Some people have a beautiful old crank meat grinder that has been in the family for generations, but one day, they get it out and see rust spots everywhere. It’s disappointing to think of a beautiful family heirloom being ruined by rust. What should you do? There are plenty of answers and several ways to prevent further deterioration.
Below is some information about how to remove rust from a meat grinder, along with tips on keeping it away. Rust is a combination of iron and oxygen. Many foods have a strong ability to rust, including sugar, salt, sugar water and other foods. The oxidation process can be slow, but once it starts, it’s very difficult to stop. To start with, the rust on the grinder will be in tiny amounts.
There are two methods of removing rust from your grinder.
The first is to pour a bottle of household bleach on the grinder and leave it overnight. The other is to pour a cup of bleach into a gallon of water and soak the grinder in it for 20 minutes. Once the grinder is completely soaked, drain the water and pour another gallon of water on the rust. Leave it overnight. Rinse and repeat as necessary.
Let’s start with the bleach method, the second one!. To clean your grinder, first wash it with dish soap. Make sure to thoroughly clean the lid and handle, since bleach will bond with them. Pour a little dish soap into a plastic container and put your grinder in it. Next, fill the container with plain water. Don’t use bleach to soak the handle and lid since the item will be next to your food. Bleach works by oxidation. It makes a strong chemical reaction with rust that removes it completely. However, bleach also works on other metals, so it’s best to follow up with a little salt.
Rust on meat grinder, safe?
Rust on a meat grinder is safe as long as it does not come into contact with the meat. When you are cleaning the grinder, make sure to dry it well. If there is any water left in the grinder, it can cause rust on the meat. This will not taste good and may even be dangerous.
More tips to prevent meat grinder from rusting
- Always clean your meat grinder immediately after using it.
- Rinse the grinder with hot water right away after cleaning and before storing it.
- Keep your meat grinder in a dry place away from any food.
- Keep your meat grinder cover. It’s really important that the lid is on tightly.
- Do not store anything other than ground meat in the grinder. Any other foods may cause cross-contamination and will lead to rust.
If you do get meat grinder rust on them, do not panic. Most vegetables and fruits are resistant to infection. It is best to eat them anyway, because they may be radioactive. The danger period for meat grinder rust ended two years ago.
How do you get rust out of an old meat grinder?
There are a few ways to get rust out of an old meat grinder. One way is to use a wire brush to scrub off the rust. You can also soak the grinder in a tank of water with a little dish soap and scrub it out that way. If that doesn’t work, you can always take a little bar of Mother’s Magnesia and scrub the rust out with that.
Wrap up!
Rust is an orange-brown flaky substance that is the result of a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen. It is often seen on objects that are made of iron or steel. Many foods, such as sugar and salt, can cause rust to form on metal objects, but bleach is a common household item that can also be used to remove rust. Although rust is generally safe, it is best to avoid coming into contact with it, as it can cause skin irritation. To keep your meat grinder clean and rust free, you should regularly clean it.