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Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 08:36AM
I've got a plain old carbon steel wok that has a black coating from use. Now, it sort of works fine as is, but the more build up from use requires more cooking oil, which is not good. I've tried cleaning with vinegar and baking soda but it didn't do much. Short of taking a steel wheel to this, what cleans your pans really well?



And a pony in the river turning blue...
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Bixby
Date: February 10, 2022 08:45AM
Typically black coating on carbon steal is good - it's the seasoning.

If you want to take that off, I'd suggest Brillow/SOS pads and a good scrub.
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 09:11AM
Quote
Bixby
Typically black coating on carbon steal is good - it's the seasoning.

If you want to take that off, I'd suggest Brillow/SOS pads and a good scrub.

sort of. sometimes a piece of that breaks off into what I am cooking. not good. and, it does seem to now require more oil to have food not stick.



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: August West
Date: February 10, 2022 09:15AM
Did you let the baking soda/vinegar paste sit on the black coating for an extended period of time? Doing that has saved cookware that I thought was heading to the dump on more than one occasion.

ETA: I should add that a lot of elbow grease was required, regardless.



“Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it."





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2022 09:16AM by August West.
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 09:19AM
Quote
August West
Did you let the baking soda/vinegar paste sit on the black coating for an extended period of time? Doing that has saved cookware that I thought was heading to the dump on more than one occasion.

ETA: I should add that a lot of elbow grease was required, regardless.

perhaps not long enough. maybe an hour. didn't do anything. I'll give it another go.



And a pony in the river turning blue...
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Bixby
Date: February 10, 2022 09:26AM
Quote
mrbigstuff
Quote
Bixby
Typically black coating on carbon steal is good - it's the seasoning.

If you want to take that off, I'd suggest Brillow/SOS pads and a good scrub.

sort of. sometimes a piece of that breaks off into what I am cooking. not good. and, it does seem to now require more oil to have food not stick.

Seasoning should definitely not break off, so something's going on there. I've found dishsoap and then SOS pads if needed takes seasoning and gunk off pretty well. Then you need to start seasoning process.
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: deckeda
Date: February 10, 2022 09:29AM
Maybe also do some quicker cooks or lower the heat once you get some scrubbed off. Should save on oil and deposit less on the pan.

I agree that burned oil flaking off isn't good, but an overall black pan is both necessary and ideal for carbon steel. And as with cast iron, nothing beats frequent use. If this isn't used frequently I'd swap it for a teflon pan, or maybe SS.
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mattkime
Date: February 10, 2022 09:34AM
Sounds to me like you need to strip the seasoning and start over.



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: ztirffritz
Date: February 10, 2022 09:40AM
Oven cleaner. Strip it down to bare metal. Re-season. Put a light coat of olive or vegetable oil, cook it in the oven at around 425-450 turn off the heat and let it cool in the oven. Re-apply another coat, repeat the heat/cool cycle. You should end up with a smooth dark brown coating that's slicker than snot.



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Racer X
Date: February 10, 2022 09:46AM
I second the oven cleaner.



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Paul F.
Date: February 10, 2022 10:02AM
Yup... Oven cleaner, then season it properly, then use a chain-mail scrubby to keep the FOOD off of it.
Yes, you can wash it. Yes, you can use soap. Things that come off with soap are not seasoning, they're burnt food.

Wash and scrub with each use, put it back on the burner to dry, then apply a wipe with oil. High heat for a couple minutes, then let it cool and put it away for the next use.



Paul F.
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----
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Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.

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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 10:42AM
Thanks all. Oven cleaner it is!



And a pony in the river turning blue...
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: JoeH
Date: February 10, 2022 11:24AM
If it is not too bad, I find one of the chainmail scrubbers sold for cleaning cast iron pans works well. I use one of these - [www.amazon.com]. That can remove a not too heavy buildup of carbonized food and oil. Otherwise strip it back down and re-season. Rinse very thoroughly if you use oven cleaner, use of vinegar can help neutralize any caustic left on the surface.
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Buzz
Date: February 10, 2022 12:15PM
Also sounds like you *may* be using too much and/or the wrong type of oil for your wokking. Proper wokking is a delicate dance among heat, stirring, time/timing, and amount/type of oil, plus ya coordinate all that w/ the seasonings and type of food(s) being wokked. If ya mess up the dance, you'll step on some toes. Or, if you supply ample portions, I've heard Paul F. makes house calls for food, and willingly participates as guest chef.
==
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: freeradical
Date: February 10, 2022 12:33PM
This guy does a good explanation of how to season a carbon steel pan.

Bottom Line: Most people use vastly too much oil to season a pan. A "light coating of oil" is an extremely small amount of oil.


[youtu.be]
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Ombligo
Date: February 10, 2022 01:53PM
if it has a wooden handle that can be removed, just put it in a self-cleaning oven and run a cycle. No harsh chems to deal with.

just don't do that is anything can burn or melt (wood, plastic, etc)



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: MrNoBody
Date: February 10, 2022 03:50PM
I will only add re-season with Pure Peanut Oil. It's all I use on my carbon
steel & cast iron cookware. I'm happy with the LouAna brand but only
buy in small bottle as needed.
Good luck with the cleaning/seasoning rehab!



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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Fritz
Date: February 10, 2022 04:11PM




!#$@@$#!

Quod suus via crustulum saxum

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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 06:16PM
Let me stand next to your fire!



And a pony in the river turning blue...
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Racer X
Date: February 10, 2022 06:56PM
For seasoning steel or cast iron, grape seed oil is considered #2. I think organic flax seed oil is #1. I get a pint bottle of organic grape seed oil from Trader Joe's, and it goes bad before I use it all up. I keep it in the fridge.



********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: rich in distress
Date: February 10, 2022 07:09PM
I used to watch this video with my parents a loong time ago (on beta!).
It’s on my watchlist, and thought some of you may find it entertaining.

Wok before you run

Still need to season my 4-buck wok haha… I think he talks about seasoning too.
Anyway…
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: Racer X
Date: February 10, 2022 07:15PM
Yan can cook! What a blast from the past.



********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]
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Re: Wok cleaning
Posted by: mrbigstuff
Date: February 10, 2022 07:44PM
Love Martin Yan, usef to watch him all the time in the late 80s!

"It's stir fry, not stare fry!" is my favorite saying of his.



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