Antique Cast Iron Potbelly Cauldron Restoration.
Hit the Join button for Channel perks like early video access, shoutouts, and priority comment replies.
/ @ajrestoration Welcome back, Ladies and Gentlemen. I found this potbelly cauldron at a local plant nursery, they had plants grow in it as a display for many years as you can see by the amount of rust.
I convinced them to let it come back home with me. As you can see, I restored it to near perfect condition.
With that said, I hope you enjoy the video.
If you have any suggestions for improvement, or compliments share them below!
Here is the seasoning process I followed.
Begin the seasoning process by heating the cast iron piece in a 200°F/100°C oven. When it’s reached the temperature (15-30 minutes), remove it from the oven and place it on a paper towel. Pour a little flaxseed oil onto the piece, and rub the oil all over the cast iron with your hands or a clean brush, making sure to cover every surface and crevice. Then, with a paper towel or rag, rub all the oil off. Continue until it looks as though there is no oil left on the iron’s surface. The iron should look dry instead of shiny with oil. Fear not: there is still a fine coating of oil on the piece, and that is just the amount you are looking for.
At this point, put the cast iron in a cold oven. Ideally, the cast iron should be placed upside down just in case you were not thorough enough in wiping off the bulk of the oil, and-for further safeguarding-you should line the next rack down with aluminum foil on the off chance you’d need to catch an oil drip. (If you wiped properly, all this will be overkill.) Finally, turn the oven to a baking temperature of 450°F-500°F or 200°C - 260°C, or essentially as high as your oven goes, and let the cast iron heat along with the oven.
When the oven reaches temperature, let the cast iron bake for 1 hour, then turn the oven off and let the cast iron cool inside the hot oven for another two hours. It should be cool enough to handle by that point.
The cast iron should now be starting to look a little black, but it will still be matte. In order to get that shiny proper seasoning, the process will have to be repeated until you are happy with the finish.
The end result, however, is definitely worth the seasoning time.
Here is the recipe I followed.
1. Heat approximately 50ml of Oil in the pot for 5 mins.
2. Add 4 Large Chopped Onions and stir until browned.
3. Add 250g rindless bacon, cubed.
4. Add 225g smooth apricot jam.
5. Cook the bacon and jam for about 10 mins.
6. Add 15ml Worcester sauce.
7. Add 6 chicken drumsticks with 100ml water.
8. Cover with the lid and allow to simmer for 15 mins.
9. Add 15 baby potatoes.
10. Cover with the lid and allow to simmer for 10 mins.
11. Add 250g carrots, chopped.
12. Add 250g mushrooms, sliced, diced or whole.
13. Cover with the lid and allow to simmer for 30 mins.
14. Mix 1 packet oxtail soup and 1 packet onion soup with 250ml cream and 250ml mix. Add it to the pot.
15. Cover with the lid and allow to simmer for final 30 mins.
0:00 Intro
0:45 Cleaning
2:59 Casting Defect Grinding
3:34 Sandblasting
5:40 Seasoning # 01
8:34 Seasoning # 02
9:32 Seasoning # 03
11:09 Before & After
12:20 Test & Recipe #ASMR
#RestorationASMR
#ASMRRestoration
Пікірлер: 663
I want that pot! I love cast iron. The only things you forgot was eye of newt and toe of frog!
Fun fact for cast iron collectors. As a general rule, the thinner the pot wall, the older the pot. Another sign of age is that legged pots like this tend to have one leg worn down much shorter from years of scraping and dragging on the hearth stones. I have seen some that were literally "pot bellied" where the legs were so worn down, the pot rested on its belly. The reason for the thinner walls is that when labour was cheap in the 16th-18th centuries, casters would make 100 pots and expect up to half to fail, but it didn't matter when the sale of a handful of pots was enough to make a living on. However, when wages went up during the industrial revolution, they needed a higher success rate, so the pots got thicker. Also, the triangular handles or ears on the cauldrons like this were not designed originally for wire hoop handles. People would have used pot grabbers. It looks like a large set of iron calipers with bent ends. As they are adjustable, one pot grabber could fit all the pots you might have in your house. Much cheaper than wire handles and they didn't burn your hands.
@peetsnort
6 ай бұрын
I have a Falkirk pot like that from the 50s. I inherited from my grandpa in cape town who had copper plated it and was using it as a coal skuttle. The copper is long gone. I brought it to the UK and still use it. What I noticed is that it's much thinner than the modern ones. Made in Scotland I'd assume when they were in the heydey of good manufacturering.
It was refreshing to see the seasoning process done correctly. Many people only season their pots/pans one time. 3 is the minimum I would use and I've seen people season their pans up to 5 or 6 times for that perfect coat. Well done!!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Jacob. We have received so many comments saying we did it wrong. But we know this is the correct way of doing it.
@fabiankawau3362
Жыл бұрын
@@AJRestoration well done 💯👍
@donaldwebb8383
Жыл бұрын
@@fabiankawau3362 .
