I have Rust

I have Rust on my Dutch Oven

TIP: Do not let your cast iron air dry, as this can promote rust!!!

1. If rust is not too bad, scrub with a scouring pad and rinse well. You can also use Sandpaper and Elbow grease. Steel Wool or a Rust Eraser also works great. Rust Eraser can be found at the hardware store. Make sure when you get the rust removed you put your dutch oven over a heat source to dry out all the moisture. Then re-season your dutch oven.
Profile Rusting:
This is rust is seen and felt on the cookware. To remove this type rust use a very fine grade of steel wool or an abrasive soap pad, such as SOS, Brill, etc. to scrub the affected area. When the piece is scrubbed down to raw cast iron it should be immediately. If you have put any water on it you should put it over heat and dry it out first before re-seasoning your dutch oven.
Severe Rust:
If rust is covering the majority of the cast iron is considered severe. Perhaps the item has been in a state of neglect. No amount of hand scrubbing will remove this rust. To salvage the cookware …..if you have a drill go down to your local store and buy a metal brush. Put it on your drill and start to work and take off all the rust. Then the cookware should then be seasoned ASAP to avoid RUST!!!
2. The way the pioneers did it was to place the pot in a larger container and stuff with hay. Dry or moist makes no difference. Add enough water to cover and 2 cups of cider vinegar to every gallon of water. Just let is sit for about 1 hour, then check to see if all the rust is gone. If not, scrub a little and let it sit for 1 more hour; and all the rust should be gone. Scrub with a scouring pad, rinse, and re-season the pot. Remember to use the proper tools and hot pads to do the seasoning since the pans hold their heat . Never touch a hot Dutch Oven without good hot pads. This also works on tools!!!
3. If your Dutch Oven is extremely rusty, this could take 12 to 24 hours of sitting in the solution before you are down to the raw iron.