Make your cast iron pans good as new with these tips on How to Restore Cast Iron Skillet. Remove old seasoning and rust in your cast iron cookware to start cooking in it again.
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If you have come across your grandma’s old cast iron skillet, at a garage sale or found one in an antique store chances are it needs to restored again. These tips will help turn your rusty cast iron skillet into a skillet that you can cook for a lifetime.
We use our cast iron to bake in the oven, on the stovetop and even on the grill. Learn how to re-season your rusty cast iron to cook delicious foods that everyone loves. Try these cast iron recipes – Cast Iron Shrimp, Cast Iron Queso or Cast Iron Brownies.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Using a Cast Iron Skillet
We love cooking our favorite steak in a cast iron skillet. The flavor is amazing and the steak comes out with the perfect texture. The vintage cast iron skillet withstands high heat so it perfect for any cooking surface.
The more we cook in our cast iron skillet the more flavor it gives our recipes. These easy steps will fix your skillet to enjoy your favorite foods.
Tools You Will Need
- Gloves
- Steal Wool or Wire Brush
- Soft Sponge
- Lint Free Towel
- Vegetable Oil
- Paper Towel
How to Remove Rust from Cast Iron
Step 1 – Use a steel wool to clean any surface rust off the cast iron skillet. The rust should flake away and reveal the cast iron below.
Step 2 – Wash the cast iron with hot water. Use a soft sponge if needed.
Step 3 – Dry the skillet off with a lint free towel.
Step 4 – After the skillet is completely dry, pour 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in pan. Then take a paper towel and rub the cooking oil all over bottom and sides of pan making sure the entire pan has a thin layer of oil.
Step 5 – Place the pan upside down into an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. Place a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil under the pan on the bottom rack to catch any oil that might fall off the pan.
Step 6 – Lastly, turn off the oven and allow the pan cool to room temperature in oven. Then the cast iron is ready to use as normal. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- High Smoke Point Oil – If you don’t have vegetable oil, you can use canola oil or a high quality olive oil or avocado oil.
- Excess Oil – After placing the oil on the skillet, use your paper towel to remove any excess oil.
- Coarse Salt – If there is a small amount of rust on the skillet, you can want to sprinkle salt and scrub with a sponge to remove the rust.
- Removing Skillet from Oven – The handle will be hot after placing in the oven. Make sure to use pot holder to remove pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can always bring it back to life. With these easy steps you can turn a rusty cast iron pan into a skillet that will last a lifetime.
After many years of cooking on your cast iron skillet it creates a nice layering of seasoning which makes it a safe non stick cooking surface. A cast iron skillet will outlast many of your cooking pans.
Yes, it is important to clean you skillet after cooking on it. You can use warm soapy water to remove any leftover food while still keeping it seasoning. Make sure to allow the cast iron to dry to prevent any rust.
Easy Cast Iron Recipes
How to Restore a Cast Iron Skillet
Instructions
- Use a steel wool to clean any rust off the cast iron skillet. The rust should flake away and reveal the cast iron below.
- Wash the cast iron with warm water. Use a soft sponge if needed.
- Dry the skillet off with a lint free towel.
- After the skillet is completely dry, pour 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in pan. If you don’t have vegetable oil, you can use canola oil or a high quality olive oil or avocado oil.
- Then take a paper towel and rub the cooking oil all over bottom and sides of pan making sure the entire pan has a thin layer of oil. Use your paper towel to remove any excess oil.
- Place the pan upside down into an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. Place a pan covered in foil under the pan to catch any oil that might fall off the pan.
- Lastly, turn off the oven and allow the pan cool to room temperature in oven.
- Then the cast iron is ready to use as normal. Enjoy!
These tips help me restore my skillet perfectly!