“Water is okay—don’t be scared to use it,” Koludrovic says. “But stagnant water can be an issue, so don’t use a dishwasher.” The problem isn’t the cleaning part per se, it’s the fact that leaving a cast-iron skillet in any water for any extended period of time can cause it to develop rust. The same is true if you end up leaving the cast-iron cookware soaking in a sink. A rusty skillet isn’t just ugly, it can potentially cause a health issue as it harbors bacteria. Plus no one wants a slice of cornbread with a rusty crust. To avoid the damage, always dry the cast-iron cookware with a dry cloth or paper towel once you’re done cleaning.
You’ll also want to consider the age of your cast-iron cookware. Even though they can last for what seems like forever, they don’t. If your skillet has been passed down generation to generation it may be on its last life. If you notice a wobbly base or handle and cracks, it’s time to let it go. Take Marie Kondo’s advice and thank the cast-iron skillet for bringing you joy (and yummy meals), and then retire it.
How do you give an old skillet a second life?
If you’ve inherited a rusty cast iron where the surface of the pan seems beyond a basic clean-up project, there is still hope. You can likely remove minor rust spots by cleaning the cast-iron cookware with a pan scraper or chain mail scrubber, washing with a little soap, drying, and oiling the pan as usual.
For more serious surface rust, try the baking soda and white vinegar cleaning trick as seen by TikToker @smokedbbqsource. Make a paste of six tablespoons baking soda and three tablespoons of water. Scrub down the pan with steel wool. Add vinegar and scrub some more to get rid of all the rust. Rinse with warm water, then wipe down completely. Season with some oil and place in a 500-degrees-Fahrenheit oven for one hour. Let cool completely and repeat the process as necessary.
Alternatively, you can place the cast-iron skillet into a plastic tub and cover it with a vinegar bath for about an hour. Coke can work in lieu of vinegar because it is actually pretty acidic. After this acid bath, use a steel wool scrubber to work the vinegar into the existing rust layer. This might result in a brown paste—totally normal. Rinse with water to see the progress. If it doesn’t work the first time around, repeat the process. Once the surface of the pan is rust-free, make sure to dry properly so you don’t invite any new rust.
But if your skillet has more than a few small problems—as in it’s dull, gray, and has lost its non-stick surface—then use hot soapy water to start. Then coat it in cooking oil, such as canola, and bake the pan upside down at 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for at least an hour (this is not the time for a low heat!). Be sure to place foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any spills, and your cast iron will come out as good as new.