cast iron advice. did I ruin it?

OK, so I bought a cast iron pan, nice and black and shiny. Lodge "preseasoned".  cooked with it a couple of times, seasoned it well, looked great, shiny, black.  this morning after cooking, I just left it on the burner a little too long and now there is a big circle of gray in the center surrounded by black at the edges, like I have burned all the goodness off it.    did I screw it up?  will I have to re-season it for years to get the black back? 

Soak it overnight, use steel wool, you should be OK.

RE-SEASONING YOUR LODGE COOKWARE
While maintaining the seasoning (as in Step 5 above) should keep your Cast Iron in good condition, at some point you may need to repeat the seasoning process.  If food sticks to the surface, or you notice a dull, gray color, repeat the seasoning process:

• Wash the cookware with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush.  (It is okay to use soap this time because you are preparing to re-season the cookware).  Rinse and dry completely.
• Apply a thin, even coating of MELTED solid vegetable shortening (or cooking oil of your choice) to the cookware (inside and out).
• Place aluminum foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any dripping.
• Set oven temperature to 350 – 400 degrees F.
• Place cookware upside down on the top rack of the oven. 
• Bake the cookware for at least one hour.
• After the hour, turn the oven off and let the cookware cool in the oven.
• Store the cookware uncovered, in a dry place when cooled.

 
For any questions on the use and care of Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron, e-mail  info@lodgemfg.com, or call our Customer Service Department at 423-837-7181.

If you have a propane grill outside, you might want to re-season the pan on it ... I'd steel wool it and boil a bunch of oil in there.

actually---steel wool will scratch cast iron--small scratches-- but there---use Copper scrubbers for cast iron--steel wool for wood finish! after you scrub it---no SOAP_--HOT water-fill it with about 1/2 inch of salt and stick it in your oven on high heat and backe for 30 mins --dump the salt--wipe with an oiled paper towel
 

Yes.  Salt is a much better solution than steel wool.

Rando


OK, so I bought a cast iron pan, nice and black and shiny. Lodge "preseasoned".  cooked with it a couple of times, seasoned it well, looked great, shiny, black.  this morning after cooking, I just left it on the burner a little too long and now there is a big circle of gray in the center surrounded by black at the edges, like I have burned all the goodness off it.    did I screw it up?  will I have to re-season it for years to get the black back? 

Mamaw Smith who lives next door gave me one that is probably 80 years old.  I have seen her put it on a huge brush fire and leave it there for several hours.  She simply cleans it and puts oil on it and heats it.  I have had it for about 8 years and still works like a charm.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

 I have "burned" my cast iron before and have never had to scrub it with steel wool. I usually use a new nylon scrubbie and a little soap and water. Dry well and heat to about 375. Add a small amount of veggie oil and swipe it around. wipe out any excess oil and store in a cool dry place.
 
  I got my cast iron from my Mom 25 years ago when I moved into my first apartment. They still look as good as the day I got them.
 
  David O.

Thanks, y'all.  I just seasoned it up a couple of times and cooked more bacon and fried chicken in it and it is looking better.    I guess you can't really hurt these things.  as a novice my first cast iron pan I threw away because it got rust on it (yeah, I know)  ... now I would know what to do with it,  I love cooking with it.

Relax.  About the only thing you can do to hurt a cast iron pan, other than dropping it on a concrete floor and breaking the handle off (which I've done) is soak it in water for a long time or leave it out in the rain.  Scrub it out (feel free to use soap, just rinse it well) dry it off, then make a batch of fried chicken in it.  Presto -- reseasoned pan and dinner to boot.

Mine was completely ruined last month   by my  granddaughter  putting it in the dishwasher!

OH my, at least she meant well, and was trying to clean up...