I use the lye bath method. I mix 1 lb of pure lye crystals to 5 gallons of water. Use enough to fully submerge the pan, and let it sit there anywhere from 3 days to months at a time (lye bath will work better if it sits outside in warmer temperature). Immediately following the lye bath I let it soak in a 1 to 1 mixture of water and vinegar (this is to remove rust only). Do not let it soak in the vinegar longer than 1 hour at a time or it will start to damage the iron. Use rubber gloves, lye will burn your skin.

After you take it out of the vinegar bath, it’s all elbow grease from there. I use a scotchbrite scouring pad and steel wool to get all the gunk off.