Cast iron: remove rust - how it works

If you have a cast iron pan or pan and discover rust on it, you do not have to dispose of the cookware. The rust is easy to remove and you can still use the pan and pot.

How to remove rust from cast iron

Depending on how strong the rust is, you have several options.

• If there is a lot of rust, use a steel sponge or steel wool. Use this to rub the rusted areas thoroughly. Don't worry: cast iron is a hard material and can easily withstand this treatment.
• If the pan or the pot is only slightly rusty, add a little cooking oil. The floor should be covered two to three centimeters with it.
• Now heat the cookware on the stove.
• If the oil is hot, add a few spoons of salt one after the other and stir it into the oil. Stir constantly so that the mixture does not burn.
• Then take the cookware off the stove and let the oil-salt mixture cool down. Either pour it away or use it to wipe the pan thoroughly. Kitchen paper or a cloth is suitable for this.
• After this treatment, the rust has disappeared and you can use the cookware again.
• Tip: Oil perfectly protects cast iron from rust. For this reason, cast iron cookware should not be cleaned with detergent. This is usually fat-dissolving and thus destroys the patina.

Rust is an unpopular guest not only in the kitchen. If you store your bike outside and do not protect it from rain, this can also develop rust spots. In our next article, we'll show you how to remove rust from your bike.