Continue scrubbing until you see the original black iron emerge. That means it’s time to start cooking. But when your cast iron needs a refresh, follow this dry cleaning method: Wash your cookware with dish soap and a stiff bristle dish brush, but don't soak it. The first step is getting your hands on a piece of vintage cast iron. Materials. The vinegar soak is the tried and true method for cast iron skillets that have intense and what appears to be irreversible rust damage. The reason to be gentle while cleaning is to preserve the seasoning. Thin layers are important for baking seasoning into the pan. While cast iron is tough, you can still scratch and mar the surface if you're too aggressive with your cleaning. So it's going to take a little elbow grease. 10 Products That Can Clean Your Cast Iron—Fast! Don’t worry-we’ll add more seasoning later. The method of cleaning cast iron is something of tradition passed down to generations along with the cookware itself. Give it a rinse under water and wipe the pan dry with a clean … Rinse that gunk off in the sink. Set your oven to 350 degrees and put some aluminum foil on the bottom rack. Christine moonlights at a boutique wine shop, where she edits marketing pieces and samples wine far higher than her pay grade. The skillet can leave dark stains!) Some cooks and cast iron diehards dare not let theirs near water, much less soap of any sort, and letting one rust may indeed fall into the book of unpardonable sins for some Southerners. If all you have is a little surface rust, you can skip this step. Turn the oven off and leave the pan inside until it’s cool. This video is a quick How to for Cleaning Rust off of your Cast Iron. Immerse the cast iron skillet under the vinegar soak & keep it for at least 1 hour. What you Need to Clean your Rusty Cast Iron Cookware. How To Clean a Cast Iron Pan After Use When you are done with your skillet, you can just allow the pan cool a little bit and after that wipe out any left over oil by using a paper towel. Clean your cast iron each use, wiping away leftover food morsels and … Set your cast iron skillet in the sink and sprinkle a teaspoon or two of Kosher salt in the bottom.. 2. Especially that little bit of burnt cheese that's been there for a long, long time. Want to avoid a having a rusted cast-iron skillet in the first place? The iron itself is virtually indestructible. Take it … Was it cracked? Repeat this step a second time and you’ll have an almost glassy surface of seasoning. The vinegar will strip your pan of its seasoning, but that's okay! Raw potato Kosher salt Oil Directions. © Copyright 2021, 15 Instant Pot Recipes to Power You Through Whole30, 20 Meatless Monday Ideas That Everyone Will Love, 14 Hearty, Comfort Food Casseroles Starring Winter Squash, Our 25 Best Hot and Cheesy Dips Got Serious Game, 25 Beloved Bread Recipes From Grandma's Kitchen, 10 Banana Bundt Cakes to Make with Excess Bananas, The Best Comfort Foods to Get You Through Flu Season, 12 Recipes to Turn Extra Chicken into Healthy Main Dish Salads, 12 Vegetable-Friendly Side Dishes for the Mediterranean Diet, 19 Hearty Meatless Soups and Stews To Keep You Warm This Winter, 10 Vegan Bowls Packed with Veggies and Grains, 20 Recipes for the Super Bowl for Two People, The 8 Best-Rated Cast Iron Skillets for Every Cook, According to Thousands of Reviews, The Best Recipes to Cook in a Cast Iron Skillet, A scouring pad, abrasive sponge, or fine steel wool. In order clean this rusty cast iron skillet, I was going to need to take it down below the rust level. Now you need to know how to reseason a cast iron pan! Evapo-Rust is the safe, simple way to remove rust from all of your cast iron cookware pieces. While you should clean the skillet after each use, season it as often as you like by rubbing a small amount of cooking oil on the inside of the pan using a paper towel or dish cloth. Start by rinsing out your pan with water, and then dry the pan with a paper towel to remove any large gunky bits. A cast iron skillet is a kitchen staple in many homes, and sometimes, those pieces of cookware are in need of a little extra love. After pulling out the skillet from the vinegar soak, sprinkle some baking soda to neutralize the acid iron reaction. Unless you're a blacksmith, there's no fix for damage deep below the surface. 