Don't worry, your pan isn't ruined just because it has gotten a little rust.
With a bit of white vinegar and loving care, it can be as good as new.
Rust and frying pans don't go very well together. That's why it's not unusual to panic a little if one day you see your favorite pan with rust!
Fortunately, it's easy to remove rust spots from cast iron pans / carbon steel pans - and your pan will perform just as well (if not better) once you've followed this guide.
It takes more than just soap and a sponge to remove rust. But with a few good tips, you'll be equipped to both remove rust and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Why is my pan rusting?
Unlike frying pans made of stainless steel, cast iron pans will rust if left in a humid environment for a long time. This is due to the alloy in cast iron pans/carbon steel pans, which consists of 99% iron and 1% carbon. The iron in the frying pan can oxidize - and the product of this reaction is what presents itself as rust on the pan.
The good news is that as an owner of a cast iron or carbon steel frying pan, you only need to worry about rust if you leave your frying pan in a humid environment for a long time. This could for example happen if the pan sits soaking in the sink (which we do NOT recommend). In fact, rust often develops after cleaning.
To prevent and avoid rust, we strongly recommend that you follow these steps every time you have used water in connection with cleaning your cast iron pan:
- Dry the frying pan with a cloth
- Put the frying pan on the stove
- Set the stove to low heat until all water has evaporated
- Oil the inside of the pan with a thin layer of an oil with a high smoke point (e.g. grapeseed oil)
- Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool down
- Wipe off any excess oil from the pan
A protective layer of oil can make all the difference when it comes to rust.
If you live in a particularly humid area or use your cast iron pan a lot outdoors, there is an increased risk of rust developing due to humidity in the air. In that case, you should be extra thorough in following our tips in this guide - and pay attention to oiling both the inside and outside when you season the pan (a process called "seasoning").
If your pan has already developed rust, keep reading - there is help to be found!
How to remove rust from your frying pan
There are several methods you can use to remove rust from your carbon steel or cast iron pan. Here are our three favorites:
The salt method:
The most gentle method. Here you use coarse salt and a little oil to scrub the rust off the pan. The method is great for removing minor rust spots.
- Add coarse salt and a little cooking oil on top of the rust spot
- Scrub the salt and oil into the rust spot with circular motions using a piece of kitchen paper or a soft cloth until the rust is completely gone
- Season your cast iron pan with oil in a process called "seasoning"
The scrubbing method:
In this method, you need to use either a coarse scrubbing sponge, steel wool or similar to scrub the rust off the pan. It's a super easy and effective method that is great for removing rust from both the inside and outside of the pan.
- Scrub the rust spot in small circular motions with steel wool or a coarse scrubbing sponge
- Rinse the pan in warm water and soap (repeat step 1 if there is still rust)
- Give your cast iron pan a new layer of seasoning by oiling it
Once you have scrubbed and cleaned the frying pan, make sure it is completely dry before putting it back in the kitchen cabinet.
The vinegar method:
If your cast iron pan has gotten a lot of rust, this method is your salvation. Note that it is extremely important that you give your pan a new layer of seasoning, i.e. oil it, after cleaning with vinegar. Vinegar removes the natural protection and non-stick that has built up on the pan.
- Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into the pan and place it over medium heat on the stove
- Pour out the mixture
- Scrub the pan with warm water and soap
- Give your cast iron pan a new layer of seasoning by oiling it with a thin layer of oil
Why you should season your cast iron pan with oil after removing rust
When you remove rust from the frying pan's surface, you will also remove some of the protective oil layer, which is what both protects against future rust and gives the pan its natural non-stick properties.
That's why it's extremely important that you rebuild the pan's natural non-stick and protection. We have written a guide on how to do this - but in short it's about oiling the pan with a thin layer of oil and seasoning it, which hardens the oil.
If you're looking for a new cast iron / carbon steel frying pan, then check out our frying pans here
