How to Clean a Rusted Iron Skillet

Few items are passed down from generation to generation like iron skillets. These prized family heirlooms are notorious for becoming rusty. Rust accumulates on cast iron skillets when they are not properly seasoned, left in storage, or not properly dried after washing. Fortunately rust can easily be removed from your iron skillet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potato
• Scouring powder
• Warm water
• Towels
• Vegetable oil

1. Cut a potato in half. You are going to use this potato to scrub the rust off of your iron skillet.

2. Sprinkle a generous amount of scouring powder on the potato half. Use this half of the potato to scour off the rust on your iron skillet. Once the potato becomes heavily rusted rinse the skillet in warm water and dry thoroughly with a towel. Take the other half of the potato and sprinkle with scouring powder. Continue to scrub until all rust is gone.

3. Rinse and dry with a towel. To ensure that water is completely removed from the iron skillet heat the skillet on your stove at low heat for several minutes.

4. Re-season your skillet after cleaning by coating it with a thin coating of vegetable oil and heating it on your stove on low heat for five minutes. Allow to cool and repeat.

Tips & Warnings

• Re-season after every use. Always towel dry immediately after washing. Never wash with cold water. Pam or other spray oil can be used to re-season the iron skillet.
• Do not wash in dishwasher. Do not soak the skillet.