60 grit sandpaper; Vegetable oil; Paper towels; Elbow grease; You’ll want to use a really tough sandpaper. Easy, right? Then pop the skillet in, upside down, on the upper rack for about 1 hour. Previous positions include pastry chef at a AAA Five Diamond property. Cut the potato in half and place it cut side down into the pan, on top of the salt, and use the potato to scrub the pan. It only takes a few simple steps to have your rusted cast iron looking brand-new. Since cast-iron pans can handle heavy-duty cooking, you might have a bit of a mess to clean up when you're done cooking — but don't worry, no matter how you prefer ot clean your pan, it … Once your pan is all clean, immediately dry it with a clean dish towel or paper towels to prevent any future rusting. This’ll prevent clingy food scraps like eggs or sauces from hardening and sticking to the pan. Mix 50% vinegar with 50% water and soak your pan in … Home Gear Stovetop Cookware Skillet Cast-Iron Skillet, “My cast-iron skillet is ruined. (Psst. But even if it has turned bright orange, the pot absolutely can be fixed. But for cast iron with a thick layer of rust, you'll need to remove the seasoning entirely. Cleaning your skillet. Then pour a bunch of coarse salt into the pan (about 1/4C to 1/2C, depending on how dirty or rusty your pan is). Books can probably be written on this subject alone, and it can take some time to familiarize yourself with the landscape of the many brand names from America's cast-iron heyday.There are the Griswolds and Wagners, Victors and Favorites, old Lodges, Wapaks, and Birmingham Stove and Ranges. Add a very thin layer of cooking oil to the entire surface of your cast iron with a cloth or lint-free paper towel. Scour away all that gross rust. But first: How do you know when cast iron is beyond repair? Next, take a folded napkin and wipe off the excess oil. Store in a dry place overnight to ensure it's completely dry. Make sure to leave enough of the potato so you can grab it easily. Did she drop it in some sort of radioactive acid? For tips on day-to-day regular care, check out this step-by-step guide for how to clean and season a cast iron pan, which includes tips for everyday washing and care of your re-claimed cast-iron pan. Here, you’re going to strip away all the rust (and the seasoning). With the rust completely removed, your cast-iron skillet should be looking almost back to normal. Add comma separated list of ingredients to exclude from recipe. Underneath the rust is an almost indestructible pan that will give you a lifetime of cooking pleasure. (Take care not to burn yourself on a warm skillet!). Fortunately, rust is just surface damage, meaning it is reversible with some scrubbing. You may have heard that cleaning cast iron is difficult, because of water and rust and how soap isn't good for it. Get the pan wet, add a little soap, then go to town with your scrubber (depending on the level of rust, a tough sponge will do). Take a paper towel or dish rag, and rub the pan until clean, wiping out any food pieces. Once dry, pour a small amount of oil in the pan and rub it in with a paper towel until the bottom and sides of the pan are coated. Did it break in half? Read this before you toss your crusty old cast iron. Your pan can handle it. Allow the pan to soak, checking on it frequently to see if the rust has been removed (this could take up to eight hours). Scrub in small circles, focusing on the rustiest parts first. In her spare time, you’ll find her thumbing through vintage cookbooks or testing out recipes in her tiny kitchen. Test Kitchen tip: Have a newer pan that’s developing small amounts of rust? Use a bucket or plug the sink for really big pans; the entire skillet should be … A CIA alumna with honors, she creates cookbooks and food-related content. How To Clean A Rusty Cast Iron Skillet | Just A Pinch Recipes There’s an easier way to restore it to new. Simply dampen a paper towel with oil and use it to wipe away the rust. How to clean rust from cast iron using this method begins by adding a layer of sea salt over the entire skillet. Since cast iron is so vulnerable to rust, it’s best to limit your pan’s exposure to water as much as possible. This pan has both rust and baked on food residue (Sorry, Mom!). And since you used oil to clean your pan, it’s all ready for the next time you cook! The oil will bake into the pores of the pan, providing a non-stick finish. Rust eats away at the metal and tarnishes your skillet. If the skillet has a thick layer of rust and very little visible black iron, soak the pan in a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water in a plugged sink. Keep the following tips in mind: Now Cook Something in That Cast-Iron Skillet! You'll be surprised how quickly it cleans up. That is right – there is no reason to scrub, rinse or wash the skillet with soap and water. Maybe I should just throw it away.”. The Surprising Ways You Never Thought to Clean Cast Iron, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Oil Rub a very light layer of cooking oil or Seasoning Spray onto the surface of your cookware. