# What to do about a cooking pan with rust spots?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 1, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379 "2016-11-01T16:49:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/1 "2016-11-01T16:49:55Z")
The pan that came with our toaster oven has surface rust in several spots. I’ve tried grinding some of it off but those spots are rusting again. We do line the pan with aluminum foil when using it but I made BBQ ribs Sunday night and the sauce must have eaten through the foil.
Any suggestions what to do to keep the rust from getting worse? Is there some sort of oven-safe ceramic coat spray paint?
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### Author:  [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/2 "2016-11-01T16:54:58Z")
Get a new pan?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/3 "2016-11-01T17:00:51Z")
I’m assuming it’s enameled steel.
You could possibly season it (or at least season the rusty spots) in the same way that cast iron pans are seasoned.
Or if you know someone with a kiln large enough to accommodate the pan, you could re-enamel the patches, but that seems like a lot of work.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/4 "2016-11-01T17:07:20Z")
Rust is non-toxic. It’s even added to a lot of foods. Just keep polishing those spots until they turn to “hard” rust and it should last years more.
Or get a new pan. I wouldn’t trust any kind of “porcelain repair” or the like to be oven/food safe.
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/5 "2016-11-01T17:07:22Z")
Replacement toaster oven pans are available everywhere. Many run under $15. Target has a set of 3 for that much, plus 20% off.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/6 "2016-11-01T17:19:57Z")
The main concern is that a pan could rust through and something could leak and start a fire. So use foil, I’ve seen foil pans that fit or with a little nudging will fit in a toaster oven. Oil the spots like seasoning a cast iron pan to keep food from sticking. And ask people if they have an extra pan, I know somewhere in a box of old kitchen stuff I’ve got a toaster oven pan.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/7 "2016-11-01T17:32:37Z")
FTR, [this is the oven we have](http://www.target.com/p/black-decker-6-slice-convection-oven-stainless-steel/-/A-13024921?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=&adgroup=&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=s&device=c&location=9008192&gclid=CJqEhsaKiNACFcFAhgod0fYF1A&gclsrc=aw.ds). I guess we could go to the local Target, see if they have one on display, and look for extra pans that fit.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [November 1, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/8 "2016-11-01T17:32:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> And ask people if they have an extra pan, I know somewhere in a box of old kitchen stuff I’ve got a toaster oven pan.
Wave a little hard money at them. It helps, and then you’re golding for pan.
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### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/9 "2016-11-03T03:08:01Z")
Use two layers of foil and/or heavier-gauge foil.
All foils are not created equal.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/10 "2016-11-03T03:32:00Z")
Or use a [silicone baking mat](http://www.target.com/p/mrs-anderson-s-non-stick-silicone-toaster-oven-baking-mat-7-9-x-10-75/-/A-18765833?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=&adgroup=&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9019554&gclid=CIC97YjTi9ACFYaGaQodE_UPAw&gclsrc=aw.ds) to line the pan.
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### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/11 "2016-11-03T03:43:54Z")
I would be more worried about your sauce if it can eat through foil.
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### Author:  [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/12 "2016-11-03T04:22:07Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#):
>
> I would be more worried about your sauce if it can eat through foil.
This ↑↑↑↑ Bawahahaha :eek:
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### Author:  [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/13 "2016-11-03T05:25:10Z")
Contact the company. They will likely either sell or even give you a replacement pan.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/14 "2016-11-03T11:42:33Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Wave a little hard money at them. It helps, and then you’re golding for pan.
At first I didn’t like this pun. But I’ve reconsidered, it has all the necessary elements and it’s on point. So I’ll give it 8.5 out of 10 groans.
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-a-cooking-pan-with-rust-spots/770379/15 "2016-11-03T14:46:53Z")
Buy one of those one-use heavy foil turkey roasting pans, and cut it and shape it to fit, either as a liner or to replace your pan.