Easy kitchen hack. Ditch chemicals and use onion and sugar to remove rust from your pans
1:22 PM EST, January 9, 2024
Rust, without a question, is one of the toughest adversaries of kitchen utensils. It results from the reaction of metals with oxygen and moisture, and the disconcerting brown or red residue left behind can ruin the look of your dishes, and could be harmful if ingested. How then, can one effectively and swiftly eradicate rust? My preferred approach combines the use of onions and sugar.
Homemade rust removal from baking trays
An effortless, swift, and practical way to remove rust from kitchenware is by leveraging the attributes of the humble onion, a nutrient-rich vegetable with bioactive properties and abundant in essential oils, alkaloids, and organic acids, some of which can dissolve rust.
To eliminate rust with an onion and sugar, select a fresh, large, firm-textured onion. Slice it in half and generously dust it with powdered sugar. Then, use this homemade concoction to scrub the rusty baking pan thoroughly. Afterwards, wash the pan meticulously and dry it.
Removing rust from kitchen utensils using homemade methods
Onions and powdered sugar are not the sole resources in your kitchen arsenal that can help combat rust on cutlery and other items. Vinegar, washing soda, Coca-Cola, and even a humble potato can also do an excellent job.
To eradicate rust, immerse kitchen utensils in a solution of vinegar and water for a few hours or overnight and then scrub them with a coarse sponge or brush. For stubborn rust, introduce some salt into the vinegar, which will function as a scouring agent. You can use Coca-Cola in the same manner.
Washing soda is an alkaline compound capable of neutralizing the acidity of rust and removing it from metals. Mix it with water to form a paste and apply this mix to rusty objects. Alternatively, a potato can aid you in this process. Cut it in half, sprinkle it with salt, and rub the rust-stained items with it.