Keep Pots And Pans From Rusting With This Common Pantry Staple
I know exactly how frustrating it feels to pull your favorite pan out of the cupboard only to find it covered in orange rust. We invest good money in our cookware and try so hard to take care of it. But humidity and leftover moisture always seem to sneak in somehow. Recently I learned a fascinating trick that completely changed how I store my metal pots and pans. It turns out the solution is likely sitting in your pantry right now waiting to be brewed.
The Magic Of Ordinary Black Tea
The secret weapon against kitchen rust is just a simple black tea bag. It sounds a little bit strange to rub tea on your cookware but there is actual science behind it. Black tea is naturally full of compounds called tannins. When these tannins come into contact with iron, they create a protective seal over the metal. This invisible barrier physically stops oxygen and moisture from interacting with the iron which prevents rust from ever forming.
Brewing Your Solution
You do not need any fancy or expensive tea for this trick to work. The cheapest box of plain black tea from the grocery store is absolutely perfect. You just need to boil some water and steep one or two tea bags in a mug. Let it steep for a good ten minutes so the liquid becomes incredibly dark and strong. You want as many tannins in the water as possible. Then, just let the mug cool down.
Wiping Down Your Clean Cookware
Start by washing and drying your pan just like you normally would. You want to make sure all the food particles and grease are completely gone. Once the pan is clean and your tea has cooled to room temperature, dip a soft cloth or a paper towel into the dark liquid. Gently wipe a thin layer of the tea all over the inside and outside of the pan. Make sure you cover the heavy bottom too.
The Most Important Drying Step
This is the part where you have to be careful. You never want to put a wet pan away in a dark cupboard. After you wipe the tea onto the metal you need to make sure it dries completely. I like to put my pan back on the stove over low heat for just a minute or two. The heat evaporates the water quickly and leaves those protective tea tannins bonded securely to the iron surface.
A Tiny Drop Of Cooking Oil
Tea is wonderful, but if you want another option, oil is the classic backup method that never fails. If you do not feel like brewing a cup of tea you can just use whatever cooking oil you have on hand. Once your pan is bone dry, put a single drop of canola or vegetable oil on a paper towel. Rub it vigorously into the metal until the pan looks mostly dry again. This creates a waterproof seal that locks out humidity.
The Simple Paper Towel Trick
Here’s a trick to prevent rust altogether. The way you stack your pans matters just as much as how you wash them. When you nest heavy metal pots inside each other you trap small pockets of air and moisture. To stop rust from growing in those dark spaces, grab a few fresh paper towels. Place a single paper towel inside the pan before you stack the next one on top. The paper acts as a sponge to absorb any lingering humidity in the cupboard before it can turn into rust.
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Taking care of heavy metal pans used to feel like a stressful chore to me. I was always worried I would accidentally ruin them. But learning these easy pantry tricks took all the pressure off. You really do not need to buy expensive rust removers or specialized cleaning sprays. A simple cup of tea or a spare paper towel is all it takes to keep your kitchen tools looking beautiful for years. Happy cooking my friend.
Bliss Donahue-Power
