If you are fortunate enough to inherit a cast-iron skillet passed down through your family, think twice about removing the burned-on gunk from it. Those crusty layers represent a legacy of family meals, prepared by hands that are no longer with us, and when you cook with that skillet, it’s like those people are still with you.

THE SOLUTION:

Serious cast-iron collectors will debate until the cows come home about the best way to strip a skillet for reseasoning. They commonly use some very sophisticated techniques, such as setting up electrolysis tanks and lye baths in their garages. But you can achieve the same results with a few common kitchen items.

What you’ll need:

A can of oven cleaner

A large black trash bag

Protective rubber gloves

White vinegar

1. Wearing protective gloves, spray cast iron with oven cleaner. Spray it on thick and be sure to coat every surface. Be careful not to breathe in the fumes.

2. Place the skillet in the trash bag, and tie it tightly.

3. If the weather is warm, you can leave the trash bag sitting in the sun on a porch or driveway. If the weather is cold, place the bag in a plastic tub and bring it inside. The oven cleaner will do its work better if it stays warm.

4. After one week, remove the skillet from the bag using protective gloves; rinse it with a vinegar solution to neutralize the lye in the oven cleaner.

5. Dry the skillet completely and reseason.