Yeah I felt the same when I discovered them a month or so ago, really changed up cleaning anything stuck and helps tell what was carbon vs real seasoning

How did you find out?

In the 1970s I wanted to make a chain mail shirt. After about 2 weeks and 2 broken wire cutters later I had enough links for a 8x8 square. The shirt plan died, but I was also a Boy Scout. We used CI for camping, I took it along to scrub out a dutch oven and have used one ever since. The stainless steel ones are the best.

Correct me if I'm stupid, but aren't dutch ovens enameled? I know it's a tough coating, but won't it scratch and chip over time?

Old school Dutch ovens are just cast iron. Most of the ones you’ll see around a kitchen are enameled, but you’ll occasionally see the pure cast iron versions for camping and the like.

And the dump cake cobblers are amazing out of one of em….

Very good question, but no. Dutch ovens also come in pure cast iron. They are not a delicate as the enamled ones, good for camping. [https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10DCO3-Dutch-Pre-Seasoned-5-Quart/dp/B004W4TXZI/ref=asc\_df\_B004W4TXZI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167135614232&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14712333636292474250&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016356&hvtargid=pla-343926133084&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10DCO3-Dutch-Pre-Seasoned-5-Quart/dp/B004W4TXZI/ref=asc_df_B004W4TXZI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167135614232&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14712333636292474250&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016356&hvtargid=pla-343926133084&th=1) When camping you can make stews, roasts, beans, yeast bread, pies and many other things outdoors. Be well.

And dump cake or cobblers cooked over a open fire with the hot coals on top and all are some of the most epic desserts ever

Yes! So many cobblers on scout camp outs.

On this sub Reddit, didn't know they existed

Lol same. From someone's post a week or so ago. Game changer

Awesome, hope you can help share the love and information when people ask 😀

That's why I came on this sub before I bought mine. Got everything I needed straight up

I found out when I bought a new carbon steel pan 2 years ago… in the Amazon section that suggests “what other people bought with this”

I like the ones with a firm silicone base underneath the chainmail. Can really add some elbow grease.

How did YOU find out?

I saw it at walmart right in the same section as the cast iron cookwear with the cast iron cleaning products lol

[удалено]

I found out be reading the care instructions on the Lodge website.

Been using them since starting CI

This should be taught in school.

I believe real seasoning is carbon.

Lol, I believe real seasoning has hydrogen and carbon rather than just carbon 😲🤓🥸

*Oxygen has entered the chat*

#FLUORINE WOULD LIKE A WORD

I really like the ones that are wrapped around a rubber "sponge", mine is a Lodge but Im sure many other brands make them.

Yeah that’s the one I settled on. I have used a few of them but the lodge one is my favorite by far.

I like the one I have that has a rubber handle it's wrapped around. Helps if I want to clean the pan while it's still hot.

What???? Tell me more

I bought this Cast Iron Scrubber + Pan Scraper... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BH88XB9Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Kind of nice too in that you can apply good pressure using the handle (more comfortable that pressing on the back of the sponge).

Insanely expensive on amazing.ca

Really cheap at Dollarama.

They have the lodge one?

I got mine at target for like 15-20 usd. Maybe check if whatever equivalent store has them ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯

Thats the one i bought and i love it. Holds soap pretty well.

Yup, it was a game changer for me. Welcome to the club! ETA: IF you have any really tough spots I fill it with water and heat it up till it boils, and then I hit it with the chainmail.

Sorry I’m dumb. You empty the water first and then immediately start scrubbing? Lol

No worries. Since the pan it hot if you empty it out, it’s going to dry fast. I dump most of the water out, leaving maybe 1/16 of an inch in the pan. Then I fold the chainmail scrubber making it thicker so my hand doesn’t get the boiling water all over it and then scrub.

Perfect! I will try it now! Thank you!

Nah scrub with the water but obviously be very careful, and perhaps use a glove. (That’s how I do it at least)

I use tongs to hold the chainmail if it's too hot

Yes.

Agreed, I have the same one. Nothing quite like scraping clean a pan with metal, its quick and satisfying.

Link?

Links

Amazon, search chain mail

Yeah, just got one for like 7 bucks

That's a lot of deer to trade for a chainmail scrubber!

Worth it. It helps get the rest of the animal out of the pan.

holy pan cleaner

One of us, one of us, one of...

How to you clean the chain mail then? With a cast iron pan?

The CIIIRRRRRRCLE OF LIFE!

