Save Cast Iron From Rust With Vinegar
Cast iron pans are great for everything from breakfast to baking , but the downside is that they require a little more maintenance than a regular pot or skillet. We discussed several ways to season cast iron here at Lifehacker (including some that go against conventional wisdom ), but what if your roommate lets your cast iron soak in water overnight or, God forbid, put it in into the dishwasher? Take an abrasive disc and some white vinegar. After a little work, your cast iron will be as good as new.
First of all, if you have an oven with a self-cleaning setting, this is a great way to remove rust and “reset” your cast iron pans . If you do not, Bon Appétit notes that all , what you need is a little white vinegar, a little water and abrasive scraper to your rusty, damaged iron shone like new.
Here’s what you need to do: Mix equal parts water and vinegar and let the pan soak for one to eight hours, depending on how strong the rust is. Keep checking this out because if you leave the pan in the vinegar for too long – once the rust has weakened – damage to the cast iron itself will begin. After soaking is complete, gently scrape off the rust from the cast iron skillet with a scraper. You can use a copper pad or consider using our reliable salt cleaning method to remove rust and debris. Whatever you do, carefully remove as much rust as possible.
Once the center of the skillet is clean and all the rust has disappeared, it’s time to season it again. There are many different methods for this. but our author Skiller A.A. Newton prefers this: To season the stove, place a clean skillet over medium heat, not for smoking. Using a rag dampened with Crisco, apply a thin layer to the inside of the pan, then reduce heat. Let the pan cool for 10-15 minutes and wipe off the excess oil with another rag. To season the pans in the oven, wipe them down with a Crisco rag, place in the oven at 375ºF for 5 minutes, remove and quickly wipe off excess oil. Return to oven for another 30-35 minutes, then turn off heat and let cool. At this point, however, you can season as you like – the main thing is to use vinegar and an abrasive cleaning pad to clean off the rust and preserve the cast iron.
This story was originally published in 2012 and was updated on March 1, 2021 to correct outdated links and provide more details.