There are times when you head out to the shed to grab your Dutch oven, only to find that you have left it there far too long and it has begun to rust. Please take note: you should not use any cast-iron cookware that has rusted as the rust will get into your food and possibly poison those who eat it. Now this might be good if you\’re having your mother-in-law over, but I would probably take the time and effort to go through the following steps to see that the rust is properly removed from your piece of cast-iron cookware.

Now, let me throw in one more caveat before you dive into the steps I\’ve outlined below. If the rust that you have found on the piece of cookware is minor, then you may be able to salvage it. However, if there is a significant amount of rust on the piece, you may opt to simply throw it out and purchase a new one. Unless you are trying to salvage an important inherited heirloom from grandpa George, it may be worth your time to simply replace rather than renew.

1. Thoroughly clean the piece of cookware with hot soapy water, and either steel wool or a course scouring pad. Make sure to remove as much surface rust as possible. Sometimes a piece of coarse sandpaper can come in handy when the steel wool just doesn\’t cut it.

2. Prepare enough of the following solution to be able to completely submerge the rusted piece of cast-iron: 67% ammonia with 33% water, or 67% white vinegar with 33% water.

3. Completely submerge the piece in the prepared solution. Note: you will find that this soaking process will change the color of the cast-iron. If the pieces only partially submerged, then you will create a permanent line where the piece stuck out of the solution.

4. Removed the piece from the solution and rinse it thoroughly with very hot water. Now when I say hot water, use the hottest water you can stand without burning your hands. While rinsing, you may want to use a clean scouring pad or a dish rag to help rinse off the cleaning solution.

5. Repeat step 1 above, and rinse again with very hot water. If after going through this process, there is rust that remains, repeat the process until the rust has been completely removed.

6. Because of this cleaning process, the cast-iron piece will need to be seasoned again very well. It is recommended that you go through the seasoning process at least three times before trying to cook with the pot or pan. After seasoning, it should be ready to use again. Now remember, the seasoning process is a vital step you don\’t want to skip. The better the seasoned piece, the easier it is to cook with and to clean.

Keep in mind that if you are able to restore grandpa\’s old Dutch oven, or you decided to throw it away and go buy a new one, you need to make sure that you season the piece very well. It is vital for cast-iron cookware to be taken care of properly. As you will find, when the piece has been seasoned well it can sit in the shed were on the shelf for a long time without you having to worry about rust.

Author Bio: Shane Busch is the author of various articles and loves to write about a wide variety of topics. For more information on this subject, please visit http://www.castironking.com

Category: Recreation
Keywords: cast iron cookware, cast iron cooking ware, cast iron pots and pans