How do I Clean Used Cast Iron Pans?

You can clean a rusty cast iron pan for use in the kitchen.

Cast iron pans are traditional cookware that spans generations. However, the appeal of newly modified cookware caused cast iron items to fall to the wayside. The lure of easier to clean and lightweight materials made cast iron pans less desirable. However, a well-seasoned cast iron pan heats evenly, adds flavor to food and even iron to whatever you prepare in it. Nonetheless, the hardest part of the process is cleaning up an old cast iron pan, but it is well worth the elbow grease.

Things You'll Need

• Steel wool scrubber
• Metal spatula
• Vegetable oil
• Paper towels

Instructions

Restoring a Cast Iron Pan

1. Scrub the pan with steel wool under hot running water, getting off as much of the rust as possible on both the inside and outside of the pan.

2. Wipe the bottom of the pan with paper towels and place hot water in the pan. Place the pan on the burner of a stove and turn it to medium heat. Use the spatula to scrape away at the rust as the water comes to a boil. Dump out the water, refill and repeat the scraping with the spatula. You may need to repeat this a number of times to get off all of the rust.

3. Dry the pan with paper towels after it cools. The paper towels will most likely still look dirty. Place a tablespoon, more or less, of vegetable oil in the pan and completely coat the inside and outside of the pan with the oil, using a paper towel.

4. Place the cast iron pan in the oven and turn the oven temperature to 250 degrees. After 30 minutes, take the pan out and wipe with paper towels. Repeat oiling the inside of the pan and let bake another 30 minutes two more times. Finally, wipe with a paper towel and lightly oil it before use.

5. Clean your pan after use by pouring water into it and bringing it to a boil, using a spatula to scrub away the food debris. Sometimes you only need to do this once if the pan was lightly used. Generally it will need two boilings. Wipe it dry and lightly coat the inside of the pan with oil.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your pan seasoned by applying a light coat of oil while it is still warm. You should re-season your pan in the oven after approximately ten uses, or when you notice that food is sticking to it.

• You should never use soap on cast iron pans. It strips the oils, causing food to stick.

References

• Mother Earth News: Cast Iron Pots