How to Clean & Recondition Old Cast Iron Pans

With proper care, a cast iron pan will serve in the kitchen for generations. The chief enemy of cast iron is rust. If rust develops on the surface of cast iron pans, you must clean and recondition them before using them again. While this may sound intimidating, the process is not difficult.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-grit sand paper (220 grit)
• Dishwashing soap
• Dishcloth
• Paper towels
• Steel wool
• Peanut oil or coconut oil (food-grade)
• Aluminum foil

Instructions

1. Sand the rusty surfaces of the cast iron pan with the sandpaper. Continue sanding until you have removed as much of the rust as possible.

2. Wash the cast iron pan in sudsy, warm water to assess how much rust remains. If a significant amount of rust remains, dry the cast iron pan with the paper towels and repeat Step 1. Wash the cast iron pan again in sudsy water after sanding a second time.

3. Rub the surfaces of the cast iron pan with the steel wool to remove any remaining traces of rust. Wash the cast iron pan in sudsy water again, rinse it and dry it with paper towels.

4. Pour a small circle of oil into the cast iron pan and use a paper towel to spread the oil over the entire inside surface of the pan. It is not necessary to apply the oil thickly -- a thin layer is sufficient. Remove any excess oil with paper towels.

5. Spread a sheet of aluminum foil onto the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

6. Place the oiled cast iron pan upside down onto the aluminum foil in the oven. Close the oven and leave the pan in the oven to bake for one hour. If smoke appears during the seasoning process, turn on a fan or open a window.

7. Remove the pan from the oven carefully after one hour. Examine the pan; it should be darker after the seasoning process.

8. Clean the cast iron pan after using it by filling it approximately 2/3 full of water and boiling the water for 10 minutes. Pour out the water and wipe the pan completely dry with a paper towel. Never put a cast iron pan away wet; this will cause rust to develop again.

References

• Cast Iron Cookware: Saving Cast Iron Cookware