How To Clean Cast Iron That Has Rusted

For those of you with a rusty skillet lodge cast iron recommends a good scrub wash dry oil and bake.
How to clean cast iron that has rusted. Wash the cast iron with warm water and mild dish soap. Use the potato to scrub the salt over the skillet to remove the rust. With a good sprucing up using this five step method you can salvage your skillet and get back to cooking. Remove all the rust. But for cast iron with a thick layer of rust you ll need to remove the seasoning entirely.
Normally it s a bad idea to try to clean a cast iron pan the same way you d clean other metal cookware since this can remove the protective layer of seasoning. Apply a coat of rust proof metal paint. If the rust is stubborn add a little water and some mild dish washing soap as you scrub. Generously sprinkle the inside of the pan with salt then use a halved potato or lemon to thoroughly scrub the salt into the pan. A salty scrub to remove the rust from your pan you can also scrub it with coarse salt.
Use plenty of pressure and rub the potato or lemon in a circular motion. Dry with the rust completely removed your cast iron skillet should be looking almost back to normal. Oil alkyd acrylics check with your paint supplier or product label to ensure it will bond to cast iron and protect it from surface rust. Scrub with bristle brush gentle scouring pad or mesh sponge if needed. Our cast iron cookware is made of a mix of pig iron steel and alloys without the protective layer of carbonized oil called seasoning cast iron is susceptible to rust even a well seasoned pan can rust if it s left in the sink to soak put in the dishwasher allowed to air dry or stored in a moisture prone environment.
Wash the skillet thoroughly. Next cut a potato in half and place one of the cut sides of the potato face down on the skillet. Look at that entire skillet. Your first step is to layer the bottom with enough baking soda to cover the surface. Why does cast iron rust.
Allow the pan to soak checking on it frequently to see if the rust has been removed this could take up to eight hours. Make sure your skillet is totally clean by doing another scrub this time with a soft soapy sponge. How to clean rust from cast iron using vinegar vinegar is another fantastic solution whether used alone or with a mild abrasive like baking soda. Use fine steel wool to remove rust from affected areas. Typically used as a natural oven cleaner white vinegar picks up where scrubbing with other products leave off.