How do I clean a rusty cast iron skillet?
Does anyone know how to clean a rusty cast iron skillet? This skillet was my mom's and I use it all the time. Recently I have noticed that it is rusting and I can't seem to get the rust off. I have heard that there's a way to clean a rusty cast iron skillet with salt, but I am not familiar with that.
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Jennifer here's some information for you.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jQC2hPfrYEI
https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/cast-iron-pan-rust
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-restore-a-rusty-cast-iron-skillet-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203086
Very good site (plus tips on how to prevent rust from forming again):
https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/the-easy-way-to-restore-a-rusted-cast-iron-skillet/
Clean it, season it, then keep out of the kitchen sink. Some of my cast iron hasn't seen water in decades.
http://www.lodgemfg.com/FAQRetrieve.aspx?ID=14538
https://www.southerncastiron.com/2018/05/17/how-to-fix-rusty-cast-iron/
Hi Jennifer - This is a great tutorial on how to clean, season, and care for cast iron skillets. Hope it helps! Hugs, Holly
https://pinkfortitude.com/cast-iron/
My parents were older and definitely "country folks". When my mama's cast iron needed cleaning, my daddy would build a small but, hot fire, coat the skillet with shortening, bacon grease or cooking oil (whatever was handy) and bury it into the hot coals of the fire. The skillet stayed there until the fire burned out and it was cool. With a wire brush, he would give it a good scrubbing, grease it really good and back to the kitchen it went. Mama passed away at 102 and now I'm cooking with her cast iron. Her cornbread pan is a non-stick dream.
Hi Jennifer,
There's a great post here on Hometalk that shows you how to clean your cast iron skillet in four easy steps:
All details are in the tutorial, and it even has a cute video. I hope this helps!
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/how-to-clean-and-reseason-a-rusty-cast-iron-pan-23751399
How to Clean and Reseason a Rusty Cast Iron Pan
A few days ago a person told about using some Barkeepers cleaners to get rid of rust on stainless steel sink. I used baking soda and it works great. Hope this helps anyone else. Love your site. Maria
Consumer Reports just reported on the proper cleaning and seasoning of cast iron pans. Don't use any cleaner that you wouldn't eat. Cast iron is porous and will absorb impurities.
My Grandmother taught me to scrub a rusty pan clean with sand. Living in the south, it is everywhere. Then, rinse with warm water and season it with cooking oil. Bake it in the oven, at 350° until it is seasoned.
Lots of good answers here which remind me of growing up on the Gulf coast where the humidity rusts things quickly. Dad would use sand on camping trips but momma ocassionally used dish soap but always rinsed and dried it thoroughly then wiped with Crisco. Everyone in our neighborhood had ovens with gas pilot lights so cast iron was stored in the oven to help it dry. So I still put mine in the oven even though it is electric. If is warm after baking it helps keep the pans dry to prevent rust.
Hi Jennifer, hope this helps you out.
Mix basic white vinegar with water in equal parts and submerge your pan in it. Use a bucket or plug the sink for really big pans; the entire skillet should be covered with the vinegar mixture. You can soak it for up to eight hours, checking it early and often. It might be done in just one.