Looking for info on my two new Levcoware pans!

[ConniP]

I just acquired two Levcoware Japan pans, a 6 and a 10. I'd love to know something about their history, they look pretty old and I think I got a steal of a deal for $25 for both pans!

I read elsewhere to throw the pans in the woodstove overnight, and my other two pans came out amazing when I did that, so I will do the same with these two unless there is some reason I shouldn't?

Been using bacon fat to season, seems to be working well! I'm really enjoying the fact that I can sear my meat then throw into the oven to roast to perfection. Pork tenderloin last night was fabulous, and the pan cleaned up like a dream this morning! Unreal!

 

[Doug D.]

Burning in a fire was an old, sometimes considered traditional way of cleaning CI. But too hot and pans can crack, warp, or develop irreversible mill scale. CI collectors don't do it with vintage pieces they value, and it is not recommended.

 

[ConniP]

Thanks Doug! Are these vintage pieces? I'm pretty sure my other ones aren't, and that's perhaps why they came out fine. How would you recommend I clean these?

 

[Doug D.]

Vintage CI collectibles usually don't include the imports, although some of the Japanese pans are well made, nicely finished, and there's no reason they shouldn't be fine as users. Your previous success with fire cleaning had more to do with luck than with type or age of cast iron.

Recommended methods are outlined in detail here: http://www.castironcollector.com/cleaning.php

 

[DougH]

Thanks Doug! Are these vintage pieces? I'm pretty sure my other ones aren't, and that's perhaps why they came out fine. How would you recommend I clean these?

Fire and self cleaning oven and similar methods are high risk ways to strip CI. It may work fine for you, but you can also irreversibly damage the pieces. I did my first few skillets in my oven on self clean (until I learned how bad it can be), and they worked fine. But it's definitely not a "safe" method as there are many things that can go wrong, as Doug pointed out.

Look here for safe ways to strip CI:

http://www.castironcollector.com/cleaning.php

 

[ConniP]

Thanks for the cleaning link, I will do that.

As for it not being a collectable item, that's ok, I'm not a collector.

I was just wondering if someone knew how old these might be.

---------- Post added at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:46 PM ----------

Fire and self cleaning oven and similar methods are high risk ways to strip CI. It may work fine for you, but you can also irreversibly damage the pieces. I did my first few skillets in my oven on self clean (until I learned how bad it can be), and they worked fine. But it's definitely not a "safe" method as there are many things that can go wrong, as Doug pointed out.

Look here for safe ways to strip CI:

http://www.castironcollector.com/cleaning.php

EEEK! I guess I lucked out! LOL I'd better call my friend asap and tell her NOT to throw them in the fire, lol OOPS!