Vintage Kettle Cast Iron Restoration By: Lodge Cast Iron / November 2, 2016 A few months ago, our product research and testing coordinator Kris Stubblefield was at the home of our CEO, Henry Lodge, and noticed an old piece of cast iron in the yard. The piece was a large 12 gallon pot, overturned and rusted on the inside. With Henry's blessing, Kris decided to try and breathe new life into the forgotten casting. E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Weighing over 30 pounds and measuring nearly 20 inches across, the piece mostly closely resembles a number 12 sugar kettle in a Lodge catalog from the 1930s (see the old catalog photo above). While a piece this large takes a lot of work to restore by hand, a rusty skillet or Dutch oven is not difficult. Here's a short video showing how we recommend doing it with just steel wool. Kris decided to remove rust from the kettle using a wire wheel brush and a mixture of vinegar and water. (And LOTS of elbow grease!) To season it, he rubbed it with coconut oil and hung it upside down from a tripod over a gas burner in the yard. In total, it took him a few Saturdays to finish the job. Shortly after he restored the kettle, Kris and his wife hosted a back yard party to put the old kettle into action. Kris made donuts and topped them with everything from bacon to sprinkles. Lodge employees can attest — they were delicious! For more tips on how to care for cast iron, head here! Lodge News Want to know what's cooking at Lodge Cast Iron? Stay tuned for the latest company updates, right at your fingertips. View all Lodge news A History of Lodge Holiday Mini Skillets View story Baking Basics: Cinnamon Rolls View story Lodge Warehouse Sale View story Enameled Cast Iron Side-by-Side View story Unveiling the Craftsmanship: USA Enamel™ View story USA Enamel™: Drawing Inspiration from the Best in American Design View story Dolly Parton + Lodge Cast Iron View story A Not-So-Overwhelming Guide to Sourdough Techniques View story Hosting Tips, from our Cast Iron Pans View story How to Cook Potatoes with Cast Iron View story How to Throw a Galentine’s Day Party View story A Q&A with Chef Kris Stubblefield View story Meet the Community Engagement Committee View story The Magic of Slow Cooking View story Our Favorite Uses for Leftover Bread View story The Cookware You Need for Thanksgiving Dinner View story Our Favorite Make-Ahead Recipes and Tricks for Thanksgiving View story 5 Tips for Hosting the Best Friendsgiving View story How to host Thanksgiving meals of all sizes—from 2 to 20 View story The Lodge Sandwich Encyclopedia View story Which Bread Pan is Right For Me View story 5 New Ways to Use the Large Loaf Pan View story Beginner's Guide to Bread Baking View story How to Use the Corner & Groove Brush View story Discover our Region with Recommendations from Lodge Locals View story Our Employees’ Favorite Grilling Tips View story The Story of Xolo: A Q&A with Lourdes Villagómez View story DIY-Style Recipes for Hosting View story Our Top Grilling Essentials View story 6 Ways to Use Sear Blends View story Our Most Accessible Cast Iron Cookware & Gear View story Your Cooking is Asking For Layers View story Need Meal Inspiration? Consider the Bar Cart View story Crunch-ify Your Cooking with Potato Chips View story Pro Tips: Cornbread Panzanella View story Shake Things Up With Homemade Dressing View story Fact: You Should Be Cooking with Moonshine View story Meet the Mushroom Farmer View story Why You Should Definitely Save Your Jar Scraps View story It’s About Time We Croissant-ed Everything View story Your New Favorite Ingredient is Next to the Register View story Pick the Best Piece of USA Enamel™ for You View story 5 Tips for Making the Best Darn Skillet Cornbread View story How to Bake Lodge Cornbread in Any Cast Iron Pan View story Make the Frittata of Your Dreams View story How to Make Scrambled Eggs in Cast Iron View story How to Keep Food From Sticking to Cast Iron View story Our Top Tips for Supporting a Food Bank Near You View story Cast Iron Cleaning Tools For Any Mess View story Our Top Tips for Decorating a Fluted Cake View story Tips for Hosting Your