How do I clean and re-season my old, rusty, cast iron skillet?

Answer 1

I collect cast iron and I have 217 pieces of cast iron. Dutch ovens fry pans skillets pot all kinds of cast iron. NEVER NEVER use vegetable oil. Trust me on this please. Always use lard or bacon grease. The oil is nasty it will gum up collecting dust, and bugs. Lard actually has less saturated fat than butter. It wont go rancid after you heat it up good. It stays soft and you can wipe it out before you cook if you are concerned about it . Oil gets thick and sticky and it can glue a dam lid on a pot. Don't use soap and water on the pot once you start cooking with it. Wipe it out before each use. Also the biggest mistake we make is high heat . Cast iron doesn't need as much heat as one would think. I have used this method for about 20 years never been sick and my cholesterol is fine.

Answer 2

How to Clean a Rusty Skillet

Don't toss that pan - a little elbow grease (and some real grease) is all it takes to bring a rusty cast-iron or steel skillet back to life.
Instructions

STEP 1: Assess the degree of rust on the skillet. If the rust forms only a thin coat on the outside, then the skillet can be saved. If the rust has penetrated deeper than about 1/8 inch, then it's probably doomed.

STEP 2: Use a steel scouring pad or a copper mesh scouring pad and a heavy-duty scouring powder mixed with hot water to scrub the skillet.

STEP 3: Scrub the entire skillet vigorously. If it still has some old "seasoning," or glazed-on oil, scrub this off as best you can.

STEP 4: If necessary, use a variable-speed drill fitted with a wire brush attachment to clean out and smooth deeper pockets of rust. This can also be used to clean the entire skillet.

STEP 5: When all the rust has been scrubbed off, wash the skillet well with regular soap and water, then rinse it in several changes of water.

STEP 6: Dry the skillet in a hot oven for at least 20 minutes and allow to cool completely.

STEP 7: Season the skillet well before using.



Tips & Warnings
•Rust is a common affliction of cast-iron cookware and older steel pots. As long as the rust is not too pervasive it can be scrubbed off.
•Make sure all the rust has been scrubbed off and rinsed away.
•Season the pan properly with vegetable oil immediately after it's been cleaned. Seasoning coats the pan with a glaze of baked-on oil that will protect it from rust in the future.


How to Season Cast Iron
1. Pre-heat oven to 325°
2. Wash skillet with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
3. Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil, or vegetable shortening with a paper towel on all surfaces, inside and out.
4. Place in oven on center rack, upside down. Place a baking sheet or a sheet of foil on the rack beneath to catch drippings.
5. Bake for an hour, then turn off heat, open door, and allow to cool inside oven before removing.
6. Skillet is now ready to use.

To wash, scrub with hot water and a brush without detergent. Never use sharp or metal utensils on it while cooking and never place in the dishwasher. If it finds its way into the dishwasher, don't fret - just repeat seasoning process.

Answer 3

Roberto's answer is correct. As a home economics teacher, NEVER use vegetable oil. Also using scouring pads and abrasives even to get rust off just destroy the finish. Use a good old fashioned scrub brush and some elbow grease -- this is not a fast, easy process. But if you do follow Roberto's answer, your cast iron will last forever. I have a pan from 4 generations ago.

Answer 4

Roberto is right. I have one cast iron skillet that is over 30 yrs. old, and I use it often.

Answer 5

Wash in dishsoap then dry by placing on stovetop for a few minutes on low. To season it coat inside and out with vegatable oil and place in oven on low (250-300) for about half an hour. to avoid rust in the future, always dry immediately after washing, by placing on stovetop over low heat until thoroughly dry. NEVER place cast iron in dishwasher.

Answer 6

you can clean with mild soapm and water and degreaser if you wish then coat it in cooking oil and stick it in the oven for about 30 minuets repeat until well coated