Removing preseasoning from cast iron

[jkolantern]

So I have a cast iron griddle that was preseasoned (a black coating). The seasoning has flaked off in places and I'd like to get it completely off and I'd like to get it completely off and reseason it normally.

Any advice how to get this stuff off?

[addicted-to-smoke]

lots to read here ...

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/perfect-popovers-and-how-to-clean-reseason-cast-iron/

and then

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/

[ClubChapin]

I bought a new Lodge DO and wanted to unseason it. I did this successfully in my oven on the cleaning cycle. It worked great. Be careful with this, as I've heard CI can warp at high temps. Mine did not.

Other options include a Lye bath or use oven cleaner and soak in trash bags (I think oven cleaner is lye based).

I think an electrolosys bath may work too.  I knot it is used for rust, not sure on stripping old seasoning.

[OoPEZoO]

I've been using the cleaning cycle in my oven for years with cast iron. Works great.

I always do it when I pick up a piece of cast iron as I never know how it was cared for previously. I had one guy trying to sell me a Dutch oven that he openly admitted he used for melting lead......um, no thanks.  Damn shame, it was a beautiful old Griswold.

[mike.stavlund]

+1 to everything Sheryl Canter says about cast iron seasoning. 

I use oven cleaner in a trash bag for many hours.  Works even better if you can put the bag in a sunny spot outside. 

[Shoestringshop]

I have had mine sand blasted and it worked great.