Easy rust repair of cast iron??

cssmd27 · June 2014

I don't use cast iron in my cooking anymore (have carbon steel and copper pans now for those functions), but I have an old "beater" cast iron skillet in my garage that I would like to repurpose for my BGE by cutting off the handle. However, it has a decent amount of rust on it at this point.

Is there an easy way to fix the CI and get it back to "cookable" condition? I don't need non-stick at all for this. I just need it to be such that it's a clean and safe surface to cook on and it won't easily rust when stored away.

Of course, the other option is to just toss this one and buy new since they are cheap. That's why the solution needs to be quick and easy - the barrier to (re)entry via new is not very high.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Cookinbob · June 2014

No reason to toss it, it really never goes bad, and it might be a really good piece of iron. I would give it a good work over with plain old steel wool, rinse with water, dry, and rub down with oil (Crisco, Canola, etc). If you want to re-season, put it in the oven at 300 for an hour. There are lots of YouTube videos on recovering old cast iron if you want to watch.

CTMike · June 2014

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/clean-cast-iron-no-self-clean-oven.aspx

GeorgeS · June 2014

Agreed, do not throw it out. Recondition and get it back in action. I used easy off oven cleaner on my old stuff to strip it and then re season it. Spray with easy off, tuck away into a trash bag and twist it closed so it stays wet then wait 24 hours to scrub with steel wool. Repeat as needed and then re season. No reason to waste money on something you already have. Save it for meat!

Thatgrimguy · June 2014

Just give it a vinegar bath if it's only a light coating of rust.

If it's worse, then the oven cleaner (lye) is a better option.

BRush00 · June 2014

I had a pretty grimy one a while back - gave it to my Dad and he took it to his shop & sandblasted it

Came back looking better than I've ever seen it (it was my Grandmother's before my Father's, then Mine). Gave it a little oil and put it in the oven to season & done!

tarheelmatt · June 2014

You're missing out on something good by not cooking on a well seasoned CI cookware.

Anywho... You can place in your oven and do a cleaning cycle. Then re-season.

thirdeye · June 2014

I agree with using the oven cleaner method, then several heat and oiling cycles. I've restored plenty of cast iron gems doing this. I pretty much mirrored The Pan Man technique.

Carolina Q · June 2014

I like David (Panman). Nice guy, very helpful and quick to return emails. Seems to know what he's talking about too.

cssmd27 · June 2014

Ok, after reading just a bit, the cost of supplies essentially equals the cost of a new flat skillet on Amazon ($15) and that's before taking into consideration my time. Gonna have to go new with this one, but thanks for the info.

I'll save the old ones and if I ever have a need for a can of oven cleaner, I'll clean them up.

GeorgeS · June 2014

If your anywhere near Northern Virginia I will come take them off your hands!

nolaegghead · June 2014

Just hit it with some sandpaper, give it a good scrubbing and put some oil on it. If you can't sand all the rust off of it easily, buy a new one. If this was a Griswold it would be very bad advice if you wanted to preserve the value of the CI. You just want something to cook on.

tarheelmatt · June 2014

I will buy it off you and will gladly clean it.

tarheelmatt · June 2014

Sometimes those beaters are diamonds in the rough.

Zmokin · June 2014

cssmd27 said:

Ok, after reading just a bit, the cost of supplies essentially equals the cost of a new flat skillet on Amazon ($15) and that's before taking into consideration my time. Gonna have to go new with this one, but thanks for the info.

I'll save the old ones and if I ever have a need for a can of oven cleaner, I'll clean them up.

If you don't want to do the work to restore, because buying a new one is cheaper, why not donate it to someone that loves to restore old CI. There are plenty of us willing to take it off your hands if you don't want it. I do beg of you not to throw it out in the trash. It deserves a 2nd chance instead of becoming landfill.

tarheelmatt · June 2014

IMO, throwing it out is plain wrong and hurts me.... I would take the CI over the carbon steel and copper any day!

Serial Griller · June 2014

http://www.wag-society.org/

nolaegghead · June 2014

Deal - 3 CI frying pans, 3 sizes, $23 shipped.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VTOG78/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&tag=1sale06-20&linkId=65PL2OQYP2Q4XPMK

cssmd27 · June 2014

nolaegghead said:

Just hit it with some sandpaper, give it a good scrubbing and put some oil on it. If you can't sand all the rust off of it easily, buy a new one. If this was a Griswold it would be very bad advice if you wanted to preserve the value of the CI. You just want something to cook on.

nola gets it! These aren't heirlooms, I just want it for searing meat, but still on the Egg.

Guys, I didn't mean to start any kind of debate about cookware types or whether they could be restored. It's just not worth my time compared to the replacement cost. I'm not tossing them at this point, but I'm not going to mess with restoring.

For those that said they wanted them before I considered tossing them, I'm in Dallas and you'd be welcome to them. Just shoot me a PM. Shipping would probably cost the same as a new one, so not worth it.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Easy rust repair of cast iron??

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