First Thanksgiving View story Tips and Tricks for Upgrading a Boxed Cake Mix View story Lodge's Ultimate Cast Iron Gift Guides View story The Best Gifts for Organized People (Who Love Cast Iron) View story Gifts for Couples for Any Occasion View story Practical Gifts for Anyone on Your List View story 7 Gifts for Foodies View story 6 Gifts for Brunch Lovers View story Unique & Useful Fishing Gifts For Every Angler View story 6 Camping Gifts for Folks Who Love the Outdoors View story 8 Luxury Gifts for Chefs Who Have Everything View story 6 Luxury Gifts For Bakers Who Have Everything View story The Best Gifts for Party Hosts View story 5 Gifts Your Boss Will Love View story 7 Gift Ideas for Teachers View story The Lodge Museum of Cast Iron is now open! View story Host a Yellowstone™ Premiere Party the Lodge Way View story Yellowstone™ Gifts for True Show Fans View story White Elephant Gifts Under $30 That Everyone Will Want View story 6 Gifts for People Who Love Spooky Season View story 3 Ways to Decorate Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Cakes View story Behind the Sugar Skull Skillet: Meet Lourdes Villagómez View story Why Cast Iron Is Great for Upside-Down Cakes View story Wedding-Ready Cookware Made to Last a Lifetime View story What Lodge Employees are Gifting for Wedding Season View story How to Choose the Best Lid for Your Cast Iron View story Our Complete Guide to Camp Cooking & Cleanup View story Can I Use Cast Iron on an Induction Cooktop? View story 6 Pieces of Cast Iron to Add to your Registry View story Ode to a Griddle View story Blacklock: Every Number Tells a Story View story Beginner's Guide to Cast Iron View story Cast Iron Gifts for Every Mom View story Inside an Eco-Friendly Foundry View story What Size Wok Do I Need? View story Introducing the New Sportsman's Pro Cast Iron Grill™ View story Enhanced New Features of the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story How to Use the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story How to Clean and Store the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill™ View story Which Lodge Cast Iron Grill is Right for You? View story 8 Steps to Get You Started Using the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story Lodge is Building an All-New Museum Destination to Open in 2022! View story Lodge's 125th Anniversary Cookbook View story 6 Lucky Foods (and Recipes!) to Ring in the New Year View story The Gifts Lodge Employees Are Giving This Christmas View story Gifts for The Person Who’s Hard to Shop For View story Unique Gifts for the Person Who Loves Cast Iron View story 5 Gifts for the Baker in Your Life View story Kitchen Gifts for Christmas Lovers View story Lodge Wins Best of the Best Award View story Lodge Releases Amber Ale at Lodgetoberfest View story 7 Bread Recipes for Every Occasion View story Lodge Employees' Favorite Ways to Use the Kickoff Grill View story Introducing the the new We Can Do It Rosie the Riveter Skillet! View story What Size Cast Iron Skillet Do I Need? View story Why You Need a Cast Iron Pizza Pan View story Wanderlust Series View story Introducing the New Cast Iron Kickoff Grill View story How Many Coals to Use When Cooking with a Camp Dutch Oven View story Tips for Using Skewers on the Grill View story How to Sear Chicken in a Cast Iron Grill Pan View story How to Use the Cast Iron Melting Pot View story Four Chefs Share How Food Shapes Their Juneteenth Celebrations View story How to Make a Cast Iron Skillet Pizza View story Cast Iron Gifts for Dads Who Cook View story How to Sear in a Cast Iron Pan View story How to Cook Salmon in a Pan View story Traveling with your Kickoff Grill View story How to Fry an Egg in a Cast Iron Skillet View story What Size Dutch Oven Do I Need? View story How to Sear a Steak on Cast Iron View story 5 Fun Ways to Use a Wedge Pan View story 7 Cast Iron Essentials According to Lodge Employees View story Biscuit Baking Tips from Biscuit Boss Erika Council View story Step-by-step Guide to the Lodge Smoker Skillet View story 6 Recipes to Celebrate Pi Day (Plus Our Complete Guide to Perfect Crust) View story 5 Cast Iron Kitchen