How to Restore Rusty Cast Iron

How to restore rusty cast iron without the use of harsh chemicals! When I thrift cast iron that is a little rusty (or neglect the skillets I already have...) this is my go-to method for restoring them for use in my kitchen.

Properly caring for your cast iron is an important part of using this cookware in your kitchen. I'm going to share some oils I use to season my own cast iron skillet as well as what oils I cook with! Proper washing techniques are also vital to keeping your skillet in working order. It is easier to do than you think! Taking care of your skillet will help it avoid rusting to the point where you need to restore it again and ensure it will last a lifetime.

Luckily, if you do end up with a rusty cast iron skillet, the fix is inexpensive and requires just a little bit of elbow grease. Soaking, scrubbing, drying, and reseasoning. That's all there is to it! It's a very simple process, just like my method for restoring copper cookware.

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Where can I buy cast iron pans?

While you can of course buy your cast iron pans brand new, there are other places to search! The good news is if you find the best dutch oven ever or an old rusty pan but it has rust...this process will allow you to buy it instead of leaving it behind!

• The antique store.
• The flea market.
• A garage sale.

The best oil to season cast iron

Let's start with the basics. Caring for your cast iron properly will prevent you from needing to repeat this process. Part of that is knowing what the best oil to season cast iron is! When it comes to the best oil to season cast iron, there is one oil I use that I truly believe yields the best results and helps me to keep my cast iron in tip-top nonstick shape. I never use olive oil for seasoning my cast iron but I do use it while cooking! Another oil I never use on my cast iron is vegetable oil. I don't use vegetable oil at all in my kitchen for a multitude of reasons. (Feel free to do your own research on this topic!)

There's all sorts of information out there about smoke points and the other explanations for what oils to use and why. Lengthly pros and cons laid out. I'm just trying to get cooking and I don't need the added stress of overthinking. So, here is my go-to oil...

My Favorite Cast Iron Seasoning Oil

• Avocado Oil.

Note: Avoid using olive oil to season your cast iron! While it is one of my favortie cooking oils for so many dishes, it isn't ideal for cast iron seasoning. It has a very low smoke point and you need to heat your pan up very high for best results when using cast iron.

Best Oils for Cast Iron Cooking

When it comes to using oil in my cast iron skillet, I select from a variety depending on what I'm cooking.

• Butter.
• Ghee.
• Lard.
• Tallow.
• Avocado oil.

Best way to clean a cast iron pan

Never ever use dish soap or other soaps on your cast iron! (Not even mild dish soap!) It is not necessary. Also, don't use steel wool on your skillet.

1. While the pan is still a bit warm (not hot!) use warm water to clean. Do not submerge it in the water!
2. Use kosher salt and a stiff brush or the scrubbing side of a sponge to clean.
3. Dry the pan completely with a dry cloth.
4. Add your preferred oil to your pan again and it's ready for next time!

When I notice the seasoning is lacking or if I have to REALLY give it a good cleaning, I will do a little extra. I will coat the pan in oil and place it in a oven as hot as it goes for 1-2 hours. Keeping your cast iron items from getting rusty in the first place is key to using them routinely in your kitchen!

How to get rust off cast iron

So here we finally are. How to get rust off of cast iron. This step-by-step is easy and now that you know all those other care tips, you will be able to prevent the need to redo this over and over. A little elbow grease goes a long way!

The biggest thing you can do to prevent repeated rusting is to not let your cast iron sit in water or with water in it. This includes when you are working through this process. When doing the water and vinegar soak, don't let it sit for a crazy amount of time. Overnight would be far too long! I personally would not go beyond 2 hours at the absolute most. You will be checking every 30 minutes for bits of rust to start flaking off. Once you are done, you will make sure the pan is completely dry. This can be done in the oven or on a stovetop to speed up the process. I usually use the oven so I don't have to supervise it too long.

What you need

• A very large aluminum pan or a plastic bin.
• Water.
• White vinegar.
• Kosher salt.
• Seasoning oil of choice (I will be using avocado oil.)
• A stiff brush.
• Dry towel or paper towel.
• Optional: gloves.

How to get rust off of cast iron

1. Inside of your plastic bin or aluminum pan, create a mix that is 1 part vinegar to 1 part water.

2. Fully submerge your rusty cast-iron skillet in the water and vinegar mixture. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes.

3. Check to see if any of the rust is flaking off easily when you touch it with your brush. If it is not, soak for another 30 minutes.

4. Use coarse salt, your stiff brush, and water to scrub off the rust all over your cast iron pan.

5. Rinse your pan off thoroughly to ensure no rust is left on it. Dry with a towel.

6. Coat your entire pan with a thin layer of oil of your choosing. Wipe it down again, removing the excess oil, leaving a very light coat behind.

7. Dry your pan completely. You can do this by heating it on a burner (while supervising) or by heating your oven to 350°F and placing the pan upside down on an oven rack for 15 minutes.

8. Reseason your cast iron with a layer of oil again and then wipe it down with a dry towel.

9. Place your cast iron back in the oven again upside down. Set it to 500°F and leave for 1 hour.

10. After one hour has passed, turn your oven off. Allow the pan to stay inside as it cools all the way down.

11. Repeat steps 8-10 once more. (Optional: do it up to 6 times for a great reseasoning.)

Tips for restoring cast iron to its former glory

• Do not soak your cast iron for too long in the water and vinegar mix! Check it over every 30 minutes until you see the rust flaking off a little bit. I personally would not go longer than 2 hours.
• When you preseason your cast iron, coat all sides. Even the outside, bottom, and handle!
• Don't use dish soap or other soaps on your cast iron skillet.
• Don't use steel wool. If you don't have a stiff brush, use the scrubbing side of a sponge instead.
• Avocado oil is my seasoning oil of choice!
• I used a 17 ¼ inch x 12 11/16 inch x 4 inch aluminum foil roasting pan for this project. The smallest cast iron skillet used 7:7 water to vinegar ratio. The large flat pan used an 11:11 water to vinegar ratio. The large skillet used a 16:16 water to vinegar ratio.

You may also like

• How to Restore Copper Cookware (No Chemicals Needed!)
• Homemade Nontoxic All-Purpose Cleaner
• Upcycled Faux Ceramic Vases

Shop this post

• New cast iron set
• Avocado oil
• Aluminum pan

Do you cook with cast iron?

Drop a comment below and share your top tips for cast iron cooking!