My mother gave me a skillet that doesn't sit level and was wondering if you guys had any methods to correct the problem?

turn it into a target and buy a new one?

I would imagine only some large amount of force... heat.... or combination thereof, would correct that problem.

I second the idea of just getting a new one.

If it doesn't have sentimental value chunk it, buy a new one, sand smooth and move on.

If it does have sentimental value hang it on the wall, etc. and buy a new one.

shim

If I'm not mistaken, a warped skillet bottom can be caused by adding cold water to the skillet when it's very hot.

You could remove the warp, but because it's cast iron, it's a PITA to do. You can't heat and beat like you can with wrought iron or steel. With CI you need heat (a lot of it), a very flat surface, and weight.

Odds are, getting a new one is several orders of magnitude easier.

so heat it in a hot fire and use a press.. you could likely use some scrap metal to distribute the pressure.

If you do heat it up and you are able to straighten it I would suggest that you control the rate that it cools.

1. Find a gun control advocate
2. Beat them with the pan until it is back to level

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so heat it in a hot fire and use a press.. you could likely use some scrap metal to distribute the pressure.

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It's not quite that easy. Not saying it's hard or that you can't figure out a way to do it, but when you get to working with materials at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees, you aren't using your Harbor Freight or standard garage tools for the most part.

The poster above that talked about cooling is also correct. Cast metals need to be cooled at controlled temperatures over long periods of time. No quenching, and even air cooling can result in stress fractures. You need insulation blankets and the ability to control the bleeding off of heat.

My skillet was a spinner. I have had some success correcting the warp by reversing the process by which I think it was created. At one time, I had been popping the burned on goop by running COLD WATER into the hot skillet. Gunk just pops off. I have since then learned how to season and preserve the seasoning of a cast iron pan. It appears that the cold water on the hot skillet is what caused the warp. I have almost completely eliminated the warp by placing the HOT HOT HOT pan upside down under the cold water. Takes a few cycles, but it works.

Paging Log...

Odd thread bump.

I would say something but I have a dead pan delivery

Cast iron generally doesn't ever warp. You may have a low carbon drop forged skillet instead.

Might be time to get a new one.

Warped cast iron can't be fixed. These are known as "spinners" in collecting circles. It's caused by cooking too hot over anything but gas. Typically a problem from glass top or coil style ranges.

Log said:

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Warped cast iron can't be fixed. These are known as "spinners" in collecting circles. It's caused by cooking too hot over anything but gas. Typically a problem from glass top or coil style ranges.

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People cook on something other than gas?

Unfortunately.