@elvinadhludhlu5380
Жыл бұрын
Hi all. You' re quite right in the number of seasonings. I did my 1/2 size cauldron over an open flame 8 times and its withstanding better than my 3timed seasoned pan. 😍
Thank you for not ruining it. I’ve seen too many people “restore” cast iron by polishing it until you can see your face. Not only did you season it properly, you also cooked with it. Well done 👍
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!
A true potjie chef never stirs, great job!
A restoration video, a demonstration of cast-iron seasoning, and a cooking/recipe video all in one? I wish I could triple-like this episode!
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this great comment.
It's always sad to see a piece of cast iron cookware rusting away or used as a water/feed bowl. Glad it wasn't too far gone and you brought it back to life to live again. Thank you.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
You and me both! Thank you for the support.
@cathiwim
2 жыл бұрын
Love the smilie face!
...idky watching you do this relaxes me...but it does... Thanks...👍
@AJRestoration
Жыл бұрын
You’re welcome 😊
There's just something about cast-iron that when it's restored and preserved properly makes my mouth water almost as much as the recipes that are created in it. VERY WELL DONE! I had to subscribe with all bells after seeing your wonderful work ✌😃👍
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Tim for enjoying our content.
The cauldron looks great to cook in!
Restauration und kochen im einem Video? Klasse! Danke!
Awesome, now I can attempt to do the one I found in my garage 25 years ago when I bought my house. Surprisingly I did not scrap it. :)
Kitchen equipments is the best to watch it's restoration, happy meal😁
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
It really is!
Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble.And you did this before Halloween, great magic you performed. One of these is the original “slow cooker”
I don't know any south african that has or had Potjei look like that.... Great work recovering it to such standard its one of the best things you could cook in.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
It looked so good, I didn't want to cook in it.
@bronwynreijnders7205
2 жыл бұрын
I know right! My dad treats his like a baby! I've never seen one so bad!
Ngl your videos helps with my anxiety and everytime you draw that smile it makes me smile 💗🥺
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
For you I will draw a smiley every time!
Like that you cooked in it as well
Maybe a cleaning with degreaser first, then use a 2 amp battery charger, a sacrificial anode (large coffee can metal) and some wire and a plastic container to use electrolysis to remove most of the rust and speed up the sand blasting.
Great job! Better thsn new! 💙💙💙
Cool pot ,amazing how the flax seed oil brought it back to life after the rust got blasted off ! 👍👍
Thank you so much for the recipe! It’s so lovely to see you using this restored piece!!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure 😊
Moerse! Great video. Dankie, man!
This is why I love cast iron. No matter how rusty or encrusted with crud there's almost always a beautiful cast iron object underneath just waiting to be revealed. You did a wonderful job. I've picked up a few old pans and baking pans from a local "antique" (junk) shop for a few dollars and have been meaning to restore them. It's been awfully hot here so no work has been done. Maybe I'll have them ready by Thanksgiving in November. Your video has motivated me now. Thank you for the step by step directions and the recipe. It looks delicious. I love recipes like that. I love tossing things together in a pot and calling it dinner.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Oh and it almost never fails, it always tastes so damn good!!
Nice, very nice.
Great job , and you made me hungry. Glad to see all these things being used after having been restored. Thanks guy. Have a great day today and a better tomorrow.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, you too!
PERFECT RESTORATION BRO! MAKES US ALL HUNGRY. LOL!
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the view Hector.
@HYP3RK1NECT
2 жыл бұрын
¿Con su arroz al dente aromatizado a la albahaca?.
Great job
Keeping you in my prayers for the trouble in SA.❤🙏
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I appreciate it!
PO-TA-TOES. Boil'm, mash'm, stick'm in a stew
Outstanding!
I loved it! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰🥰🥰💓💓💕💞💛💛💗💗😍😍💖💖❤️
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Made that same poitjie 2 weeks ago! What a winner.... not too shabby on the restoration
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks bruh... 😀😀😀
Letting a potjie get to that state should be a war crime
That's one very happy cast iron cauldron!
Brilliant restoration again , feeling hungry now after watching 👍😋
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😋
This is my first time seeing the whole seasoning process for restoration of a beautiful cast iron pot. It looks absolutely beautiful!!!
Looks just like my dutch oven. I bake in it when I go camping
Interesting resepe. And gosh that potjie looks good.
looking good. glad you do use it.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much
I love the way you actually use the item in the end!
Wow unbelievable it's more than of is original one
I so cherish items like this. I wish I had one too
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
You should!
Beautiful restoration......yummy looking dinner...😋
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you 😋
Ficou perfeito! Belo caldeirão.💯👏
It's beautiful!
Looks great!!
I've always wanted to see a restoration on this type of pot. Thank you.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
You’re welcome 😊
How can such a small pot make so much food? That was enough for a whole family!
@billywylie3906
2 жыл бұрын
or just me :)))
Seriously beautiful!!!
