Burned patches in cast iron frying pan

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Salams folks.  Any idea how to get this cleaned and shiny again? 

Yesterday my sister was doing lot a cookin.  That super cast iron frying pan of hers got pretty wreaked with stubborn brown rusty burned marks on it.  She used dishwashing liquid and vim.  No luck.  Any suggestions?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Hmmmm ... try vinegar and water, half and half and leave it for an hour.  Then clean .. see if it goes.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

She tried that.  Left it for 2 hours.  Didn't go.

[N. Truth Seeker]

I think sister Ruhi will know ....

[Ruhi_Rose]

Wa'salam folks.   Me here

Yeah I can help, InshAllah.   My 11-year-old daughter did the same a month ago.  We got a 14" diameter cast iron frying pan for her and last month it got a huge brown burned patch in the centre.  She poured a little oil in it to make a flatbread paratha, left it on medium cooker to warm .... and then she forgot and the pan stayed on the cooker, heating for upto 20 minutes.   Then what I did, cooled it off.  Wiped it with a paper towel thoroughly.  After it's cool, warm it on medium cooker for a 5 minutes or less until it's a litlle hot but NOT smoking hot. Turn off the stove, pour a tablespoon cooking oil in it, add 1 teaspoonful table salt and half teaspoon baking soda.  Now scrub with a firm, heavy duty scouring pad.  Let the salt and baking powder act as abrasive .. and salt is excellent abrasive.  It won't take too long, the rusty burns will start coming off completely.  When fully done, rinse with lukewarm water.  Do not use dish wash liquid.  That will take away the seasoning.  Wipe dry with a clean piece of paper towel.  Wipe gently but properly.  Bit of stains will also come on the paper towel.  Since you are cleaning it with oil as a base, the seasoning should be there after you wipe dry it.  In case it feels a bit too dry, season a bit with whichever cooking oil you use - canola, corn or olive oils.  Just pour a drop and wipe it all over with a clean paper napkin or paper towel until you get the shine.  You will, InshAllah.  Not as tough as it may sound, really. 

Here are the pics ..

You're gonna need cooking oil, salt and baking powder as the abrasive cleaner, quantities mentioned.

As cleaning elements you will need double duty scouring pad, your dish wash gloves and some sheets of paper towels or paper napkins, pic there ..

 👇




And here's the cast iron pan, all stains gone.  Not exactly like brand new, but okay.




Apology for not taking a pic of the burnt pan .. if I knew I would be posting about it here, then I would have taken a pic of it too. 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Subhan'Allah .. excellent work superbly handled.  Sister Ruhi is expert on household tips.   It looks almost new to me.  Are both these the same pan?  One seems to be having silverish base.

[Ruhi_Rose]

O thanks brother.   Yeah, yeah, same pan.  There was just one pan.  That silverish look is because of the kitchen light.  If you see the second pic, it looks black cast iron.  That's the real colour.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Mash'Allah and wowie!!  So lemme get it straight.  You first cool the burned pan and then clean it dry with paper towel.  Then warm it a bit on cooker.  Remove from cooker and pour little oil, salt and baking powder and scrub, only using hard scouring pad ....  Right?  Salt and baking powder gotta be mixed with oil .. not water?

[Ruhi_Rose]

Yes, scrub only with a hard scouring pad as shown in pic.  If you want, cut it in half for a better hold.  Make sure you don't use anything metallic to scrub.  That will ruin the pan with scratches.

And yes, salt and baking powder gotta be used with oil base, not water.  If you use water, salt will dissolve and lose its abrasive properties.  But salt doesn't dissolve in oil and thus it cleans great.  Alhumdulilah.

Vinegar won't clean burned frying pans.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Perfect! Got it. Will carefully explain to my sister Insh'Allah.  Alhumdulilah. 

Millions of thanks dear Sis .. !!   Allah bless.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Tons of welcome Sis Heba! 😊

[Zainab_M]

Brilliant, Alhumdulilah.  Very useful information for everyone to remember.  Big thanks Sis Ruhi.

Somethong to know that all those different frying pans that claim "non-stick" aren't exactly that. Food does stick as you keep using them daily.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Thanks and load of welcome dear, dear Sis!  😊

  ....
Somethong to know that all those different frying pans that claim "non-stick" aren't exactly that. Food does stick as you keep using them daily.

Absolutely correct.   That 'non-stick' label is largely a marketing strategy.  It's only 50% true.