Salt and cooking oil can be used to remove rust from cast iron.
Cast iron cookware or appliances with rust less than 1/8 inch thick can be quickly restored to cooking shape. The most helpful and only widely recommended cleaning agents to remove the rust from pans are salt, vegetable or similar oil, dish soap and water. Commercial cleaners for larger cast iron appliances like stoves can be found at many hardware stores. Proper seasoning after the rust is cleaned off is key to preventing the rust from forming again quickly.
Instructions
1. Pour 2 to 4 tbsp. -- depending on the pan or structure size -- of salt into the middle of the rusted cast iron.
2. Add an equal amount of vegetable oil to the salt.
3. Rub the salt and oil vigorously on the cast iron using the rag or towel. Focus on rusted spots but cover the entire pan or appliance.
4. Add more salt or oil if needed.
5. Rub persistent rust spots with the fine steel wool.
6. Wash the cast iron appliance with dish soap.
7. Rinse the cast iron pan or appliance well with hot water and dry completely.
8. Season the cast iron pan to prevent rusting by coating it with oil, heating it for an hour at 250 degrees Fahrenheit and avoid using soap to clean the pan in the future.
Tags: clean, rust, cast, iron, cleaning, agents, cast iron, cast iron, rust from, cast iron appliance, dish soap
