Rusty pots and pans don't always have to be thrown away. Some can easily be saved with a little patience and getting dirty. However, if your pan is bent or cracked, descaling seems like a waste of time. Therefore, the pan should be discarded.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Salt
Step 1. Take table salt and brown paper bag
The salt acts as a mild abrasive, which can help you remove rust easily without damaging the cookware.
Step 2. Sprinkle salt on the rusty pan
Sprinkle enough to cover the area that needs scrubbing to form a thin layer.
Step 3. Scrub with brown paper
If the salt starts to mix with the rust, discard it and replace it with new salt.
Step 4. Grease the pan to avoid rusting in the future
Oiling is important, especially for cast-iron pans, as it protects and makes cooking and cleaning easier in the future.
Method 2 of 4: Scrubbing the Frying Pan
Step 1. Use iron wool to remove a thin layer of rust from most of the pan
If your cookware is not stainless steel, try scrubbing the rust off with a fine iron wool.
Use a small amount of dish soap when scrubbing. This can prevent major scratches on the pan
Step 2. Use a soft coir, such as the Scotch-Brite brand, for stainless steel
If you don't have coir or your cookware isn't stainless steel, try scrubbing rust with a Scotch-Brite and a plastic scrubber.
Step 3. Use natural coir for any pan, scrubbing hard to remove rust
If you need a more natural or eco-friendly solution, try these scrubbing options that our ancestors used to remove rust:
- Coir (but not stainless steel utensils).
- A paste made of half lemon juice and half cream of tartar.
- Fine-grained sand (nor is it for stainless steel utensils).
Method 3 of 4: Using Potato Rub
Step 1. Cut the potatoes in half
Any kind of potato can be used. This method is mild, but is only suitable for light rust stains on the surface.
Step 2. Coat the potatoes with baking soda
Coat the potato wedges with baking soda to coat the flat part. You can pour a little baking soda on a plate and add the potatoes to coat it.
If you don't have baking soda on hand, some say potatoes will suffice, or you can rub a little laundry soap on them
Step 3. Rub the sliced potato on the rust to remove it
Rinse the pan to remove any loose rust.
Step 4. When the potatoes start to soften, thinly slice the soft parts and return to step two
Step 5. Repeat steps 2-5 as necessary to remove all rust
Again, this is only suitable for thin layers of rust. If you run into a serious problem, revert to one of the previous methods.
Method 4 of 4: Using Vinegar or Lemon Juice
Step 1. Use a mild acid solution to remove rust
You can soak a frying pan or pan overnight in an acid solution to soften the rust and scrub it off later. Some of the options include:
- Baking soda and water
- Vinegar
- Lemon juice
Step 2. Soak the pan overnight in the acid solution
You can add a little water to reduce the acidity. Add 1-2 tablespoons of salt for better results.
Step 3. Rub the rust in the morning
You can use an iron scrubber for a wider area of rust, but lemon zest is actually one of the best scrubbers for a gentle wash.
Step 4. Repeat one more time if anything is left
Be sure to rinse the pan after soaking, as vinegar can damage the pan's coating if left for too long.
