Why are little black flecks coming off of your cast iron pan?

Answer 1

It sounds like it needs to be scrubbed well, then re-seasoned. There are a couple of ways you can clean it. One is how my grandparents used to do it; they would put it over a very hot fire (you can use your barbeque grill) and burn off the built up, cooked on residue. This can take up to 15 minutes or longer, depending on how hot the fire is, and how much cooked on residue it has on it. Just be sure to let it cool completely afterwards before handling it afterwards, and then scrub it well. Another way to clean it is to soak it in very hot, soapy water, then scrub with a wire scrubber or wire brush. If it has a lot of built up residue on it, it may take quite a bit of scrubbing. After you have removed the cooked on residue off of the skillet, using either of the above methods, dry thoroughly. Then rub the inside with a thin film of vegetable shortening and put in a warm oven on the lowest setting for 30 - 45 minutes. Let the skillet sit in the oven till cool, then it should be ready to use, and be well seasoned. If it still has a "dry looking" surface, you can repeat the re-seasoning process. To then keep it in good condition, always clean it thoroughly inside and out after use and dry it in a warm oven to prevent rusting. You can periodically re-season it to keep it in good condition. I've used these methods on my skillets for over 35 years, and they are in excellent condition, just as good as when they were new.