i have rusted iron skillets need to know how to reseason and remove rust easiest way of course?

Question

some are from 1800s very rusty mostly wish to display for decorating wall above kitchen cabinets

Answer 1

Are you in an area that you can burn your fall leaves? If so, bury the pans in the leaf fire...Otherwise, the coals/embers of a wood fire (camp style) will do, bury them in the embers...
They come out amazingly nice and clean, the fire burns off all the carbon that has accumulated!....then after washing them, no soap, you will have to season them with a little rubbed in cooking oil in a 225 degree oven for a few hours, let them cool and wipe off any excess oil with a papertowel. Seasoning helps keep your displays from rusting so fast and your pans prepared for non stick cooking. Sometimes you can partially restore the pitted ones with elbow grease by rubbing with coarse salt and cooking oil. Do research your iron skillets.....some are worth a small fortune! Especially the Griswold brand. Also the odd sizes and shapes can be very valuable.

Answer 2

Getting the Rust Off
Here's how to remove rust and make your cast iron look and cook like new.
First, give the cast iron pan a thorough cleaning. Once you've gotten as much "gunk" off as possible, it's time to tackle the rust.

If the rust is relatively minor, you can use a medium to fine grade of sandpaper to get the rust off. Be careful that you don't use big scratches on the surface.

Another trick you might try is using a raw potato, cut in half and some souring powder. Scrub until the rust is gone.

Steel wool can be safely used on cast-iron and with a little elbow grease just might be the thing that does the trick.

Still having trouble? Try using a "rust eraser." You can find these in a hardware store, woodworking shop or bike shop.

If you're still having trouble, a more drastic step would be to use a drill or grinder with a wire brush.

Answer 3

Use a scotch brite and some hot soapy water and knock off the rough stuff first, then while the pan is wet squirt some dishsoap in it and pour in some table salt to a loose paste and rub it out more. rinse really well and put it on a hot burner until it dries, It should be clean by now, if not repeat the steps. After the pan is dry, rub down the in side with pure Lard not shortning. and put it into a warm oven at about 200*-250* and cook it for about an hour, smear the lard evenly as it soaks in. then turn the oven off and let it set until the next day and don't wash it in hot soapy water anymore, Just wipe it clean when you are done with it, much like you would clean the toaster.

Answer 4

Do not use soap or detergent on these iron skillets. Fine steel wool (without soap, no SOS or Brillo) will get the surface rust off. A wire brush may be used if there are heavy deposits. Don't get over-eager.Clean the pans by putting them in a self-cleaning oven and running it through the cycle. After they are cool enough to handle, use bacon grease and rub the skillets down thoroughly. Wipe off the bacon grease only enough to prevent it from dripping and put them back in the oven. Bake them at 500F for 1 hour.

Answer 5

Pobept K is right.
* Scouring soap pad to clean
* rinse
* dry on stove's burner (never drip dry nor wipe dry)
* 'season' inner sides & bottom of pan with grease - bacon grease best. Apply with wax paper works well.
* paper towel excess

Now ready to even cook with it. Wish to season pan without the grease texture, bake in oven after excess of grease wiped out.

After each use, wash same as other dishes but always dry immediately on stove's burner.

Answer 6

Use steel wool, SOS style pads to clean well. Dry on a hot stove burner.
get some FAT bacon, fry crispy. being Very careful wipe inside of pan with bacon fat, let cool, use excess fat to wipe inside and outside of pan, place in 250 to 300 degree oven heat until fat starts to smoke, turn off heat let cool in the hot oven. wipe dry with paper towels. NEVER wash with soap and water, wipe clean with paper towels, if needed heat a little water in pan wash with hot water, wipe dry. I know it's a lot of trouble but the best cooking pans a cook can have id well seasoned cast iron.

Answer 7

Maybe you could pay an auto body shop to sandblast them. It won't cost much and it is no effort on your part.