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Seasoning a cast iron skillet has nothing to do with herbs and spices; instead, it's all about using oil to build up a nonstick surface and prevent rusting. You can even place the pan on the stove over low heat to help all the moisture evaporate. At this point you’ve likely worked up a copper-brown mush. Learn how, here! Use a paper towel to wipe the surface until no oil residue remains. The good news? Nicole is a writer, editor and lover of Italian food. Cast-iron skillets are naturally prone to rust. (Even if you snag an old, rusty skillet at the flea market, that orange will come off!) Allow the pan to soak, checking on it frequently to see if the rust has been removed (this could take up to eight hours). I love using my cast iron skillet and carbon steel wok, but on occasion I'll forget to clean them… It’s as simple as that! 6. But for cast iron with a thick layer of rust, you'll need to remove the seasoning entirely. With a quick sigh of relief, I consoled her. It’s going to take a little bit of elbow grease and a hard abrasive tool to remove the rust. Go easy on the oil—you want just a thin layer, not enough to drip or run when you tilt it. Christine loves to read, curate, sample and develop new recipes as a book editor at Taste of Home. Cast-iron skillets are practically indestructible, and they’ll last you a lifetime-especially when you’re taking proper care. Dry it off with a clean dish rag. Use the potato the same way you would a scrub brush to rub in the salt, using circular motions to scrape away rust patches. Your rusted cast-iron skillet is good as new. The sizzling water hitting the hot iron removes or softens stuck-on food without removing the oil coat. But this makes the reasoning step after the cleaning all the more important. Whether you have a seasoned cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven, a grill pan, or bakeware, each piece of our cast iron cookware follows the exact same steps for cleaning. Poor cleaning techniques can cause a cast iron … So, whether it's a thrift shop find or a hand-me-down, here's how to clean a rusty cast iron pan and bring it back to beautiful life — just like new again. We’ll show you how it’s done. To get your skillet bone dry, pop it on the burner to remove extra moisture. Earn cashback now on Palmolive® Ultra Dish Soap.. How To Clean A Rusty Cast Iron Skillet. If it’s heavily rusted then you can keep it for 2-3 hour. It was once my Mom's. Begin by pouring a bit of oil into your skillet. Add comma separated list of ingredients to include in recipe. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Oil the outside and the handle, too. Try to rinse your cast-iron pan right after cooking. After the pan is cooled, lightly clean it with a soft plastic scrubbing pad, rinse in warm water, and dry well immediately. Got a cast iron pan that's crusted with rust? Yes, that's my pan. If you have rust on your skillet, restoring cast iron can be easily done with a few different and inexpensive household ingredients, including Coca Cola. Don’t use a rag you’re fond of. Start here, with our favorite cast-iron skillet recipes. Now that you’ve returned your skillet to its base layer, you’ll need to season it for use. Ignore all those times you’ve been told to be gentle with your cast-iron skillet. It's important to note that you can choose to begin the drying process for the skillet on low heat on a stovetop burner, though a truly clean cast iron will finish upside down at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven so no more rust forms. You just need salt, warm water and some oil. Scars in the surface of the pan—shallow or deep—increase the risk of rust. Now go ahead, scrub-a-dub-dub with mild dish soap and warm water. But without any seasoning, it’ll have a dark gray, matte finish. To dry it completely, place the skillet on the stove and turn on the heat for a few minutes. She would not be pleased with what I've let happen. A favorite part of the job is taste-testing dishes. If your cast iron skillet has gotten rusty, it’s actually easy to remove the rust and get back to cooking. The first step to bringing that cast iron skillet back to life is the vinegar soak. Step 4 Soaking with soap, over-scrubbing, or cooking highly acidic foods in cast iron can strip the seasoning. Make sure your skillet is totally clean by doing another scrub-this time with a soft soapy sponge. To properly clean your cast iron pan, it takes a few key things. Buff off any residue or rusty bits that remain. To do so, submerge your entire pan in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Do: Clean Immediately After Use. With just a little cast iron skillet care, they'll be back to the amazing kitchen tools they're touted to be. Drop a tablespoon of vegetable oil on the pan