Cast iron skillets are staple cookware in almost every kitchen. Their durability allows them to be passed down to generations. The health benefits of using cast iron cookware and long-lasting features make cast iron skillets indispensable.
One of my kitchen's most cherished cooking tools is the cast iron skillet I inherited from my family. I strive to take care of it in the best way possible to pass it on to the next generation.
The durability of cast iron skillets depends mostly on how you care for them. Although not a complicated activity, maintenance of cast iron skillets demands regular attention. Cast iron cookware is sensitive to external factors such as humidity and friction. If you store your cast iron skillets in a moist environment, they will probably get rusty.
Cast iron cookware should be seasoned periodically. One of the most critical things in terms of maintenance is to keep cast iron completely dry. Failure in this step will probably leave you with rusty cast iron skillets.
Is it impossible to restore cast iron skillets once they become rusty? The answer is no. Continue reading to discover how you can revive rusty iron skillets in 5 quick and easy steps using everyday kitchen ingredients.
Before getting into details, let's discuss all the restoration methods for rusty cast iron skillets. Some of these techniques require professional equipment and chemicals.
- You can restore rusty cast iron cookware by using an electrolysis tank.
Electrolysis tanks remove rust from certain metals, including cast iron. The electrolysis process removes all organics and rust from cast iron skillets.
- Soaking cast iron in lye solution removes rust.
Lye, chemically speaking sodium hydroxide, is an alkaline solution used to make soaps, as a cleaning product, and sometimes as a solution to restore rusty cast iron skillets.
- You can remove rust from cast iron using vinegar and soap pads.
This is the method that we are going to examine in detail. Restoring cast iron skillets does not always require complex machinery and chemicals. You can restore a rust-covered cast iron skillet using white vinegar solution and soap pad scrub. Followed with a two or three-staged seasoning, your rusty cast iron skillet will be as good as new.
Follow these five easy steps and witness the revival of your timeless cookware classic.
- Prepare a vinegar solution
Fill a 16 oz. spray bottle with equal amounts of water and white vinegar. It's best to use vinegar with 5% acidity. Anything stronger than that may cause corrosion on the surface of the cast iron skillet.
- Apply the solution to the skillet
Generously spray the skillet with the vinegar-water solution and scrub it using a sponge. Scrub the inner and outer parts of the cast iron skillet. Rinse with water, spray down again, and leave the skillet to rest for 30 minutes. During the waiting period, spray the solution occasionally to prevent the skillet from drying. Rinse thoroughly.
- Rub with a soap pad
Wet the soap pad with water. Rub the inner and outer parts of the skillet. Rinse and repeat until the surface looks smooth. Due to the level of rustiness, you may have to repeat this process twice or thrice.
- Wash the skillet with hot water
After cleaning all the residue, you may still find flash rust on your iron skillet. The best way to erase that is to wash the skillet with hot water just before seasoning. The hotter the water, the better.
- Season the skillet
Seasoning cast iron means covering the surface with heated oil to acquire a smooth and nonstick feature. This is something you should regularly do as part of maintenance. When restoring a rusty cast iron skillet, this is the fifth and final step before using your beloved cookware, which is as good as new, to cook delicious meals.
After washing with hot water while the skillet is still damp:
- Do the first round of seasoning: Apply a thin layer of vegetable oil (neutral oils such as sunflower and canola work fine) on the inner and outer parts of the skillet and wipe off the excess oil with a paper towel. You can also use solid bars specifically designed for seasoning cast iron skillets.
- Heat the oven to 480 F. Place the skillet in the middle rack of the oven, turned upside down.
- Heat the skillet in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Turn off the oven and let the skillet cool for about an hour before the second round of seasoning.
When the skillet is cool to the touch, apply the second layer of seasoning and repeat the process.
After the second round of seasoning, you can decide to stop or continue. If the skillet looks smooth and shiny inside, you've seasoned enough. There is no over-seasoning though, so if you are not sure, it may be better to give it another round.
These are the 5 steps of transforming a rusty cast iron skillet into brand-new cookware that inspires one to cook. Remember to season your cast iron skillets periodically to keep them in the best possible condition.