You pulled your iron tawa out of the cupboard after the monsoon and found orange patches all over it. Do not throw it away. Rust on cast iron looks scary but it is almost always fixable at home with a scrubber, a little time and some oil. Why Iron Rusts Iron reacts with water and air. If a pan is left wet, soaked in the sink or stored in a damp cupboard, the seasoning layer breaks down and rust appears. A well seasoned, dry pan resists it much better. What You Need Steel wool, a steel scrubber or a stiff brush Warm water and a little dish soap White vinegar (optional, for heavy rust) Cooking oil with a high smoke point A dry cloth Step by Step Scrub. Use steel wool or a stiff brush with warm soapy water. Scrub until the orange patches are gone and you see bare grey iron. Light rust comes off quickly. For heavy rust, soak briefly. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and soak the pan for 30 minutes to an hour. Do not leave it overnight, because vinegar can start to eat into the iron itself. Scrub again afterwards. Rinse well with plain water to remove all the vinegar and rust dust. Dry immediately. Wipe with a towel and then warm the pan on a low flame for a couple of minutes until it is completely dry. Bare iron can start rusting again within minutes if it stays wet. Re-season. The scrubbing removed the old coating, so the pan needs fresh seasoning. Rub on a few drops of oil, wipe off almost all of it and heat on a medium flame for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat two or three times. The full method is in our seasoning guide. Is a Rusty Pan Safe Once you have scrubbed the rust off and re-seasoned the pan, it is fine to cook on. Do not cook on a pan that still has flaking rust. If the iron is deeply pitted or cracked, it is time for a new one. How to Stop Rust Coming Back Never leave the pan wet or soaking Dry it on the flame after every wash Wipe a thin layer of oil on it before storing Keep it in a dry spot, with a paper towel between stacked pans to absorb moisture Cook with it regularly. Regular use keeps the seasoning fresh

How to Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Tawa and Bring It Back to Life

Byorevia
3 min read

You pulled your iron tawa out of the cupboard after the monsoon and found orange patches all over it. Do not throw it away. Rust on cast iron looks scary but it is almost always fixable at home with a scrubber, a little time and some oil.

In This Guide
  1. Why Iron Rusts
  2. What You Need
  3. Step by Step
  4. Is a Rusty Pan Safe?
  5. How to Stop Rust Coming Back

Why Iron Rusts

Iron reacts with water and air. If a pan is left wet, soaked in the sink or stored in a damp cupboard, the seasoning layer breaks down and rust appears. A well seasoned, dry pan resists it much better.

What You Need

  • Steel wool, a steel scrubber or a stiff brush
  • Warm water and a little dish soap
  • White vinegar (optional, for heavy rust)
  • Cooking oil with a high smoke point
  • A dry cloth

Step by Step

  1. Scrub. Use steel wool or a stiff brush with warm soapy water. Scrub until the orange patches are gone and you see bare grey iron. Light rust comes off quickly.
  2. For heavy rust, soak briefly. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and soak the pan for 30 minutes to an hour. Do not leave it overnight, because vinegar can start to eat into the iron itself. Scrub again afterwards.
  3. Rinse well with plain water to remove all the vinegar and rust dust.
  4. Dry immediately. Wipe with a towel and then warm the pan on a low flame for a couple of minutes until it is completely dry. Bare iron can start rusting again within minutes if it stays wet.
  5. Re-season. The scrubbing removed the old coating, so the pan needs fresh seasoning. Rub on a few drops of oil, wipe off almost all of it and heat on a medium flame for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat two or three times. The full method is in our seasoning guide.

Is a Rusty Pan Safe?

Once you have scrubbed the rust off and re-seasoned the pan, it is fine to cook on. Do not cook on a pan that still has flaking rust. If the iron is deeply pitted or cracked, it is time for a new one.

How to Stop Rust Coming Back

  • Never leave the pan wet or soaking
  • Dry it on the flame after every wash
  • Wipe a thin layer of oil on it before storing
  • Keep it in a dry spot, with a paper towel between stacked pans to absorb moisture
  • Cook with it regularly. Regular use keeps the seasoning fresh

If your tawa is beyond saving or you are starting fresh, take a look at our pre-seasoned cast iron range.

Shop Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Range →
Written byorevia

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