Remove rust from a cast iron pan

Rust formed in a cast iron pan, what should I do? This issue remains relevant to this day. Despite the fact that in our time there is a huge selection of kitchen utensils, housewives still prefer durable and heavy cast iron, because it is it that has been tested by time. Many people think that once it is covered with rust, cleaning will not work. This is not true. Now we will figure out how to remove rust from a cast-iron pan.

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Causes

To effectively deal with a problem, you need to know the reasons for its occurrence. The same applies to the issue of rust removal - it is necessary to know the reasons for the destruction of the cast-iron surface before cleaning the cast-iron pan from rust.

It's all about the process of metal oxidation. From here brown spots appear, from which it is necessary to get rid. Mostly this happens due to the prolonged effect of moisture with cast iron utensils, but there are some more reasons:

• Abrasive cleaning. They can only be applied to an old, already corroded, surface. When applied to a pan made of cast iron, its protective layer is erased.
• You can not leave such utensils idle for a long time, this can also lead to this problem. It is recommended to lubricate a clean surface with oil after each use.
• Poorly cleaned utensils. It is imperative to thoroughly clean the pan, as the remaining dirt particles penetrate and cause a corrosion process.

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How to remove rust from a cast iron pan?

Some people continue to use the pan even after rust appears on it. This is absolutely unacceptable. It can only be used after removing traces of corrosion. Otherwise, health problems may arise from food prepared on it.

At home, utensils can be cleaned in several ways:

• If traces of corrosion have been on the surface for a long time, then vinegar can get rid of them. It is necessary to mix a tablespoon with a liter of water and pour the solution into the pan. Leave it on for several hours, then rinse thoroughly and dry.

Important! Do not leave utensils in this solution for more than three hours. Otherwise, the cast-iron surface can be severely damaged.

• A great way to remove rust from a cast-iron frying pan at home is to put it in the oven. Rinse and dry the utensils. Then send it to the oven for half an hour, turning on the self-cleaning mode or setting the temperature to 150 degrees. Upon reaching the result, it remains only to give the pan time to cool, and wash it with any cleaning agent.
• If you have a deep container with high walls, then in this case, the digestion method will help. All you have to do is fill the pan with water, add a few tablespoons of baking soda to it and simmer for two hours. Once the rust has been removed, pour out the remaining fluid and allow the container to cool. Then rinse thoroughly. The result will pleasantly surprise you.
• It is best to fight corrosion immediately after you notice it, because fresh rust formations are much easier to remove. You just need to clean the pan manually several times in a row or send it to the dishwasher.
• If the utensil is not the first time it is damaged by corrosion, then you can resort to using an abrasive mixture. You can cook it at home - just mix the salt and a little water. Wipe the affected areas with gruel until the rust disappears completely.
• With a small plaque, ordinary food water is also very effective in managing it. It is necessary to mix it with a small amount of water until a thick consistency is obtained and wipe the affected areas with the resulting mixture. If there are still signs of corrosion after the procedure, repeat the procedure again.

Important! If the corrosion is thorough, but in general the vessel is still “alive”, one will have to resort to drastic measures. Arm yourself with a drill or grinder with a special nozzle, and treat all areas affected by oxides. At the end of this procedure, it is necessary to create a protective film on the alloy. How to do it - read on.

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Protective layer

After the question of how to remove rust from a cast-iron pan is left behind, an excellent solution would be to create a protective layer using firing. Agree that it is better to take care once to prevent the corrosion process than to eliminate its traces a thousand times.

The protective layer will interfere with oxidation processes:

1. Lubricate the inner surface of the dishes. You can use either ordinary sunflower or olive, rice, etc.
2. Put the pan upside down on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 190 degrees per hour.
3. After - let the utensils cool.

Important! In no case should you wash the utensils at the end of the firing. All you can do is wipe the surface with a soft cloth. Otherwise, you will destroy the protective layer.

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How to update a cast-iron pan?

To update the pan and return it to its original appearance, it is necessary to treat the surface with an aerosol. You can buy it at a specialty store.

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Stock footage

These were all tips and techniques on how to wash a cast iron skillet from rust. As you can see, it’s not at all necessary to throw out the utensils after being damaged by corrosion, it is quite possible to put them in order on their own and use the cookware for many more years.