DIY: How to Remove Rust & Season Cast Iron

I was out on Vashon Island at Treasure Island Antique Store last weekend and came across and beautiful, but rusted, Jøtul goro iron. Aside from the light rust it was in very good condition and I knew I would regret it if I didn't buy it. When i got home I took a look at my grandmother's krumkake iron and notice it had a bit of rust on it as well (probably due to my unfaithfulness -I have been seeing an electric iron on the side). So I went about cleaning and seasoning them both using this method.

Here is what you will need:

Rubber Gloves, Vegetable oil, Salt, Steel wool, Foil lined cookie sheet, Bacon fat/ lard, Pastry brush

* I donned rubber gloves and then put the iron in the sink. I sprinkled it with salt and then doused my steel wool in vegetable oil and started scrubbing away. Keep scrubbing and add salt and oil as needed. I sometimes use tweezers to push the steel wool into tight corners.

* Rinse the iron thoroughly in hot water.

* Place any solid cast iron pieces on a foil lined cookie sheet and put them in the oven or 10-15 minutes to completely dry them out. (To dry the iron, which has a rubber/plastic handle, I put it on a gas burner on low until it was dry).

* Once the iron is completely dry you can paint it in bacon fat with a pastry brush (vegetable oil will leave it sticky, so it really is better to use bacon fat). Turn it over and paint the other side.

* Put solid cast iron pieces in the oven at 250 for an hour. Re-apply bacon fat using method above and bake for another 30 min. (Again for the iron I just left it in the pan turning it once after 15 min. Or if the base is already seasoned you could put it on the base to do this.)

* Remove from oven, wipe excess with a paper towel and let it cool.