Can rust be removed from cast iron?

**Neeley** · 05-31-2007, 04:59 PM

Ok, so I know I am posting this in the wrong section, so please move it where it belongs. I really had no idea where to post it.

We have found my cast iron skillet in the way back corner of one of the cabinets. It must have had something sitting in it because there are a couple of rust rings in it. It is actually a good bit of rust. I was just going to throw it away, but DS (our 11 year old master chef

) wants to use it to make corn bread and a few other things in it. He swears he has heard you can remove the rust and still cook with it. Is there a way to remove the rust so it can be used again or should I just throw it away and get a new one? TIA.

**kettel6** · 05-31-2007, 05:05 PM

I believe you can just scrub it with maybe a Brillo pad and then reseason and it should be okay.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-31-2007, 05:10 PM

Hot water, brillo and a good scrubbing . Then dry well with a towel and rub down with cooking oil and place in warm oven one thats just on 250 or so.

Laurie in Bradenton

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-31-2007, 05:11 PM

By the way the world best fried chicken, corn bread and pineapple upside down cakes are made in cast iron pans.

Laurie in Bradenton

**zakity** · 05-31-2007, 05:12 PM

Yep. I have let mine get rusty on accident. I just scrubbed them with a SOS type of pad and washed them. I have my can of crisco (or whatever it is) right on hand. I dry them with an old towel (I keep a few rag towels just for drying my cast iron) and use my hand to grease them up. I throw them in a 200F oven for an hour or so and then turn off the oven and let them sit.

Another idea to season them is to get the cast iron ready while you are baking something. When your baked item is done, turn the oven off, throw the cast iron in the oven, and forget about it. In the summer, I try to season them at night to keep from heating the house too much.

I love my cast iron. I have a dutch oven that I make my poor man's bechamel sauces in.

**Neeley** · 05-31-2007, 05:30 PM

Thanks so much!!! I have to now eat crow and admit to DS he was right. The kids watches way too much Food Network!!! I am going to pick up some SOS pads tonight and clean it up for him.

Again, many thanks to all!!!

**fernykins** · 05-31-2007, 06:20 PM

I put my on the burner to dry it......... Thats the way my grandmother, father and mother did theirs.......... I never towel dryed them.......
Fern

**Hollyhandi** · 05-31-2007, 06:28 PM

I do what Fern does.
My mom always did hers that way

**themartins903** · 06-01-2007, 11:32 AM

My mom said that use hot water, scrub it down and she puts hers on top of hot coals/bonfire to burn off the residue. But the above will work to (oven @ 250).

I love the crust of cornbread from cast iron skillets. I use mine on a daily basis. Hope this helps!!!

****That's great that you have a young master chef******

**Ceashels** · 06-01-2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Neeley

Thanks so much!!! I have to now eat crow and admit to DS he was right. The kids watches way too much Food Network!!! I am going to pick up some SOS pads tonight and clean it up for him.

Again, many thanks to all!!!

FOOD NETWORK ROCKS! And so does your DS!

I claimed 3 of my Mom's cast iron skillets because she has them sitting on her porch rusting. (I'll be claiming the other 3 soon too.) They have a significant build up of residue on the outside of them, but the inside is great and we season them regularly. I dry mine over the burner as well.

I do have a question though:

Over the years, there has a build up of something on the outside of the pans. Would putting them on hot coals remove the outside residue and should I remove it? It doesn't interfere with cooking but an outside cleaning would certainly make them look better in the kitchen.

**kettel6** · 06-01-2007, 02:58 PM

Something else to remember...Whenever he cooks in it do not use soap to wash it, just water.

**Luv2BeFrugal1** · 06-01-2007, 03:43 PM

We had the same problem with TWO of our cast iron skillets!! This is what we did...and it worked GREAT!!

Get several 2 liter bottles of Coca Cola. Fill your kitchen sink with the coke (or some other container that will hold your skillet). Let it set in the coke for several hours.

Later you just take it out and give it a good washing. I don't recommend using brillo pads or anything too abrasive on cast iron. It's not good for it. And really it's supposed to be a "soap free" wash.

An earlier poster said they set theirs on the stove top and heat it real quick to dry it...excellent advice!

Don't forget to season your cast iron in the oven...it'll hold up better...

Hope this helps...let us know what happens!