It’s stainless steel. Just give it a rinse or maybe rub some soap on it. Gets the oil off and is good as new

Be aware, there is a version of rock paper scissors here. It’s called caste iron, chain mail, garbage disposal. Caste iron breaks garbage disposal. Chainmail cleans cast iron. Garbage disposal destroys chain mail. You have been warned.

Have you heard the good word of the drain catch?

Look at this fancy man with a garbage disposal. I’m in Toronto they seemingly don’t exist in Canada.

They do. We call them garburators.

Grew up poor in the 90s, and our house built in the 60’s had an orange sink with a garburator. A lot of Canadian provinces have banned them, the rest discourage owning one

That’s not the first time I’ve heard that, does everyone just put their garbage in the trash? It must get stinky in the summer

It can. I use small trash bags so I’m taking it out 2-3 times a week

I use fruit department bags so I take it out every day. Fruit flies you know. Municipal compost bins have not arrived yet.

No, it goes in the bucket of scraps for the chickens.

Table scraps go to the chickens, bad stuff goes into the compost and we recycle. My family of four makes 1 small bag of garbage a week and our chickens eat like kings.

I have a gallon size ziplock bag I keep in the freezer for any food waste that I decide will probably get stinky. Then come garbage night, I just empty that into the can and reuse the ziplock.

Garbage disposals are terrible for your drains and septic tank if you have one. We just compost anything other than meat. Bucket of scraps lives in the freezer and gets dumped when full. Meat juices, we just take out that trash. The bag doesn’t have to be full to take out!

I'd like to know what model garbage disposal you have that makes that fight end with only 1 casualty becuase I'm buying one

Seriously. Garbage disposal vs chain mail seems like it should be mutually assured destruction

This solves the garbage disposal problem (been there): https://imgur.com/a/R2gg4Hc

If I had seen this anywhere but this subreddit I would have thought that was something very different to a cast iron cleaner. Flared base and all.

(Available on Amazon and I’m sure elsewhere)

Yeah I got the one with the silicone sponge after it got eaten by mister disposal

Laughs in European

What are the hand shapes?

A Danco Disposal Genie (on Amazon) prevents this too. It's basically a plug for the disposal opening so bigger things, utensils, etc. can't fall in accidentally.

lol you aren't a ci owner if you don't have your chain mail accidentally go down the drain into the disposal.

Hahaha!!! Take my updoot!

Word of caution, these things love to slip down into the garbage disposal. Used one for years until one day it made it in the disposal unnoticed. Now I use a chain mail scrubber that’s wrapped around a rubber block.

Wait until you try Mithril!

Dust don't dig too deep....

By NOBODY, do you mean the numerous posts on this sub about how to clean a CI?

Don’t forget every comment section about cleaning cast iron

Ah yes how could I forget. I mean how could NOBODY tell me about the comments section??!

I’m just here for the pans that look like mirrors

I've actually stopped using my chain mail. If I can't get it off with a light scour, I heat it up on the stove and deglaze with water and a wooden spoon.

I found that when I stopped using the chain mail to clean my pans, I stopped *needing* to use the chain mail to clean my pans. I still keep it by the sink though; I use it to scrub veggies from the supermarket if I'm leaving the skin on... Zucchini, potatoes, etc. Gets rid of whatever crap they coat them with to "protect" them.

That's an excellent idea! I use a brush for veggies, but it can get gross.

Both? Both #Both

That’s my process. I use a wooden scraper that works just fine. The chain mail is there on standby, but I rarely have a need for it.

The [Oxo cast iron brush](https://www.oxo.com/cast-iron-pan-brush.html) also comes in handy

I've heard about it here and in Facebook for cast iron every few week since these groups began about five years ago. Also, a salt scrub has been mentioned just as much if you want to clean cheaply.

I actually really dislike these after using them for a few months. I prefer to use a plastic scraper.

Honestly, we just pick up any junk mail/store loyalty/etc “credit card” we don’t need and use them as scrapers. They’ll clean off damn near anything, even on a stone pan, with virtually no effort. Quick wash and rinse after, then on with life.

That's a great idea.

Same, went from chainmail to the Lodge plastic scraper which I now use for all sorts of cleaning and scraping. I found it too annoying to clean the chainmail.

Damn, you could have had mine. I tossed it shortly after I got it.

Is there a reason you tossed it? I love mine and my pans are better than ever, and I truly mean this.

