"Vesper" > wrote in message
...
>I bought a cheap, off-brand (Non-Lodge) imported cast iron
>stovetop
> Dutch oven and made the mistake of cooking chili in it
> without curing
> it first. The wax ruined the chili and I tossed it,
> cleaned up the
> oven, heated it and wiped it with Virgin Olive Oil (I
> know, wrong, use
> older oil to avoid excessive smoking.) My question is
> this. What do
> I have to do to get the oven usable? Or should I just
> drill holes in
> the bottom and use it for a planter?
>
> My first thoughts are these. Scrub it out again in hot
> water, heat it
> on the stove to dry it, wipe it with bacon dripping, cure
> it in the
> oven as per normal curing procedures, cool and wipe again
> with either
> peanut oil or bacon drippings. Store in cool, dry place
> with towel
> between oven and lid to ventilate.
>
> Any advice?
>
> V

A good place to find information about your cast iron and
how to take
care of it,
I've used cast iron pots, Dutch ovens, etc. to cook most
anything I have wanted
including tomato based sauces or Chile with no problems over
wood
stoves, in the oven, open fire pits, ranges, provided
it is well seasoned.

http://www.lodgemfg.com/use-care-seasoned-cast-iron.asp

In my opinion there are differences in cheap china made cast
iron versus better quality made products, The casting
process,
the iron ore and other metals added, the cleaning process
from
the manufacture, including how the products are cooled after
casting,
Many of the US companies are no longer in business, but
their iron ware
is worth seeking out on the used market
CC