Is the pot rusty and the cooking harmful to the human body?

In daily cooking, POTS and pans are indispensable and important tools in the kitchen. However, due to the high frequency of use and improper maintenance, the situation of pot rust often occurs. Many people will worry about whether the rusty pot can continue to be used, and whether the rusty pot will cause harm to human health. This article will explore these problems in detail and provide some practical solutions and preventive measures.

The rust of the pot is mainly due to the oxidation reaction of iron with oxygen and water to produce iron oxide (rust). Here are some common causes of pot rust:
1. If the pot is not cleaned and dried in time after use, the residual food residue and water will accelerate the oxidation process of the iron pot, resulting in rust.
2. Long-term exposure to humid environment The kitchen environment is usually more humid, if the pot is exposed to the air for a long time and is not properly stored, it is easy to absorb moisture in the air, resulting in rust.
3. The use of improper cleaning methods using hard cleaning tools such as steel balls to scrub POTS and pans may destroy the protective layer on the surface of POTS and pans, making it more prone to rust.

Second, the pot rusted cooking is harmful to the human body? After the pot rust, many people worry that the use of rusty pot cooking will cause harm to human health. In fact, rust itself is not very harmful to the human body, but long-term use of rusty POTS and pans may bring some potential health risks.
1. The impact of rust on the human body The main component of rust is iron oxide, which has low toxicity to the human body. Ingested in small amounts, rust generally does not cause significant harm to human health. However, long-term ingestion of rust may affect the digestive system and cause gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, rust may contain some impurities, such as heavy metals, which are harmful to human health.
2. Hygienic problems of rusty POTS Rusty POTS are rough on the surface and easy to breed bacteria and microorganisms. If the pot is not cleaned, it may lead to food contamination, which will affect human health.
3. The cooking effect of rusty POTS Rusty POTS in the cooking process, rust may fall off into the food, affecting the taste and appearance of food. In addition, rusty POTS have poor thermal conductivity, which may affect the cooking effect.

Third, can the pot be used if it is rusty? Whether the pot can continue to be used after rust depends on the degree of rust and treatment method. If the degree of rust is light, it can continue to be used through appropriate treatment; If the rust is serious, it is recommended to replace the pot.
1. Mild rust treatment methods For mildly rusty POTS and pans, you can treat them by the following methods:
• Cleaning: Use warm water and neutral detergent to clean POTS and pans to remove surface rust and dirt.
• Wipe: Dry the surface of the pan with a clean cloth or paper towel to ensure that the pan is completely dry.
• Sanding: Use fine sandpaper to gently sand the rusty part to remove surface rust.
• Oiling: Apply a layer of cooking oil on the surface of the pot to form a protective layer to prevent rust again.
• Heating: Put the pot on the fire to heat, so that the cooking oil penetrates into the surface of the pot to further enhance the anti-rust effect.

2. The treatment method of heavy rust is more complicated for the pot with serious rust, and the effect is not necessarily ideal. Here are some common ways to deal with it:
• Vinegar and salt: Mix vinegar and salt, apply to the rusty part, let it sit for a while, wipe it with a steel ball, and then clean it with warm water.
• Lemon and baking soda: Mix lemon juice and baking soda, apply to the rusty area, let it sit for a while, wipe it with a steel ball, and wash it off with warm water.
• Professional rust remover: Use professional rust remover sold on the market and follow the instructions to remove rust. If the rust can not be completely removed after the above treatment method, or the surface of the pot has obvious corrosion and damage, it is recommended to replace the new pot. The use of severely rusted POTS not only affects the cooking effect, but also may pose a potential health risk.

Fourth, how to prevent pot rust? Preventing pot rust needs to start from daily use and maintenance, the following are some practical preventive measures:
1. Correct cleaning and drying after each use of the pot, should be promptly cleaned and thoroughly dry. Especially the iron pot, after cleaning, you can use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe the water on its surface to avoid residual water causing rust.
2. The iron pot can be coated with a thin layer of cooking oil before and after use, which can form a protective layer to prevent the pot from coming into contact with moisture and oxygen in the air, thereby reducing the possibility of rust.
3. Storage in a dry environment Pot should be stored in a dry, ventilated place to avoid long-term exposure to humid environment. If the kitchen environment is humid, you can consider storing the pot in a drying cabinet.
4. Avoid using hard cleaning tools to clean the pot, try to avoid using hard cleaning tools such as steel balls, you can choose soft cloth or sponge to clean, to protect the anti-rust layer on the surface of the pot.
5. Use pot cover When you do not use pot, you can cover the pot to prevent moisture and dust in the air from entering the pot and reduce the possibility of rust.

Five, different materials of pot rust prevention methods of different materials of pot rust prevention methods are different, the following are several common pot material rust prevention methods:
1. Cast iron pot Cast iron pot has good thermal conductivity, but easy to rust. Before and after use can be coated with a layer of cooking oil, and regular maintenance. Avoid using hard cleaning tools when cleaning. Store in a dry and ventilated place.
2. Stainless steel POTS Stainless steel POTS are relatively easy to rust, but rust spots may still appear in high humidity environments. Dry thoroughly after cleaning to avoid storing in a humid environment for a long time.
3. Enamel pot Enamel pot surface has a layer of enamel coating, can effectively prevent rust. However, the enamel layer is easy to damage, and collision and scratching should be avoided when used, and it should be thoroughly dried after cleaning.
4. Iron pot Iron pot is one of the common POTS in the family, easy to rust. Apply oil before and after use, dry thoroughly after cleaning, and store in a dry and ventilated place.

Summary: Rusting is a common problem in daily cooking, and rusting cooking is less harmful to human health, but long-term use may bring some potential risks. For slightly rusty POTS and pans, they can be treated by cleaning, polishing and oiling and continue to be used; For the pot with serious rust, it is recommended to replace the pot with a new one. Prevention of pot rust needs to start from daily use and maintenance, correct cleaning and drying, regular oiling maintenance, storage in a dry environment, avoid the use of hard cleaning tools and other measures can effectively reduce the possibility of pot rust. Different materials of pot rust prevention methods are different, cast iron pot, stainless steel pot, enamel pot and iron pot in the use and maintenance should pay attention to its characteristics, take corresponding anti-rust measures to improve the safety and hygiene of kitchen cooking.