Cleaning Rust Out Of An Iron Skillet?

I recently bought a cast iron skillet at a yard sale but it’s pretty well rusted. It’s in there pretty deep and even though I can’t see the rust anymore I can stil taste it.

Do you know a way to clean cast iron so it won’t leave an iron taste behind?

PS I don’t have a dishwasher or a way to clean it over an open fire or gas range.

Jody

Delaware
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I LOVE cast iron and have been using it for years. I’m pretty allergic to heavy chemicals in industrial cleaners so the less I touch them the better. That’s why my mother taught me a trick she got from her grandmother: Potatoes!

Cut the end off of a nice sized potato. Use Comet or a similar powder cleanser as your base and scrub it in to the pan with the potato. As the potato becomes used cut off a small slice of the end. It might take a while but the potato helps to “draw out” the look and taste of iron. If the iron’s really stubborn or you have an area of the skillet you just can’t get in to then go ahead and put a small bit of vinegar in to the pan for about half an hour or so to loosen the rust.

When you’ve gotten all the rust out then just wash well with dishwashing liquid and hot water.  Dry in your oven, baking at about 250F for 20 minutes or so. When it comes out use a TINY bit of veggie oil inside and spread with a napkin so it’ll coat and slow season.

Check how deep the rust is embedded, though. If it’s too far in then the surface is going to be very uneven and you might not get the taste out at all. But try cleaning first because a good cast iron skillet is a horrible thing to waste.