Essentials View story Making the Most of Filled Breads View story How to Remove Stains from Enameled Cast Iron View story Beginner’s Guide to Cast Iron Cleaning and Care View story How to Use the Holiday Wreath Pan View story 5 Ways to Decorate Your Holiday Cakes View story 6 Giftable Lodge Recipes View story Culinary Stocking Stuffers for Everyone on Your List View story The Complete Guide to the Perfect Pie Crust (With Pictures!) View story Lodge is Hiring! Attend Our Hiring Event October 22 View story Tips & Tricks for Baking in Cast Iron View story Why Bake in Cast Iron View story Lodge Bakeware: Explore the new pans and reimagined favorites View story Stay Home and Cook With Lodge View story 6 Tools the Lodge Team Uses to Clean Cast Iron View story This is How Lodge Employees Store Their Cast Iron View story Popular Ingredient Substitutions for Cooking & Baking View story Behind the Design of the 2020 Made In America Skillet View story Lodge Guitar Skillet to Benefit Communities Affected by Tennessee Tornado View story Meet Blacklock, Lodge's New Premium Line View story Pizza Recipe Wins The 2019 Lodge National Cornbread Cook-off View story Lodge Makes Environnmental Impact in 2018 View story 2019 National Cornbread Cook-off Contestants View story The Cook-It-All Wins Design Innovation of the Year Award View story Enter Your Recipe in The 2019 Cornbread Cook-off! View story Special Logo Skillets Commemorating New Lodge Foundry View story Second Lodge Foundry Now in Production View story New Lodge Distribution Center Complete View story 2017 National Cornbread Festival View story Progress Made on New Lodge Foundry View story Recycling at Lodge Cast Iron View story 2017 National Cornbread Cook-off Finalists View story Lodge Donates $111,990 to My People Fund View story Over $100,000 Raised for Families Affected by Wildfires View story New Lodge Foundry is Underway View story Expansion View story Cornbread Festival 20th Anniversary View story Our Flagship Factory Store Turns 20! View story Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
Vintage Kettle Cast Iron Restoration By: Lodge Cast Iron / November 2, 2016 A few months ago, our product research and testing coordinator Kris Stubblefield was at the home of our CEO, Henry Lodge, and noticed an old piece of cast iron in the yard. The piece was a large 12 gallon pot, overturned and rusted on the inside. With Henry's blessing, Kris decided to try and breathe new life into the forgotten casting. E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Weighing over 30 pounds and measuring nearly 20 inches across, the piece mostly closely resembles a number 12 sugar kettle in a Lodge catalog from the 1930s (see the old catalog photo above). While a piece this large takes a lot of work to restore by hand, a rusty skillet or Dutch oven is not difficult. Here's a short video showing how we recommend doing it with just steel wool. Kris decided to remove rust from the kettle using a wire wheel brush and a mixture of vinegar and water. (And LOTS of elbow grease!) To season it, he rubbed it with coconut oil and hung it upside down from a tripod over a gas burner in the yard. In total, it took him a few Saturdays to finish the job. Shortly after he restored the kettle, Kris and his wife hosted a back yard party to put the old kettle into action. Kris made donuts and topped them with everything from bacon to sprinkles. Lodge employees can attest — they were delicious! For more tips on how to care for cast iron, head here! Lodge News Want to know what's cooking at Lodge Cast Iron? Stay tuned for the latest company updates, right at your fingertips. View all Lodge news A History of Lodge Holiday Mini Skillets View story Baking Basics: Cinnamon Rolls View story Lodge Warehouse Sale View story Enameled Cast Iron Side-by-Side View story Unveiling the Craftsmanship: USA Enamel™ View story USA Enamel™: Drawing Inspiration from the Best in American Design View story Dolly Parton + Lodge Cast Iron View story A Not-So-Overwhelming Guide to Sourdough Techniques View story Hosting Tips, from our Cast Iron Pans View story How to Cook Potatoes with Cast Iron View