Whether your cast iron dutch oven or skillet is a cherished family heirloom or you are new to caring for cast iron, you can relatively easily restore rusty cast iron to its former glory. These two methodologies will teach you to remove the rust and to season the skillet for protection.
Steel Wool and Soap
Eliminating rust from your cast iron item is quite simple with this methodology. Eliminate the rust from any place on the item with steel wool including the bottom and handle. Using a mild dish soap and warm water, wash the skillet or pan thoroughly. Dry the cast iron straight away with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. With your choice of cooking oil such as vegetable oil, cover every surface with a thin layer of oil to season properly. Place a baking sheet lined with foil in a lower oven rack slot, place the cast iron piece upside down on the top rack and dry at 350F for an hour. Once cool, you can use the rust-free cast iron skillet or pan once again.
Vinegar Technique
Create a mixture of half water and half regular distilled white vinegar. Allow the pan or skillet to sit in the mixture for up to six hours. The length of time will depend upon the severity of rusty cast iron, however you should let it soak for a minimum of one hour. After the vinegar soak, scrub away the rust from the cast iron completely with steel wool or a copper pad. Once you rinse off the piece, you can repeat the oil seasoning and drying tips from the first methodology.
As long as you properly care for cast iron, it can last a lifetime and beyond. And if you happen to neglect it once in a while, you can easily restore rusty cast iron using either of these rust-removal methods to bring them back to life.
Images via cathyse97, BaronBrian
