How To Remove Rust From Cast Iron Pans - Naturally and With Only Two Items

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Cast iron has become my favorite cooking material and now I’m on the hunt for it whenever I pass a garage sale or antique shop. It’s nonstick, it isn’t going to poison me (cough Teflon cough), it’s easy to clean, and it lasts forever. When it rusts, it comes clean with two simple kitchen staples that you probably have at home already. Let’s get into it!

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First off, I want to give a little shout out to the pan I freshened up. This petite cast iron beauty was made in 1928 for my great great aunt by her husband. How. Damn. Charming. Is. That?!

Thanks, great great aunt Anna!

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Seriously. I’m gushing.

Let’s freshen, ‘er up!

Supplies:

  • Salt

  • Potato

That’s it, seriously.

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It really couldn’t be more simple.

  1. Cut a potato in half

  2. Sprinkle on course salt

  3. Scrub and rub repeatedly

  4. Rinse the pan clean

  5. Heat and re-season the cast iron

  6. Enjoy!

My pan could use a bit more heavy duty cleaning to get it back to what it looked like in 1928, but I’m saving that for another day.

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If your pan needs a heavy duty cleaning, you repeat the above steps and/or try a few more things: Scrub it with a wire brush. Scrape with a putty knife. Heat it a bit then rub salt with oil. Soak baking soda and white vinegar then give it a scrub. Try any combo of those options.

For serious issues when rust pockets are under the seasoning, you can put the skillet in the oven and run it on self cleaning mode (not for enameled pans) without any chemical cleaning products. This will remove ALL of the seasoning and return it to the bare iron. Then, scrape with wire brush, repeat the salt and oil method, and you’re set.

BONUS!

Since I know people will ask, here’s how to clean and how to season cast iron pots and pans.

To Clean Cast Iron

  1. When done cooking, scrape out all the leftover food. You can use a wood or metal. I don’t recommend going too crazy with metal because it will scrape off your seasoning

  2. When still hot, rinse with hot (not cold) water and scrub with a brush

  3. Don’t use soap!

  4. For burnt on food, you can use coarse salt to scrub off

  5. Rinse with hot/warm water

  6. Return pan to stove and turn on heat. This will dry it so there’s no chance of rust and it prepares it for seasoning

To Season Cast Iron

  1. Heat cast iron on stove until it’s hot through, but not smoking

  2. Turn off the heat

  3. Pour a bit of oil (grapeseed, olive, avocado, or linseed works) in pan

  4. Rub the oil in with a dedicated old rag/towel (sometimes I use scrap napkins that make their way into our house)

  5. Rub the oil all over on the inside of the pan, the sides, the bottom, and the lid

  6. After a few minutes, buff out an excess oil

  7. Enjoy and repeat seasoning after each (or every few) uses

If you want to spend an hour of your day listening to Cowboy Kent Rollins talk about all sorts of cast iron maintenance and tips, you really won’t regret it. Tune in here.

Now I get out and find yourself some old cast iron pans and give them new life. You can find them at antique shops, thrift stores, garage sales, eBay, or your local Buy Nothing Group.

Pin this image below so you never ever forget how to get that old cast iron pan looking spiffy!

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