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

[northoftheborder]

Last edited Fri Apr 6, 2012, 01:18 PM - Edit history (1)

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]

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. 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.

[applegrove]

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.