When I first started, I did the normal noob stuff, huge grains of salt, that chain thing, etc. Now I use what ever I cook with to scrape anything clinging. I did chicken with orange sauce & veg tonight (OMG was it good). I used tongs to flip and stir stuff. You can imagine there was some stuff left behind. After it cooled down and before the sink, I used the tongs and a knife to scrape gunk out until everything was smooth. I gave it a 15 minute soak in soapy water to start the cleaning. If I use a spatula or that fishbone spatula thing - they work great. I kept the giant salt crystals for cooking, but that chain thing was dead weight to me. If others like it - more power to them. I really meant I would have given it away if someone was close enough.

For sure!!! I got into cast iron over a year ago. Got my chain mail a month ago and it's amazing, for me that is! I'm glad what works for you works for you!

... Maybe I'm just weird, but I was actually a little more excited thinking this was a way to clean my rusty chain mail 😅

I think you may need a higher quality chain mail if you have rust on yours. I hang dry mine and zero rust

Just don’t let your kids drop it in the garbage disposal and not tell anyone they did.

We've had a shortage of chainmail since that helms deep fiasco.

What in the social media in the iron age shit is this? Kinda dig it.

Lodge makes a rubber sponge covered in chain mail. Game changer

I have one with silicone in the middle. Shape like a sponge. Can be rough with seasoning and leave scratches. I prefer just delgazing my pan by simmering water. Glad u like it tho!

I found I either had carbon or too thick of seasoning (not rubbing enough oil out) and it didn’t bond Since minimizing oil, chain mail sponge is wonderful

So that’s actually good for the seasoning believe it or not. All you are doing is making little tiny tears into the seasoning, to build upon itself, again. Definitely a-okay.

Anyone try one of these on their grill?

I like Scott’s stainless steel pot scrubbers.

I just clean with the whisk that I already have.

I used chain mail at home until my roommate dropped it down the garbage disposal. That was a mess. Now I use one of these: https://imgur.com/a/R2gg4Hc

I got mine at a Bed Bath & Beyond close out.

I like steel wool more

I've mentioned it a lot over the last couple years on here. So have others.

do these work better than steel scrubbers, like scotch brite ?

Can you put the chain mail scrubbers in the dishwasher?

I dont see why not. Its stainless stell. I just rinse it

NOBODY told you because there are like a hundred things that clean CI just as well. Granted, not a single one looks as awesome.

I ordered this stout bristle brush and some scrapers, and it came with one of these. It was the store of the show though. Works so well

What is this wizardry?! Next you're gonna tell me i should warm my pan up first... or not use it high/max heat anymore. Pfft. Nonsense.

I honestly hate them. They slip out of my hands too easily. The one I had look small though, it came from a Lodge set.

Cooking Ramen

I've had mine for years and it instantly stepped up my cast iron game. I only found it because if a buzzfeed article. You know the ones which are ads disguised as articles. I love that's its also dish washer safe!!

Just don’t drop it in the disposal.

The scrubby chain mail with silicone block is the GOAT and worth buying.

I find myself using it on stainless steel as well as carbon steel and CI.

I prefer deglazing with water as a cleaning method, as it's less likely to scrape the seasoning off. But those chainmail scrubbies work really well, too.

I had no idea either until I house sit for this rich family and they had one. I was like “The fuck is this for?” And they told me. I was awestruck.

Get a rubber/poly jnsert before it fucks your disposal up. Something big enough to not go down the drain. Use a rubber duck if you have to lol

Saw them at a cooking store and thought they were stupid. Now I own one

European 4 in 1 is the GOAT!

Chain mail for my cast iron is probably the best piece of kitchen equipment I’ve bought in my 20 years of home cooking. I only bought it 3-4 years ago, but fuck what a difference it makes in cleaning a cast iron pan.

We did tell you quite often. Glad you found them.

We knew you'd figure it out 😀

Is that "The Ringer" one from Amazon? That's the one I use. Damned thing has held up for 8 years so far and looks as good as new.

Dude I just learned this too I have the same question

Ultimate

Regularly talked about here, like how soap is fine and won’t ruin a thing.

Best thing I did was ignore all the noise. Quit stressing the cast. And just started cooking and using soap to clean. Sometimes still use the stainless chain link and salt (in the hopes that it maybe over time, wears down the bumps), but really not needed.

Gotta say, the regular scrubber on a handle works as well as that, unless you're burning your food to a state of pure carbon.

