This long-neglected cast-iron skillet has suddenly manifested in my life. Can it be saved? Gonna try. 
Y’all are extremely generous with your cast iron restoration knowledge! Gonna tackle it. Stay tuned.
Latest skillet update: After poring through responses here and a very robust Instagram thread (instagram.com/p/Bo643cZlgFQ/…) I decided on the oven cleaning cycle method. My eyes are burning and I have the door open with a fan in front of it. Let's see how that goes.
Several folks have mentioned electrolysis which *is* tempting. Back in my metalsmithing days, electroforming was one of my most favorite techniques and that seems to share elements, but I'm gonna see how this goes first.
Left the house for a while, let the oven cleaning cycle (minus oven cleaner) work its magic. Here’s where we stand, pre-scrub and season:
Still in progress, but am scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing with steel wool and baking soda.
Skillet update shortly, but just wanted to note that folks’ encouragement and emotional reactions have really helped me during a pretty personally trying week, and I really appreciate it. Cast iron Twitter is the best Twitter.
And here we go. The grand skillet reveal: myrecipes.com/extracrispy/sa…
For those who don’t care to click:
I should name her, right? What should I name her?
Decided: She is Thelma, after my Grandma Kinsman. No longer with us, sadly, but lived decades beyond expectations and made a glorious mac & cheese.
