Pan Question? Is this rust or niter deposits?

[Spolcik]

Thanks Dr. Tim I will definitely stay away from Clorox good to know. I've also read on this site a lot of people use vinegar. Is this ok seems pretty mild to me. Just wondering ?

[DrTimPerkins]

I've also read on this site a lot of people use vinegar. Is this ok seems pretty mild to me. Just wondering ?

Vinegar is fine. Just rinse well after using it.

Clorox is a strong oxidizer....basically a rust accelerant.

[Spolcik]

Thanks for the info. Still learning and want to do things right. I don't sell my syrup but do feed it to my family. This has been helpful again thank you.

[mathprofdk]

Well, this thread is a bummer. I have a similar pan that was custom made for me by a friend (a professional welder, but not of food-grade syrup pans). Mine has some similar very small rust-colored spots all over the bottom.

So can this pan be salvaged? I do not have a sand-blaster available. Are there other ways to clean off the rust?

If it can be salvaged, how do you "season" it? I did not season it initially. Even worse, I scorched the pan, and was able to scrub it off using many things listed above that I was not supposed to. I don't remember if the spots were there before the scorching or not.

I was hoping to do a test boil today and make a couple pints of syrup from the sap I have from this week.... *crap*

[11BGUY]

Just cleaned mine with some green 3m cleaning pad and then season it some vegtable oil.. I have done the same thing in my vast lodge pot which is extremely prone to rust.. I'll just wipe it down prior to use to get the majority of the oil out... At least that's what I do with my lodge pot... I think the mistake I made with the pan was wash it and let it sit in the garage for a few days prior to using it... Sounds like people are saying I should have cleaned it just prior to use


QUOTE=mathprofdk;205731]Well, this thread is a bummer. I have a similar pan that was custom made for me by a friend (a professional welder, but not of food-grade syrup pans). Mine has some similar very small rust-colored spots all over the bottom.

So can this pan be salvaged? I do not have a sand-blaster available. Are there other ways to clean off the rust?

If it can be salvaged, how do you "season" it? I did not season it initially. Even worse, I scorched the pan, and was able to scrub it off using many things listed above that I was not supposed to. I don't remember if the spots were there before the scorching or not.

I was hoping to do a test boil today and make a couple pints of syrup from the sap I have from this week.... *crap*[/QUOTE]

[mathprofdk]

OK, so my spots rubbed right off with the 3M pads as well. I have some mineral oil that I use for bread boards, or some canola oil. I guess the latter is vegetable-based, so I'll try that. Maybe that'll prevent the spots from returning.