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Rescue a Rusty Cast-Iron Skillet
Old and rusty ones can be restored through the seasoning process.
This guide book will help you season rescue a rusty old one and
maintain a skillet so it doesn't lose its seasoning.
Scrub your skillet down to its base layer
First things first, you want to scrub your cast iron down with steel
wool, hot water, and mild dish soap to get it to the base layer.
Scrub the entire pan, including the handle and the bottom and
sides of it. These pans are actually one piece of cast iron, and you
want to season the whole thing, not just the inside. Once you've
finished scrubbing the pan, rinse it under hot water and continue
scrubbing with a non-metal scouring pad or the tough side of a
sponge.
Completely dry the skillet to prevent rusting
Towel-dry the skillet after rinsing. Then, place in a hot oven or heat
on the stovetop to dry completely. This will ensure that any excess
moisture boils off and the skillet is completely bone-dry. This is
the most crucial step to prevent rusting.
Add a thin layer of oil
Pour a small drop of oil into the skillet and spread it around with a
paper towel or dish towel, covering the entire pan. Then take the
clean side of your towel and wipe off any excess oil. Cast-iron
cookware is porous, and the oil works to fill those pores and create
a smooth, nonstick surface. Enough oil soaks into those pores
during the initial coating, so you can go ahead and wipe off as
much as you can. Leaving too much oil on is a common mistake
that will leave your skillet sticky.
Note: Flaxseed oil is the new standard, since it dries the hardest
and creates the best, longest-lasting nonstick seasoning, but it's
also pretty expensive. If you don't want to spend that much money,
canola oil will also work just fine.
Heat in the oven
After coating the skillet in oil, place upside down in your oven at
the highest temperature it can go — between 450°F and 500°F.
The high heat allows the oil to break down and bond with the cast
iron. If your oven isn't hot enough, the oil won't break down and
your skillet will come out sticky. This process takes about one hour.
After that hour is up, turn off your oven and let the skillet cool off
in there.
For regular maintenance, do this process at least twice a year. Just
start with adding a thin layer of oil and heating it past the smoking
point in the oven.
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