I Just Discovered an Ingenious $1 Trick for Cleaning My Rusty Cast-Iron Skillet
One of the many reasons cast-iron pans are amazing is because, when properly cared for, they can last for a lifetime. But if there’s one drawback to this kitchen workhorse, it’s that it can easily accumulate rust if not cleaned well. But don’t worry — there’s an easy fix, and it involves a kitchen staple you likely already have.
Because cast-iron pans can be quite expensive (and are often family heirlooms), one might call it a miracle that you can clean rust off of them using an inexpensive, widely available household staple: aluminum foil. Wondering how to use aluminum foil to remove rust from a cast-iron pan? You’ve come to the right place — here, experts walk you through the process and fill you in on a few things to consider before getting started.
How to Use Aluminum Foil to Remove Rust from a Cast-Iron Pan
It all comes down to a chemical reaction — rust is a combination of iron and oxygen, also called iron oxide. When aluminum foil (either side works just fine) comes into contact with rust, an electron exchange occurs, causing the aluminum to lose electrons and the rust to gain electrons, which turns the oxide back into metal, essentially removing the rust that’s accumulated on your cast-iron pots and pans, according to the BBC.
Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
Amazon
$4.48 (was $7.29)
Now that you’ve had your daily chemistry lesson, it’s time to dive into how to use aluminum foil to remove rust from a cast-iron pan. I spoke to Daniel Anderson, cleaning expert and CEO of GoRubbishGo, a London-based trash removal service, for a step-by-step guide. For this simple cleaning task, you’ll need aluminum foil, mild dish soap, warm water, a sponge or cloth, and vegetable oil or cast-iron seasoning oil. Of course, you’ll also need a cool and completely dry cast-iron pan.
Tear aluminum foil: Tear a piece of aluminum foil big enough to be placed over the rusted area in your pan.
Dampen foil: Gently dampen the aluminum foil with warm water; it should be moist, not soggy.
Scrub gently: Clean the rusty spots in the cast iron pan using the wet aluminum foil. Apply gentle pressure to the pan, using circular motions. The aluminum foil acts as a mild scrubbing agent that helps loosen and remove the rust without harming the seasoning of the pan.
Rinse and dry: Wash the pan vigorously with warm water to wash off the rust particles and residue from the foil. Dry the pan thoroughly using a towel.
Re-season the pan: Rub a thin layer of vegetable oil or cast-iron seasoning oil all over the pan — inside, out — and handle. Wipe off the extra oil with a paper towel, and bake it in the oven for an hour. (More on how to season your cast-iron pan here.)
Store properly: Store the cast-iron pan in a dry place to prevent the pan from accumulating rust all over again. While aluminum foil does provide some protective properties for your cast-iron pans, they can still re-rust if improperly stored.
Can Aluminum Foil Clean Other Types of Cookware?
In case you’ve got rust on other cookware, you’re probably wondering if foil can be used to clean nonstick or stainless steel pots and pans. According to Anderson, “Aluminum foil can also be used to remove rust from stainless steel and enamel pans. But beware of nonstick or Teflon-coated pans, as the aluminum foil might scratch or wear off the nonstick surface.”
There are lots of different ways to clean with aluminum foil, and I’m always here for a great cleaning hack using what’s already in my pantry. Now that you’ve learned the step-by-step process for how to use aluminum foil to remove rust from a cast-iron pan, you can add one more brilliant cleaning hack to your arsenal. Looking for more clever ways to use aluminum foil? Check out this brilliant method for cleaning a kitchen sink with foil.
Buy: Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, $4.48
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: I Just Discovered an Ingenious $1 Trick for Cleaning My Rusty Cast-Iron Skillet
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