How Do You Clean A Rusty Cast Iron Skillet?
Cast iron skillets are desirable for their long life, durability and supplementation of iron to foods. Although cast iron requires a certain level of preventative care, it quickly recovers from general misuse. If left in water, cast iron rusts. However, you can clean rust from a cast iron skillet and easily re-season the cookware. Step 1 Scrub the skillet with hot water and steel wool to remove the rust. Depending on the severity of rusting, this process may require considerable physical pressure and lengthy scrubbing. Step 2 Thoroughly dry the clean cast iron skillet with paper towels. Step 3 Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil to the entire surface of the skillet, using a basting brush. If you do not have a basting brush, use oil soaked paper towels. Step 4 Bake the basted cast iron skillet in a 350-degree oven for one hour. Step 5 Remove the skillet from the oven—use caution, it will be extremely hot—and cool on the stove top. Store the newly seasoned cast iron in a dry place.
