primitive wants to get burnt plastic off cast-iron cookware

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1158819

Oh my.

northoftheborder (2,398 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

Anyone know how to get burned plastic/polyster off cast iron skillet?

This is my week for burning plastic onto things.

I lifted my heavy skillet out of oven and set it down on a dishtowel to avoid scorching the formica counter; however the towel contained polyester, and immediately melted all over the bottom of skillet. While it was still hot, I managed to scrape some off, but still a lot on there. I don't want to use, it would probably catch fire on my electric burners. Is there anything that will dissolve plastics, that is not toxic? I have it in the oven on low, to try to soften, and scrape more off, but would like to dissolve all residue before using.

I also turned on an electric burner which had a plastic cutting board on it but managed to get it off quickly before a catastrophe occurred.

Edit to report: simmering pan in baking-soda water and a razor scraper did the job! all off

ZenLefty (20,846 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

1. I had an idea but it was a bad one.

I was going to say you can just place the skilled in your oven upside down and put it on self cleaning mode. 3-4 hours at 550 degrees should do the trick. But a little poking around on the internets and this looks to be a really bad idea.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/SelfCleanOven.htm

^ this site has better ideas than I had ^

HOWEVER, just because something is a bad idea has never really stopped me from trying it anyway. So you be the judge.

northoftheborder (2,398 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

2. Went to a "how to" site & found suggestions for simmering the pan in water/baking soda...

I'm going to try that. I'm in a rental apt. with a crummy oven that I don't even think works on the cleaning cycle. Besides, I think that plastic stuff would be bad to breathe. (crummy vent also) If that doesn't work, I'm going to get my family camper experts to build a fire, or fire up the barbecue and burn it off outdoors.

However, the suggestions on that site about cleaning ordinary greasy cooking build-up on cast iron in the oven cleaning cycle are helpful. You might need to reseason. I love my cast iron, use it all the time.

Tesha (20,424 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

3. Several suggestions:

1. Remove it mechanically with a random-orbit electric sander or similar tool.

2. Remove it with a self-cleaning oven. Polyester is just hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen (no chlorine/no fluorine) so it should burn off cleanly and without any hazard.

3. Take it outside and take a propane torch (possibly aided by a putty knife) to the plastic coated areas.
This might be emotionally satisfying but is probably the most work for the least reward.

applegrove (52,515 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore

4. Put it in the freezer till the polyester is hard. Peel off what you can. Scrape the rest off with a ice scraper or a paint scraper.

[jukin]

Whatever you do, make sure you breathe in the fumes and smoke from burning plastic.

[Rebel]

Oh Good God, these people are dumb as rocks. DUmbass, preheat your oven to 450, take out a cookie sheet, lay out some wax paper, put your skillet on top, insert into oven for about 30 minutes, remove, scrape off plastic. Idiots.