Sometimes it seems that time does not fall under the cast iron frying pan . After 5, 10 and even 20 years, they all also perform well their functions and remain the best assistants in cooking. However, if used improperly, the product may become corroded, which will affect the quality of the cooked food. Why does a cast-iron frying pan rust and what to do in case of spoilage of such valuable utensils? About this below.
Causes of corrosion of cast iron
The surface of the frying pan made of cast iron is covered with small pores that appeared at the plant during the cooling of the metal. These pores are the most vulnerable place of dishes - if the frying pan is not covered with special grease, then there is a big risk of rust. To clean the metal from corrosion, it is necessary to pour vegetable oil in a new dish and place it in a heated oven for 170-180 ° C for 40 minutes. The oil is charred and forms a protective coating, which will not allow the burning of food and the appearance of rust.
If you want a cast iron frying pan to serve you for many years, then follow these recommendations:
- do not store food in it;
- Do not clean it with abrasive cleaning agents and do not wipe with metal sponges;
- Do not soak it for long in the water;
- after washing, wipe the surface of the dishes dry or leave it to dry in an open area;
- Do not store dishes in closed damp areas.
It is also useful to know that cast iron products are not afraid of metal kitchen tools. Therefore, you can safely use the blades, forks and spoons.
Methods to combat the appearance of rust
Let's say you were not familiar with the peculiarities of the operation of cast-iron dishes and made a number of mistakes, after which corrosion began. What should I do in this situation? In this case, you need to follow this instruction:
- Brush the cast iron with soap and water. The rust layer must be completely removed.
- Wipe the pan dry and pour salt into it. Incline it on the stove for 1-1.5 hours. Turn off the oven and leave the frying pan until completely cooled. Do not pour out the salt.
- Rinse the product with warm water. Lubricate it with sunflower oil and warm it in the oven / on the stove for 1 hour. If smoke appears during the calcination, just open the ventilation pans and turn on the hood. Do not turn off the plate.
After these procedures are done, a non-stick layer will appear on the surface of the cast iron, which will prevent food from sticking and rusting.