How to Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Frying Pan

Cast iron frying pans have been around for over a hundred years, and they still have their fans. The frying pan is good in every way: it is easy to use, does not burn and fries perfectly, but many, buying this kitchen attribute and knowing its small drawback, ask themselves the question: how to clean a cast iron frying pan from rust?

Causes of Rust on a Cast Iron Frying Pan

Cast iron pans are prone to rusting - this is their main drawback, but knowing how to deal with it, you will not be disappointed in using this kitchen attribute.

The main reasons for the appearance of corrosion on metal.

• Low-quality material. If the product is too light when you buy it, you should think about what kind of cast iron it is made of. Incorrect grinding at the factory leads to corrosion: the surface should be smooth and uniform, without inclusions. When buying cast iron products, pay attention to the manufacturer - it should be a large enterprise that manufactures metal utensils.
• Incorrect first use. Before using a new frying pan, wash it with detergent and dry it. Then pour some sunflower oil on the bottom and heat it for five minutes without food. Let it cool and grease all the walls of the frying pan with oil. When using it for the first time, a lot of smoke will be released - this is normal, but you need to take care of airing the room in advance.
• Improper care. The cast iron product is intended only for cooking, you cannot store food in it. It is advisable to wash and dry the frying pan immediately after cooking dinner. Abrasive cleaning agents are not allowed, as scratches form on the surface, which oxidize in the air and begin to rust.

Cast iron pans have this unique property: the more often you cook on them, the less they rust.

How to Clean Rust from a Cast Iron Skillet at Home

When using this kitchen attribute, sooner or later the housewife will face the question of how to remove rust from a cast iron frying pan?

There are several methods that can be used:

• Mechanical. This cleaning method requires some effort. You can clean the surfaces with a metal brush, which will remove the rust layer. To speed up the process, use a drill with a brush attachment. Any brush will do, but the harder the bristles, the deeper the scratches you will leave on the product, which will need to be sanded.

• Thermal. Ideal if you have a summer cottage where you can make an open fire and burn the frying pan. You can use a blowtorch, this will remove the remaining fat on the walls, rusty spots and restore the natural non-stick coating of the cast iron.

• Using an oven. If you can't heat cast iron over a fire, do it at home in the oven. Put a baking tray underneath, and a rack above it, on which place the frying pan upside down and turn on the oven at full power for two hours. When the frying pan has cooled down a bit, it needs to be washed from the remaining rusty stains with water and a mild detergent.

• Boiling. This is the easiest and safest method. Pour water into a large saucepan so that the pan is completely covered and a little mild detergent or carbonated water Coca-Cola, bring to a boil and lower the dishes. Boiling time is 40-60 minutes, then let the pan cool without removing it from the solution and rinse with running water.

• Sanding with sandpaper. You need to buy paper with different fractions in a hardware store. We start cleaning the surfaces with coarse-grained paper, in circular motions over the entire surface. And gradually move on to fine-grained paper, as if sanding scratches on a frying pan, as a result you will have a smooth matte surface that needs to be washed and dried.

How to Restore the Protective Layer on a Cast Iron Frying Pan

The final stage, but a very important one, which will allow you to get rid of a small drawback of this product.

The main stages of the recovery process:

• The coating is restored by sanding the surface with fine-grained sandpaper; the surface must be sanded, washed and dried.
• After sanding, pour a few spoons of table salt into the pan and heat it on the stove for 10 minutes. After cooling, you can add a little water to the salt and additionally clean the most difficult places with rust.
• Wash the frying pan and dry it thoroughly.
• Next, all surfaces must be generously greased with sunflower or linseed oil and heated in the oven at 200 degrees for about an hour.
• Let the pan cool and remove excess oil with a soft cloth, as if polishing it - this will protect the surface from rusting in the future.

How to remove corrosion with household products

To get rid of rust on a frying pan, you can use products that are available in any home. But it is worth remembering that in order for the effect to be long-lasting, you need to approach cleaning comprehensively, then you will forget about removing rust stains for a long time.

• Soda. Used as a cleaning paste. Pour 2-3 spoons onto the surface, add a little warm water and rub the problem areas with a sponge - this will help clean out small signs of rust.

• Salt. Used in complex cleaning. Pour 5-6 spoons into a frying pan and heat on the stove for 10-15 minutes, let it cool a little and add water to the still warm salt. It will be enough to clean the surface a little and wash.

• Vinegar solution. You need to dilute 2-3 spoons of vinegar in water and pour the mixture into the frying pan. Let it stand for several hours, then rinse and dry.

• Coca-Cola. The soda we all love will clean the frying pan from rust perfectly. Pour the drink into a large saucepan, you will need 3-5 bottles for this, and bring to a boil. Lower the frying pan into the boiling Coca-Cola and boil for 30-40 minutes, let the drink cool without removing the frying pan. Then you only need to wash the product and dry it.

• Pemolux. It will clean the manifestations of rust, it is enough to rub the problematic areas with a cleaning agent with a small amount of water. But it is advisable to use it in combination with rubbing with oil and calcining in the oven.

• Oven cleaners. They clean rust well and quickly, but the alkali in the composition will remove the protective layer from the product and it will have to be restored.

• Special chemicals. If simple folk remedies no longer help, and the rust has gone deep into the metal, then you cannot do without these products. In the store you will find a wide variety of such products, which contain strong acid or chlorine. When using them, you must take precautions: put on rubber gloves, apply the product with the brush that is included in the kit, and try not to inhale the fumes.

• Fish oil or linseed oil. Used to restore the protective layer of the product in combination with baking in the oven. Rub the surface with a thick layer of fat or oil and put it in the oven at medium temperature for an hour. After cooling, remove the excess with a soft cloth. When using fish oil, there may be a fishy smell, it is necessary to wash the product with a detergent to remove a strong smell.

Rust Prevention and Care Recommendations

Prevention will always be better for your pan than tedious cleaning and the long process of restoring the non-stick protective layer.

Necessary measures to protect cast iron products from rust:

• Regular use of the frying pan prevents the appearance of rusty spots, the oil we cook with constantly replenishes the natural protective layer.
• After cooking, you must immediately wash and dry the frying pan.
• Store the product, especially if it is not used for a long time, in a dry place, after lubricating it with oil.
• When washing, do not use metal brushes or products containing abrasives; baking soda is perfect for daily cleaning; it does not damage the protective layer of the product.
• Periodically heat the product in the oven with oil, then rust will not be a problem for you.
• Do not store ready-made meals in a frying pan, as an oxidation process occurs when in contact with products that disrupt the integrity of the protective layer and the taste of the food.

With regular maintenance and proper use of the frying pan, it will serve you for a long time and will be left as an inheritance to your grandchildren. And they will appreciate the quality and durability of cast iron products in their kitchen.

VIDEO: How to Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Skillet.