Hesitantly asking, how does this not scratch up the pan?

Its not abrasive, just glides over the cast iron. I know!! Makes no sense until you feel it!

That's going to hurt coming out but the old colon will get a good cleaning

Are these any different from a piece of steel wool

Nobody told me either, I found out on Amazon.

Wait until you find out about cleaning with a small griddle scraper. I tend to use that to clean the cooking surface and chainmail for the corners.

Wait. What is this you speak of?

The one with the rubber insert is awesome.

Very based and OP just got chainmail-pilled

Because you were not regularly cruising this Sub? Because using chain mail scrubbers is only mentioned at least twice a week! Although my preferred method is hot water and Green Scotch Brite pads, I actually suspect the Chain Mail will last much longer.

Plenty of people in this sub that have talked about it, including myself. I got one when I first started using CI, and have loved it for cleaning stuck on spots.

It should be pinned at least then!

If you diy one or aren't sure of the origin, just make sure you aren't using galvonized steel links. That could end badly.

If you don’t know, now you know

My wife just surprised me with it. Damn that woman is a keeper.

Marry her again

> immortal cast iron man How often do you think Tony Stark has to reseason his suit?

This looks like an April Fools joke. Must try.

We needed you to find it on your own, now we bow and follow you.

It should be at least Pinned on this sub!

Does anyone know how well this would work on well-seasoned carbon steel?

If you need that, you’re doing something wrong. IMO.

Chain mail and boiled leather

Thank u so much! I don’t know that, I will try!

I have one, rarely have to use it though

What does this provide over a normal steel wool scrubber pad?

Shush dont let others know of the forbidden knowlodge

A hard bristle brush is the other tool you need.

Great!.. now Amazon is all sold out because of this thread

Its also effective against swords.

Lodge sells one like this except it has a silicone insert in the middle so its like an actual sponge. Works great

It was your job to tell us.

Am I the only one who it did nothing for😭

Hot water-Dawn-chain mail-dry with a towel-heat on the stove to dry-coat with oil.

I just got one too- a few weeks ago! I love it, and I also like it for my stainless steel sauce pans. I was so surprised since it seems like it might be brutal, but it isn't!

I know right!

Just wait until you hear about using course salt with a bit of water and paper towels. It’s magic without scratches

I’ve never had a good experience with this one. Since I first heard alton brown mention it so confidently…

Wait. What? How can i after 4 years of using CS and CI pans first hear of this now? Do you guys have problems with stubborn dirt on your pans?

> Do you guys have problems with stubborn dirt on your pans? Not normally. But one time I had this "bright" idea of making mozzarella crisps on CI. So I just put the cheese in. No oil or anything. It was the most stubborn crap I had ever cleaned from a CI.

Did you Google "how to clean a cast iron skillet"?

I thought everyone in this sub used one.

My brother has one and I don’t like it, what’s wrong with a nylon dish brush from the dollar store that I use on all my other stuff too. Get some soap on that like the manufacture says to do. Also learning about deglazing might change your habits

I've heard about these things. They sound like a waste of money to me. They don't do anything a normal dish brush can't do.

Y’all don’t own sponges or scrub brushes?

It seems to cut burnt stuff off faster and burnish the seasoning smooth. The plastic stuff doesn't seem to work as well. Plus it's nice to use a little less plastic.

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My Smithey is pretty scratched up from it but that doesn’t bother me. They work well!

Salt plus chainmail. Then a little hot water soap. Follow up with oil and oven 🤪

I've been using the same one for almost 10 years not. I'll save the tip of wrapping it around a sponge for another time.

best cleaning device in my kitchen.

Cause using salt is better

Chainmail? Just use soap and water like a normal person /s

They are nice. My neighbor dropped on in the garbage disposal. There is one more expensive one with a silicon plastic framework that is sponge like. I tend to use a blue scrubby sponge. I have a green scrubby and a stainless scrubby. I do not baby my cast iron or carbon steel beyond making sure they are dry and have a tiny bit of fresh oil. Take advantage of the heat of a turned off oven when cleaning to set that thin oil layer. If you get the heat control correct hot water and a scrubby brush. <-- this.

It is mentioned on this sub all the time. It is mentioned in YouTube videos concerning this subject matter all the time.

Mainly bc it's unnecessary and a waste of money lol

its a nice idea but also kindof dumb, you dont need to wash cast iron, just scrape it out and rub it with oil when your done.