story How to Throw a Galentine’s Day Party View story A Q&A with Chef Kris Stubblefield View story Meet the Community Engagement Committee View story The Magic of Slow Cooking View story Our Favorite Uses for Leftover Bread View story The Cookware You Need for Thanksgiving Dinner View story Our Favorite Make-Ahead Recipes and Tricks for Thanksgiving View story 5 Tips for Hosting the Best Friendsgiving View story How to host Thanksgiving meals of all sizes—from 2 to 20 View story The Lodge Sandwich Encyclopedia View story Which Bread Pan is Right For Me View story 5 New Ways to Use the Large Loaf Pan View story Beginner's Guide to Bread Baking View story How to Use the Corner & Groove Brush View story Discover our Region with Recommendations from Lodge Locals View story Our Employees’ Favorite Grilling Tips View story The Story of Xolo: A Q&A with Lourdes Villagómez View story DIY-Style Recipes for Hosting View story Our Top Grilling Essentials View story 6 Ways to Use Sear Blends View story Our Most Accessible Cast Iron Cookware & Gear View story Your Cooking is Asking For Layers View story Need Meal Inspiration? Consider the Bar Cart View story Crunch-ify Your Cooking with Potato Chips View story Pro Tips: Cornbread Panzanella View story Shake Things Up With Homemade Dressing View story Fact: You Should Be Cooking with Moonshine View story Meet the Mushroom Farmer View story Why You Should Definitely Save Your Jar Scraps View story It’s About Time We Croissant-ed Everything View story Your New Favorite Ingredient is Next to the Register View story Pick the Best Piece of USA Enamel™ for You View story 5 Tips for Making the Best Darn Skillet Cornbread View story How to Bake Lodge Cornbread in Any Cast Iron Pan View story Make the Frittata of Your Dreams View story How to Make Scrambled Eggs in Cast Iron View story How to Keep Food From Sticking to Cast Iron View story Our Top Tips for Supporting a Food Bank Near You View story Cast Iron Cleaning Tools For Any Mess View story Our Top Tips for Decorating a Fluted Cake View story Tips for Hosting Your First Thanksgiving View story Tips and Tricks for Upgrading a Boxed Cake Mix View story Lodge's Ultimate Cast Iron Gift Guides View story The Best Gifts for Organized People (Who Love Cast Iron) View story Gifts for Couples for Any Occasion View story Practical Gifts for Anyone on Your List View story 7 Gifts for Foodies View story 6 Gifts for Brunch Lovers View story Unique & Useful Fishing Gifts For Every Angler View story 6 Camping Gifts for Folks Who Love the Outdoors View story 8 Luxury Gifts for Chefs Who Have Everything View story 6 Luxury Gifts For Bakers Who Have Everything View story The Best Gifts for Party Hosts View story 5 Gifts Your Boss Will Love View story 7 Gift Ideas for Teachers View story The Lodge Museum of Cast Iron is now open! View story Host a Yellowstone™ Premiere Party the Lodge Way View story Yellowstone™ Gifts for True Show Fans View story White Elephant Gifts Under $30 That Everyone Will Want View story 6 Gifts for People Who Love Spooky Season View story 3 Ways to Decorate Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Cakes View story Behind the Sugar Skull Skillet: Meet Lourdes Villagómez View story Why Cast Iron Is Great for Upside-Down Cakes View story Wedding-Ready Cookware Made to Last a Lifetime View story What Lodge Employees are Gifting for Wedding Season View story How to Choose the Best Lid for Your Cast Iron View story Our Complete Guide to Camp Cooking & Cleanup View story Can I Use Cast Iron on an Induction Cooktop? View story 6 Pieces of Cast Iron to Add to your Registry View story Ode to a Griddle View story Blacklock: Every Number Tells a Story View story Beginner's Guide to Cast Iron View story Cast Iron Gifts for Every Mom View story Inside an Eco-Friendly Foundry View story What Size Wok Do I Need? View story Introducing the New Sportsman's Pro Cast Iron Grill™ View story Enhanced New Features of the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story How to Use the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story How to Clean and Store the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill™ View story Which Lodge Cast Iron Grill is Right for You? View story 8 Steps to Get You Started Using the Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill View story Lodge is Building an All-New Museum Destination to Open in 2022! View story Lodge's 125th Anniversary Cookbook View story 6 Lucky Foods (and Recipes!) to Ring in the New Year View story The Gifts Lodge Employees Are Giving This Christmas View story Gifts for The Person Who’s Hard to Shop For View story Unique Gifts for the Person Who Loves Cast Iron View story 5 Gifts for the Baker in Your Life View story Kitchen Gifts for Christmas Lovers View story Lodge Wins Best of the Best Award View story Lodge Releases Amber Ale at Lodgetoberfest View story 7 Bread Recipes for Every Occasion View story Lodge Employees' Favorite Ways to Use the Kickoff Grill View story Introducing the the new We Can Do It Rosie the Riveter Skillet! View story What Size Cast Iron Skillet Do I Need? View story Why You Need a Cast Iron Pizza Pan View story Wanderlust Series View story Introducing the New Cast Iron Kickoff Grill View story How Many Coals to Use When Cooking with a Camp Dutch Oven View story Tips for Using Skewers on the Grill View story How to Sear Chicken in a Cast Iron Grill Pan View story How to Use the Cast Iron Melting Pot View story Four Chefs Share How Food Shapes Their Juneteenth Celebrations View story How to Make a Cast Iron Skillet Pizza View story Cast Iron Gifts for Dads Who Cook View story How to Sear in a Cast Iron Pan View story How to Cook Salmon in a Pan View story Traveling with your Kickoff Grill View story How to Fry an Egg in a Cast Iron Skillet View story What Size Dutch Oven Do I Need? View story How to Sear a Steak on Cast Iron View story 5 Fun Ways to Use a Wedge Pan View story 7 Cast Iron Essentials According to Lodge Employees View story Biscuit Baking Tips from Biscuit Boss Erika Council View story Step-by-step Guide to the Lodge Smoker Skillet View story 6 Recipes to Celebrate Pi Day (Plus Our Complete Guide to Perfect Crust) View story 5 Cast Iron Kitchen Essentials View story Making the Most of Filled Breads View story How to Remove Stains from Enameled Cast Iron View story Beginner’s Guide to Cast Iron Cleaning and Care View story How to Use the Holiday Wreath Pan View story 5 Ways to Decorate Your Holiday Cakes View story 6 Giftable Lodge Recipes View story Culinary Stocking Stuffers for Everyone on Your List View story The Complete Guide to the Perfect Pie Crust (With Pictures!) View story Lodge is Hiring! Attend Our Hiring Event October 22 View story Tips & Tricks for Baking in Cast Iron View story Why Bake in Cast Iron View story Lodge Bakeware: Explore the new pans and reimagined favorites View story Stay Home and Cook With Lodge View story 6 Tools the Lodge Team Uses to Clean Cast Iron View story This is How Lodge Employees Store Their Cast Iron View story Popular Ingredient Substitutions for Cooking & Baking View story Behind the Design of the 2020 Made In America Skillet View story Lodge Guitar Skillet to Benefit Communities Affected by Tennessee Tornado View story Meet Blacklock, Lodge's New Premium Line View story Pizza Recipe Wins The 2019 Lodge National Cornbread Cook-off View story Lodge Makes Environnmental Impact in 2018 View story 2019 National Cornbread Cook-off Contestants View story The Cook-It-All Wins Design Innovation of the Year Award View story Enter Your Recipe in The 2019 Cornbread Cook-off! View story Special Logo Skillets Commemorating New Lodge Foundry View story Second Lodge Foundry Now in Production View story New Lodge Distribution Center Complete View story 2017 National Cornbread Festival View story Progress Made on New Lodge Foundry View story Recycling at Lodge Cast Iron View story 2017 National Cornbread Cook-off Finalists View story Lodge Donates $111,990 to My People Fund View story Over $100,000 Raised for Families Affected by Wildfires View story New Lodge Foundry is Underway View story Expansion View story Cornbread Festival 20th Anniversary View story Our Flagship Factory Store Turns 20! View story Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
