You can use lemon juice to clean rust from your cast iron cookware.
Citric acid is a mild acid found in citrus fruits like limes, lemons, oranges and grapefruit; it is the substance that gives these fruits their sour flavor. Because citric acid is mild, cuts grease and has a pleasant smell, it is used in some homemade household cleaning solutions. It is also sometimes added to commercially manufactured cleaners. It is not recommended that you use citric acid to clean food from cast iron cookware, as citric acid corrodes iron. However, if your cast iron cookware is rusted, citric acid can safely and effectively remove the rust.
Instructions
1. Scour off any rust flakes or particles of cooked-on food with the steel wool.
2. Make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and borax powder.
3. Spread the lemon juice mixture over any rust spots with the scrubbing pad. Let the mixture sit on the pan for a few minutes, so the acid can get to work dissolving the rust.
4. Scrub the area with the scrubbing pad. You may have to use a considerable amount of elbow grease, depending upon how thick and widespread the rust is.
5. Rinse all traces of paste off the pan with clean water. Dry with paper towels. Dry thoroughly, because if any moisture remains on the pan, rust will form again. Inspect the pan for any remaining traces of rust and repeat the process, if necessary.
6. Place the dried cast iron pan on a heated stove burner for about two or three minutes. This will eliminate any traces of moisture left on the pan, preventing further rusting.
7. While the pan is still on the heated stove burner, spread a very small amount of vegetable oil over the interior surface of the pan with a paper towel. Turn the burner off, let the pan sit for a few minutes, then wipe off any excess oil off with a clean paper towel. Leave a very thin film of oil on the pan to "season" it.
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