Rust in your cast iron pan! Now what?

Rusted! Do you have a reddish-brown deposit on your cast iron pan? Then it's time to show who's boss. Below we tell you how to battle untreated rusty pans.

Cast iron pans are praised for their useful properties. They are durable, retain heat well and have no chemical frying layer. Ideal, but this does make these pans more susceptible to rust. However, this is easily treatable; after proper treatment, you can just keep using the pan!

How do you remove rust from a cast iron pan?

Supplies

Fine steel wool/sandpaper
Detergent
Brush or (abrasive) sponge
Tea towel or kitchen towel

Step-by-step plan

Take steel wool (or sandpaper) and scrub vigorously over the rusty parts of the pan. After a while, you will see the original (silver) cast iron reappear. By doing so, you are in fact also removing the anitanium layer from the pan. Otherwise, never use coarse cleaning products on a cast iron pan.
After the cast iron pan is rust-free, you can begin to thoroughly clean it. This can be done with a brush or sponge, warm water and a dash of dish soap (not too much and not too aggressive).
After cleaning, dry the pan thoroughly. Once the pan is thoroughly dry, you can begin to pickle/season the cast iron pan. By doing this you reapply the non-stick coating, so to speak, with natural oil.

Note: This treatment only applies to removing rust from untreated pans!

How do you remove rust from a cast iron pan?

How do you prevent a cast iron pan from rusting?

Prevention is of course always better than cure. Therefore, clean a cast iron pan with warm water, mild detergent and a sponge. This type of pan is never allowed in the dishwasher! Always dry it well and grease it with a thin layer of oil. He can rust quickly if you put it away dry.

Damaged enamel layer

It is always a shame when your pan is damaged, but luckily you can continue to use Pan! The damage is in the enamel layer, which is a kind of glass layer over the pure cast iron. These are natural materials that are not a health risk. We recommend rubbing the place with a little oil after use, otherwise it can rust again. Now you can use the pan again.

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