Cleaning Cast Iron- Cooking with Brenda Gantt

I got an old iron fry pan from my elderly aunt, it was over 80 yrs old and it was caked on the outside with baked on residue. My husband was going to burn a brush pile and I pitched it in there. Some 12 hrs later a very CLEAN grey pan was fished out of the ashes. I washed with a hot soapy dishwater then seasoned as you instructed. It is one of my favorite fry pans now.

Although I learned to cook with cast iron I didn't own any when I got married. My grandma went to the barn and found an old skillet that looked as bad as the dutch oven you showed. She told me how to clean and season it. It took a good week or two to get it just like I wanted it - lots of elbow grease. She knew if I had to work hard to clean and season it I would appreciate it all the more. Over 53 years later that is still my favorite skillet. For wedding gifts, I always give a 10 1/4 skillet and a dutch oven. They'll last a lifetime.

Thank you for teaching folks how to preserve old cast iron!!! I love my LODGE cast iron pots and use them often.....and treasure them so much! My dutch oven has cooked some wonderful pot roasts, believe me! Thank you for showing others how to appreciate these treasures.

Brenda, during this pandemic, you have been such a blessing! I love watching you and appreciate your words of wisdom.

What a DELIGHTFUL WOMAN! You make me smile all the time I’m watching you!

Looking at that nasty, rusty pan , you’d think it would not be possible to bring it back to life. But, you’ve showed us that that with effort, this pot still has life. Thank you for this instruction!

I have my mother’s Griswold 12” pan. She received as a wedding present so it is 73 years old. I use it all the time.

So Sweet Brenda I just love you and I know you call the burners on the stove top ‘eyes’ and you said you didn’t know why you called it that but because your Mama called it the eye you did too - well, I just watched a guy talk about antique cast iron pans and cookware and evidently back when folks used wood cook stoves the numbers that were sometimes on the skillets corresponded with the size of the ‘eye’ or hole in the stove top and the skillet would fit down inside of it to cook😃. So there you go! That’s why so many people our age call the burners eyes😊. God bless you girl!!!😘

I remember my Granny and Mother “seasoning” iron skillets in the backyard in the ashes of the fire. And I’m using a few of those iron pots and skillets to this day. I love the South!

Amazing! Watching this video 8/20/23 and about the 10 minute marks I was thinking about a steel wire wheel in a drill and wouldn't know it, Ms.Gantt mentioned using a wire wheel and drill... Woman has so much wisdom to impart. Thank you

Miss Brenda, that was a brilliant biblical cleaning operation of old cast iron . You absolutely made me giggle with joy when you bit into the tart and the bacon. Your cooking episode had a great moral.

Thank you so much Miss Brenda for talking about God making good from ashes. I’ve had such a hard month and you bring me such joy. Love what you do

Brenda my granddaughter brought me a skillet she found out in a shed and it was so rusty too and when I got it cleaned up and ready to use it says Griswold on the bottom I didn't know it was rare or special it was till you said so I really do love it I use it every day and thanks to you I know it's a good one

Mrs. Brenda, thank you for sharing your wisdom with everyone who wants to learn. I have collected iron skillets all my married life. I’ve been married for 51 years to the same man, my sweetheart. He loves cooking that I do from an iron skillet. We sometimes listen to you together. Keep on making your videos, we appreciate them.

I haven’t been able to watch you since my sister passed away July 31. She and I loved to watch you, she introduced me to you…..it’s comforting to hear you again. Love you

Well... I'll tell you what, I can see why your shoulders and arms are so very toned and pretty. Scrubbing on that old pan gave you quite the workout. But, you work like that around your house and outside like that. Busy, busy, busy! I am 76 years old and I so wish I had your energy. Plus you're just as energetic for the Lord and his work. Love you Brenda you inspire me so. May God continually bless you.

Thank you Miss Brenda for showing us how to clean up a cast iron pan and thank you for always sharing about God and his love for us. Your message today really uplifted me, I needed to hear this 😊

Miss Brenda, With your knowledge of what I believe to be anything Southern Kitchen and God's Love, you make my heart smile! Thank you!

You are such a blessing and a joy to watch! My father swore by his cast iron skillets and thank you much for showing us how to restore them! God Bless You!

Thank you for sharing this Mrs. Brenda! I tried putting oil on my cast iron pans when they were cold and they got sticky too! Now I understand why!!! I love watching you and thank you for sharing Jesus with us!