# My cast iron skillet got rusted- can I fix it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565 "2008-07-07T16:07:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/1 "2008-07-07T16:07:56Z")
I always take good care of it, I’m not really sure how it happened- I suspect that my husband put a pan that wasn’t completely dry on top of it in the cabinet. It’s a very light dusting of rust near the center. I tried just rubbing it with lard, and I got part of it off, but there’s still some left. Can I fix this, or would it just be earier to get a new one? This one was pre-seasoned, and I’ve only had it for a year or so, so it’s not a family heirloom that’s been seasoned for 50 years or anything. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/2 "2008-07-07T16:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > If you … see signs of rust, simply scour off the rust, wash the cookware with soap and hot water, dry thoroughly, and re-season… From [here](http://www.lodgemfg.com/usecare2.asp?menu=logic). ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/3 "2008-07-07T16:19:39Z")
Season, shmeezon. Scrub it clean and re-use. I will use comet (Gasp!) and a soft (plastic) scrubbie on my Cast Iron Pans if they get ugly or rusted. Re-seasoning has never been a problem. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/4 "2008-07-07T16:20:36Z")
Unless it is rusted clear through, just scrub off the rust and re-season. No sweat. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/5 "2008-07-07T17:00:02Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] scrub off the rust and re-season. No sweat. [/QUOTE] If there’s a LOT of rust you might break into a light sweat, but that would be about the limit. If I had to throw away my skillet or wok every time they got rusty, I would be buying a lot of cookware… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/6 "2008-07-08T02:20:41Z")
[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense] Season, shmeezon. Scrub it clean and re-use. I will use comet (Gasp!) and a soft (plastic) scrubbie on my Cast Iron Pans if they get ugly or rusted. Re-seasoning has never been a problem. [/QUOTE] I would go ahead and shmeezon after the rust is scrubbed off. You season it so that it won’t rust in the future. It’s not hard to do and it saves in labor down the line. I do it to my non-stick cookware. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/7 "2008-07-08T04:43:05Z")
I find that the best way to season a skillet is to broil a chicken in it. No shit. I do it all the time. My pans never rust. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/8 "2008-07-08T05:48:38Z")
Cast iron skillets are damned near indestructible. You could probably find one that had been outside for ten years, and a good cleaning and reseasoning would bring it back. p.s. The usual home for cooking-related questions is Cafe Society. You will find the real pros there. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/9 "2008-07-08T05:52:49Z")
[QUOTE=brujaja] I find that the best way to season a skillet is to broil a chicken in it. No shit. I do it all the time. My pans never rust. [/QUOTE] My preferred method is to make a roux. High heat + oil = seasoning. If it is the first time, I will make a couple and throw them out before making one for consumption. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/10 "2008-07-08T05:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=brujaja] I find that the best way to season a skillet is to broil a chicken in it. No shit. I do it all the time. My pans never rust. [/QUOTE] Yup, people really seem to overthink this Cast Iron thing. It’s a giant hunk of iron. Hit it hard with a wire brush and then cook something greasy in it. Wipe clean with a paper towel. Toss it in the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cast-iron-skillet-got-rusted-can-i-fix-it/455565/11 "2008-07-08T10:43:03Z")
[QUOTE=Oslo Ostragoth] p.s. The usual home for cooking-related questions is Cafe Society. You will find the real pros there. [/QUOTE] You’re right. They deserve a chance at this one too. Moved. **samclem** GQ moderator