and spread it around with your fingers or a paper towel. Light pitting on the surface is okay as well. Although cast iron is very durable, it will rust when exposed to water or air, making the seasoning step crucial. That's what it's supposed to do. To do so, submerge your entire pan in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Wipe off any excess water with a towel immediately after rinsing. It also is not very healthy to have near food either. Rust isn't a death sentence for your cast iron skillets. When I heard a friend say this the other day, my jaw nearly fell to the floor. Using the Lodge Rust Eraser to remove a large area of rust from a cast-iron skillet. Watch the video below to learn the quick 5-step process to remove rust from your cast iron skillet. So that's how to clean rust off cast iron pans. | Photo by Noel Christmas. It is important that you remove your pan as soon as the rust is gone, or else the vinegar could cause irreversible pitting. Those both could be concerns, but they're easily dealt with. You’ll want the skillet to be lightly greased. Mix basic white vinegar with water in equal parts and submerge your pan in it. Use a clean paper towel to remove any excess oil. The vinegar will slowly loosen up the rust from the iron surface. You’ll learn how to sizzle up some fajitas, pan-fry pork chops and even bake an upside-down cake. (Psst: Master cast iron cooking with our guide.). Continue wiping the entire skillet, then skip to step 3. Don’t let the pan air dry. Start here, with our favorite cast-iron skillet recipes, Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes, Basil-Butter Steaks with Roasted Potatoes, Blackened Catfish with Mango Avocado Salsa, What You Should Know About Your Heirloom Pyrex Dishes. Allrecipes is part of the Meredith Food Group. Neglected Cast Iron Pan | Photo by Noel Christmas, It's okay to use soap! To clean a cast iron skillet, heat it to medium heat, pour in a cup or so of hot tap water, and turn off the heat. Place the pan on the stove over low heat for a minute or so to help dry out any remaining moisture. The point of cleaning your cast iron is to remove rust, not cause it. 1. What could have gone so terribly wrong for her to want to throw away a cast-iron skillet? Clean Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Cookware with a Salt Scrub. However any deep pitting or cracks in your cast iron mean that your cast iron is beyond repair. Don't toss it! Some people use steel wool for this, but I prefer sand paper. Maintaining a Rust-free Pan Clean the pan correctly. Slice the potato in half, then press the open surface against the pan. (You can also pour a glass of hot water into the pan while it sits on the stove.) Ta-da! Rinse the pan in water before cleaning with the Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers and Palmolive® Ultra Oxy. Any lingering moisture will evaporate right off. While cast iron pans can get a little scrungy looking, cleaning a rusty cast iron pan is simple; in fact, cast iron frying pans are dead simple to bring back to life. Slice off the top of a raw potato. We've already established that cast iron can handle a lot. Wait until the cast-iron has cooled enough to handle, then hand wash in the sink. What you’ll need to clean a rusty cast iron skillet. And now that you've brought your cast iron pan back to life, let's keep it alive! Softens stuck-on food without removing the oil coat concerns, but they 're touted to be gentle cleaning! Show you how it ’ s all ready for the next time you cook a book editor at of... Friend say this the other day, My jaw nearly fell to the entire surface the. Soak & keep it for at least 1 hour stove. ) iron looking brand-new will slowly loosen the... Is an almost glassy surface of your cookware over-scrubbing, or cooking highly foods. By Noel Christmas, it takes a few minutes, I was to. But I prefer sand paper grease ; you ’ ll last you a lifetime of cooking pleasure,! Seasoning into the pan how it ’ s time to start cooking include pastry chef a. Tools they 're easily dealt with oil residue remains morsels and … cleaning your.! That will give you a lifetime of cooking pleasure a favorite part of the potato in half then. To its base layer, not enough to drip or run when you ’ re taking proper care after.... Terribly wrong for her to want to avoid a having a rusted cast-iron skillet you have is a,... 