Don't Call Me Rusty!

Niece Crystal asked if I had any tricks for removing rust from cast iron pans.  Not really I said but Google would know.

So a quick google search shows plenty of tips and tricks.  Some pretty interesting like:

1) rubbing with 1/2 potato and baking soda
2) scrubbing with salt and oil

Hmmm... do they really work? I must know!!

I remember Robert has a cast iron grill pan somewhere in the backyard.  He found it at a dump few years ago and brought it back to me like a trophy.  Look what I found, honey!!  It was a pretty ugly pan - rusted, dull and beat up - but I kept it thinking I'll deal with it one day.  I left it outside and forgot all about it.

My perfect experiment!!  I found the pan over the weekend.  It was stashed with bunch of tiles looking pretty pathetic sitting on top of the pool pump.  It was dusty with cobweb and with a thin layer of orange rust.  Sorry, it has been left outside for a few years.  However, it looked like it could still have some life given a chance.

So I followed the potato and baking soda cleaning tip.  I wouldn't 't say that it worked 100% but most of the gritty stuff came off.  After a thorough scrubbing, the grill was squeaky clean and ready for seasoning.

I warmed up the pan on the stove over medium low heat then I oiled it.  The pan sucked up the oil thirstily and it slowly began to shine.  I think it likes it!!!  Hey, I like it too!!

It's exciting to bring a cast iron pan back to life.  Really.  To test, I grilled a steak on it.  Wow! the steak grilled beautifully and it didn't even stick to the pan.  The pan made happy sizzling sounds.  Oh it must be happy being useful again.  Afterward, I washed and oiled it again.  It looked like it could be salvaged.  YES!

There are still some weathered marks on the rim and on the backside but I don't think it's rust anymore.  I'll try the salt and oil cleaning method this weekend to see if I can take them off. If not, I'll just live with it.  It actually adds some characters and a mark of life to the pan.

Love your cast iron pan people.  It did not give up on itself so you shouldn't too.  Cheers!

Me and My Buds

Old Friends are special.  They are the ones who grow up with you and who are there in every stage of your life.  They laugh and cry with you; they share your happiness and sadness; they help celebrate your life milestones.  When you are lucky to have Old Friends.  Hold them tight.  They are precious.

My old buds are from my childhood.  We all went to the same high school.  Some of us went to the same elementary and junior high.  We hung out as little girls, and we still hang out as adult women.  Our conversation topics evolved from homework, exams, puppy love, going out, boyfriends, family/parents, college, work, marriage, children/husband (for me, boyfriend still) to the latest: middle age, wrinkles and the unthinkable: menopause!!  Ugh!!

We joked that we will be talking about Social Security, Medicare, high blood pressure medicine and grandchildren soon. I can't imagine us talking about the senior stuff (not just yet).  But, I know that day will come eventually, and I'm glad that I'll have my old buds to share my sunset years with me then.

XXOO to my Old Buds! (I'll add pictures as I find them).

2008



2011

2004