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Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron Tools

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When you find cast iron this cool, it's worth the effort to remove the rust.
When you find cast iron this cool, it’s worth the effort to remove the rust.

Cast Iron will last pretty much forever. You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, on your grill, and even right into the coals of a campfire. And that’s just cast iron for cooking. There are tons of cast iron tools out there, some relatively new and some really old.

Maybe you found great cast iron andirons at an antique shop… Or you snagged some turn of the century cast iron pliers at a rummage sale… Perhaps you’ve reached into the depths of your own garage and rediscovered an old cast iron trivet (link to Amazon).

And maybe those new/old treasures are rusty.

So how do you get the rust off of those cast-iron tools? Just follow the steps below and restore your cast iron finds to their former glory.

These are the basic steps. We’ll go into each one in detail in a moment.

Rust Removal Steps

  1. Use lukewarm water on the tools to remove any excess grit (when doing this, some of the rust may already begin to come off)
  2. Use steel wool, or a stiff brush (or both) to help chip off any more rust
  3. Wash the tools with soap and warm water
  4. Repeat scrubbing with steel wool.
  5. Wash again
  6. DRY
  7. Wipe with oil

This is a quick and easy way to clean the rust off of cast iron tools. However, it is important that you perform the steps correctly. So let’s take a closer look at these steps, why we perform them and what to watch out for a while performing them.

Here’s a chainmail cast iron scrubber at Amazon that won’t rust.

Step 1 – rinse

A very simple step, this is done so that we can loosen up any dirt or grime. Some of the rust may come off as well. When running it underwater (or spraying it with water if the tool is too large for your sink) use an old rag to wipe off any grime.

The only way to make tortillas
is with this
cast iron tortilla press at Amazon.

Step 2 – scour

Use steel wool or a stiff brush (Amazon) to get the tough rust spots off of the tools. Because it is cast iron, you don’t need to worry about scratching the surface. It is made to take a beating.

Step 3 – wash

Wash your tools in lukewarm water with a mild soap. This will remove any filaments as well as the rust.

This soap and oil from Amazon is specifically made for cast iron.

Step 4 – scrub again

It seems like the first try never removes all the rust. You almost always have to do it again. Once you’ve washed the tools, you’ll be able to see where the rust remains. Go at it again with your steel wool and brush.

Step 5 – wash again

Once again, wash away the rust and iron filaments or any bits of steel wool that remain on the tools.

Step 6 – DRY

Why is this step so important? Any moisture left on cast iron will rust. Quickly. To avoid having to do this whole process over (and over) again, make sure your tools are very, very dry. Putting your tools in the oven on low is a good idea for tools that have hard to reach nooks.

Step 7 – oil

Once your tools are good and dry, use a dry cloth to rub oil (olive oil works well) on the tools. This will restore their black luster and prevent future rusting.

Old cast iron pipe fittings. Useful then, extra cool now.
Old cast iron pipe fittings. Useful then, extra cool now.

Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about cast iron cooking in these posts.

Preventative Maintenance

In order to make sure that you do not have to put in the amount of work it takes to scrub off the rust from your tools, you can periodically wipe them clean and add another coat of oil.

You might like this post about cast iron maintenance.

One thing to remember is never expose cast iron to moisture without immediately drying it. Don’t store your cast iron tools in a place where they could get wet. Also, when cleaning your cast iron tools, don’t run them under hot water, the heat will open up the pores of the cast iron and water will get inside causing it to rust.

Take a look at this cast iron cookbook at Amazon.

Wrap – Up

The beautiful thing about cast iron is its durability. That’s why people still have anvils and pliers and trivets from the 19th century and before. The not-so-beautiful thing about cast iron is its tendency to rust.

Now with the steps above, you can take that old rusty hunk of cast iron from a dusty corner of a thrift store and restore the tool to a beautiful luster, worthy of display.

Now read this: a post about the history of Griswold Cast Iron.

Additional Resources

Kitchen Professor author
About the Author: Alexis DeAnda

Alexis DeAnda is a food fanatic, library card user, and cast iron hunter, in that order. She has been cooking for anyone that will taste it ever since her mom let her make doughnuts on Saturday mornings at the age of 7.

1 thought on “How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron Tools”

  1. I too use flaxseed oil and for seasons my cast iron pan and found it works better than the other oils I’ve tried. Plus it lasts a long time when refrigerated. In my experience the seasoning technique described in the article works perfectly with one alteration — the seasoning finish is much smoother and lasts longer when the pan is baked at 550f for TWO hours instead of just one hour. That’s it. Very simple and effective.

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