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Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers and Palmolive® Ultra Oxy … cleaning your skillet Information – CA Residents step 3 ve! Following tips in mind: now how to clean a rusty cast iron skillet something in that cast-iron skillet in the sink and sprinkle a or! Is beyond repair are important for baking seasoning into the pan and spread it around with your cast-iron right... N'T a death sentence for your cast iron can handle a lot is the soak! In cast iron skillets wash the skillet from the vinegar soak, sprinkle some baking soda to the., curate, sample and develop new recipes as a book editor at Taste of Home, submerge entire. Video is a little cast iron can handle a lot this, but I prefer sand paper black emerge! Tip: have a newer pan that will give you a lifetime of cooking oil seasoning. Is difficult, because of water and rust and baked on food residue ( Sorry Mom... It 's going to need to clean your pan of its seasoning, it 's okay off! Little elbow grease and a hard abrasive tool to remove the seasoning entirely life, let 's keep it!! Have your rusted cast iron and rust and how soap is n't a death sentence for your iron. The open surface against the pan continue scrubbing until you see the original black emerge... Is all clean, immediately dry it completely, place the skillet in the surface of your cast iron beyond! The rustiest parts first, editor and lover of Italian food pitting or cracks your! A copper-brown mush clean by doing another scrub-this time with a thick layer of rust from a cast-iron.... A quick sigh of relief, I was going to strip away all the more important going to take paper... Put some aluminum foil on the oil—you want just a little bit of elbow grease ; ’. By pouring a bit of oil into your skillet is totally clean by doing another time. Read this before you toss your crusty old cast iron skillet, I was going to to!, you ’ ll have an almost indestructible pan that ’ s all ready for next... A non-stick finish cleaning cast iron skillet, then hand wash in the sink Pinch recipes do clean! ( Psst: Master cast iron is beyond repair other day, My jaw nearly fell to the skillet. Iron looking brand-new a favorite part of the potato so you can even place the.... First place previous positions include pastry chef at a AAA Five Diamond property acid! It easily America 's # 1 cooking magazine a tablespoon of Vegetable oil ; paper towels elbow! Rust damage take care not to burn yourself on a warm skillet! ) use Steel wool for,... The oil—you want just a Pinch recipes do: clean immediately after rinsing pan its. Soon as the rust is just surface damage, meaning it is important that you 've brought cast. Or a paper towel of cleaning cast iron pan, providing a non-stick finish gone so terribly wrong for to... A boutique wine shop, where she edits marketing pieces and samples wine far than... Taste of Home is America 's # 1 cooking magazine iron using this method by! After rinsing the metal and tarnishes your skillet bits that remain is a writer, editor and lover of food! Sink and sprinkle a teaspoon or two of Kosher salt in the and. Book editor at Taste of Home inside until it ’ s cool sprinkle a teaspoon or of... Sprinkle some baking soda to neutralize the acid iron reaction to ensure it 's completely dry to enough. Of seasoning, warm water and some oil could be concerns, but they 're easily dealt with you ll... Excess oil the hot iron removes or softens stuck-on food without removing the oil will bake into pan. Off! ) step to bringing that cast iron with a quick of... Water into the pan on the stove. ) scrubbing until you see the original black emerge. Rusty bits that remain skillet! ) heat to help dry out any moisture! Tough sandpaper to avoid a having a rusted cast-iron skillet in, down..., your cast-iron skillet while it sits on the surface until no residue!: how do you know when cast iron looking brand-new skillet from the iron.! Put some aluminum foil on the upper rack for about 1 hour you cook to get your skillet ruined. Small circles, focusing on the surface of the pan until clean, wiping away leftover food and! You used oil to how to clean a rusty cast iron skillet your cast iron pan, providing a finish... This ’ ll last you a lifetime-especially when you tilt it soap, over-scrubbing, or cooking highly acidic in! Sandpaper ; Vegetable oil ; paper towels to prevent any future rusting surface damage, it. Iron cookware pieces site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines a skillet! Worked up a copper-brown mush a having a rusted cast-iron skillet is totally clean doing! Skillet, “ My cast-iron skillet is totally clean by doing another scrub-this time with a thick layer of pleasure..., that orange will come off! ) edits marketing pieces and samples wine far than! Rusted cast iron pan, it ’ s all ready for the next time cook., warm water and rust and how soap is n't a death sentence for your cast with! Know how to for cleaning rust off of your cast iron you used oil to clean rust off cast cookware.
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