Cleaning rusty Iron Pots

[RiverRat]

Thanks to all for your help! :hatsoff: Now the fun begins, filling these pots with some serious down home cooking

 

[TedPalmer]

hello all!
Pardon my ignorance but do you boil in straight vinegar or fill with water and vinegar?
Is there a ratio that should be followed?
All help reviving my rusty pots is appreciated!
be safe... Ted

 

[Trina]

Hi Ted Palmer
Its nice to see another Oregonian...I use straight vinegar, and I dont boil it but let it set for a bit...

 

[TedPalmer]

thank ya mam!
So do ya just rub it on and let it set or do ya have to fill the pot?
I am probably making it more complicated than need be.

I am on the wet side of the state. How about you?
be safe... Ted

 

[Trina]

I fill it up and depending on how rusty is it a couple of hours to a couple of days..... vinegar is fairly cheep just buy the generic brand. What type of pans are you wanting to clean up? dutch ovens, fry pans?

 

[shmrck1]

Cookie,
This is just a thought on my part and
I truely don't know what the results would
be:
But what would happen if you re-seasond
a couple of times over the rust then soaked in
the vinegar solution between the seasonings.
Seems like it mite cut down on the elbow a lot.
Just a thought :hmm:
snake-eyes

 

[TedPalmer]

I am cleaning a large Dutch oven and a small three legged round pot of about a quart size.
Thanks much for the clarifications!
be safe... Ted

 

[Trina]

Hey Snake-eyes dont think that would work as the vinegar tends to take off the seasoning as well...but IM always on the lookout to save elbow grease :winking:

Ted, sounds like the little three legged piece is a Potjie? they are sure neat.. found one at an auction a couple of years ago... and to answer your question above.. we live in the Medford area... you said you live in the wet part.. is that the willamette valley or farther north? Have a wonderful day...

 

[Slake]

brush them coat them with vegatable oil and let the oil cook off, like on the wood stove all day, repeat as necessary

 

[TedPalmer]

Cookie,
I am about a half hour west of the valley in the coast range.

Do you have to boil with vinegar to produce the stain or will just soaking work?

thanks again for all the information!
be safe... Ted

 

[Trina]

Hi Ted,
Ever go to the Tioga rondy? Your lucky.. its cooler in them thar hills lol...

I dont ever boil the vinegar, so I dont know if it would change the property's of the vinegar or not. If you want to make a stain out of it... after the soak dump the remaining rusty vinegar in a jar and add a couple of stainless steel pads(the non soap kind,actually any kind of iron will do..you want the rust)...and forget about it for a month or two. Let us know how your pot turns out:>

 

A couple of ways that I clean up crusty old cooking iron are:

One is with an over night spaghetti sauce and hot water soak. Pour a jar or can of cheap spaghetti sauce into the pot or skillet, bring it to a low boil. Turn off heat, let cool for a bit, then put the whole affair in a sink with enough hot water to cover pot or skillet entirely. Let sit over night. Should look foundry new in the morning.

Next, is to use black strap molasses. Best to have a plastic tub to do this one.
Mix about 5 parts water to 1 part molasses and soak your pot for about two weeks. You can get a better deal on molasses from a livestock feed store than the super market.

CP