and it seemed like a good idea to clean the oven and help heat the house. Hopefully things won't get too smokey. I've never taken the racks out, but in reading the instructions on this new stove, you are supposed to. But I don't always do what I'm supposed to.

[CJ]

This also works beautifully for pizza stones... as long as they are the heavy duty thick ones.

[ronbre]

on the outside of the skillet you could use a single edge razor blade and then a damp mr clean majic eraser..takes some elbow grease but it should get a lot of the gunk off..

actually I wouldn't put it in the self cleaning oven myself

[Belfrybat]

Well, the deed is done and the skillets are baking in the oven to season them. I'm so glad someone warned me about how they would look when finished in the cleaning cycle. My heavens, they looked nasty. But a scrub with a plastic scrubber and a wash with plain water then drying. They looked much better. I coated them with veggie oil and am baking them at 350 for an hour. After they cool I'll repeat that process, and maybe once more depending on how they look. It is 20F here today, so having the oven on is helping heat this end of the house.
Thank you, all, for your advice.