Remove Rust from Cast Iron

Even if your old cast iron skillet has a bit of oxidation, don’t throw it away--it isn’t too hard to remove rust from cast iron skillets.

Cast iron skillets are a staple of the American kitchen. Their highly versatile nature makes them worth the investment--and consequently worth saving if they have rusted. You will never find a cooking pan that heats as evenly as a cast iron skillet or prevents sticking assuming the pan has been taken care of and seasoned correctly. These pans can be used for everything from making popcorn tobaking lobster tails.

Beyond cooking, the cast iron skillet can carry many memories. These pans have been passed down from generation to generation. Even if you never cook with the pan it is a shame to ruin it by not taking care of it.

Many cast iron skillets that you buy today already come seasoned. There is no reason why you can’t go ahead and re-season it to make sure it is done correctly. A cast iron skillet that has not been properly seasoned will leave you with less than satisfactory results when cooking. The surface of the skillet is quite rough so your food would wind up sticking no matter what you do to it. Seasoning the skillet creates a very smooth nonstick surface. Food you prepare in a cast iron skillet will take on new flavors to make your cooking more unique.

Properly cleaning your skillet will prevent you from having to remove rust in the first place. It’s a shame to allow oxidation to form when cleaning is very easy:

1. Make sure the pan is still warm and if not you can warm it over low heat.
2. Use a pair of tongs and grip a piece of paper towel then wipe the bottom and sides of the pan with it.
3. Grab a fresh piece of paper towel and finish wiping the pan down.

That is all there is to it! If you have pesky stuck-on food, you can use a very mild soap on the pan. However, try not to scrub the pan too hard.

Usually removing rust form anything requires hard labor and some elbow grease. Fortunately, cast iron is quite sturdy and can take hearty scrubbing.

1. You are going to use a normal, ordinary potato as your “steel wool” or scouring pad. You will want to cut an end off of the potato to expose the meat. You will also need some type of abrasive cleanser like Ajax or Comet. Sprinkle the product over the cast iron skillet. (Note: Vinegar can also be used by soaking your skillet’s surface with for an hour or so to allow a chemical reaction to take place. Use the cut potato and rub the cleanser around the pan. You will notice that the potato will begin to get slick and when this happens remove that end and continue using it as before.
2. Rinse the skillet out and add more cleanser and begin scrubbing with the potato again.
3. Repeat the first two steps until the rust has been removed.
4. Use liquid dish soap with hot water to rinse out the pan then allow it to dry.

After the rust is removed and the pan is rinsed and dried you are free to use the pan if you want to deep fry food in it. If, however, you want to bring the pan back to its former glory you will need to go through the seasoning process all over again. This same method can be used on cast iron pots, lids or whatever else you can find.

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