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks a million
I just finished seasoning an old cast iron skillet and KZread decides to suggest this video for me to watch. Excellent job and of course I subscribed.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you for all the commentary ! Your work is amazing!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoy it!
Bravo! The sound of the lid moving is so evocative.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much
What's cookin friend you have done another great restoration, have a nice day !!!.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much 👍
Great job and the recipe looks delicious too
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much
This is pretty cool
Very Nice restoration ! And the recipe looks very good !😊🇨🇦
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!
Beautiful ! ! !
Excellent work
I can smell it here, lol. Great job restoring that beauty. I love cast iron and now I'm hungry. Stay safe. 👍
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
You and me both! Stay safe Marie, and thank you for the kind comment!
Nice job on the restauration. Plus that looks good 😋
That's a cool old pot
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Definitely going to try this recipe in my potjie pot this weekend.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Oh yes you should, feel free to add in your own little touch!
Very nice work on the pot
Lovely looking pot, lovely looking meal, very nice.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much
Agree with the comments, you get a double treat, a restoration and a beautiful dinner! Awesome!!
darn good job.
Your air compressor is precious
Beautiful 😍
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 😊
Excellent job
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!
Amazing
Now that is a thing of beauty! Good job!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Cool restoration, like as always 👍
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much 👍
Nice find!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
Beautiful.
you rescued that piece. good man
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much.
Absolutely beautiful
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! 😊
A work of love. It is beautiful. Well done!🥳😍
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
Awesome cauldron recipe !
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it
Great job. Beautiful dinner.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, thank you very much.
Beautiful work.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much 😀
Absolutely awesome. Art work at it's finest 👍👍👍 My mouth was watering as you were cooking. Yum!!!
Pretty cool!
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Like you! haha
Beautiful! Love your work 💯👏👏👏👏👏
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Much appreciated
Keep going dude 💪💖🌹
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks buddy! 🔥
Very cool well done.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Cheers!
Very nice!
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Cheers!
Just finished the video. Yeah, you're definitely South African! Those checkers packets were a straight giveaway. :)
Nice work
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Cheers!
How cool 😎
I have a Falkirk pot like that from the 50s. I inherited from my grandpa who had copper plated it and was using it as a coal skuttle. The copper is long gone. I brought it to the UK and still use it. What I noticed is that it's much thinner than the modern ones. Made in Scotland I'd assume when they were in the heydey of good manufacturering.
That's a beautiful piece of cast iron. I'd love to see it hanging over a fire filled with slow-cooked ham and beans. My grandmother was born in the late 1800s, when she died at the age of 93 she owned 3 cast iron pans she had accumulated over her life. The 1st she received as a wedding gift when she was 16... almost 16 anyway. Probably as much baking went on in those pans as frying. I use her recipe for biscuits that she had been making since she was 12, probably her mom's recipe, the same recipe my mom used her whole life, and mine *Never Tasted The Same*. Sorry for venting. I added those pans to my own collection when she passed. Added them to a number of others that she would have probably found a little silly... but hey, I might need a cast iron crepe pan every few months. With all these pans now I find myself using her three except when I want my crepes. Her yearly or seasonal cast iron maintanence plan was to build a big hard-wood fire outside and set two of the three pans in it and let it burn down. When they were cold she would just knock off the ash, scrub'em dry, and start to reseason them. She said that's where the term came from, each pan had a season. Everyone stay safe.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
That's not venting buddy, its a nice story and thank you for sharing! My mother also collects them, she now has about 6 of them if I remember correctly. When I gave her this one she was so happy, she told me this one looks so good she's going to put it in a display case and never use it.
Power tools aren't always faster. A small round file would have dealt with that casting bump far quicker. I know the full time spent grinding isn't shown but I've done nearly the exact same thing with my dremel and and I eventually learned that a new, sharp file took less than half the time and now I reserve the tiny rotary grinder only for nooks and crannies where a file won't fit.
@AJRestoration
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tips! I have noted in some cases the files do work faster.
Ideal para hacer un buen puchero,a la vieja usanza!!!!!
Świetna jest ta zrobiona robota pozdrawiam twórcę tego filmiku mile i serdecznie 👍👍👍👍
Мне очень понравилась ваша работа. Чугун восстановлен. Одно только не опасно в нем готовить. Честно у меня сомнения. Спасибо за ролик.👍👍👍
Well done, nice restoration.
@AJRestoration
Жыл бұрын
Many thanks!
Good job my friend
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the support Vince. It is nice seeing our community supporting us with each video.
Nice video dude! It puts the pasta bake I'm cooking to shame! 🤣
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for all the support Andy.
as good as NEW.👌👌👌
First experience with your channel. I am very excited to watch more. I’m 100% making that recipe in my Dutch oven. It looked so delicious. Great video.
@AJRestoration
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome aboard! Thank you very much and hope you let us know how your recipe turns out.