How Do You Season A Cast Iron Pan?!
I have just purchased a new cast iron pan and i would like to know the best way to 'Season' the pan!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
well you have certainly been given a lot of information to digest!. I can tell you, from years of experience using cast iron, that it is fairly easy to care for!. Most of what you have been told so far is correct!. The only thing that I disagree with is not washing your pan!. To me, that sounds unhygienic!. I would never use a pan and not wash it!. I wash my cast iron with soap and water and then dry them with a paper towel!. I put them on a burner and crank it up to high!. Then I let the pan cool and lightly coat it with Crisco or another lard type product!. Whenever needed, I completely strip my cast iron (I have seen old ones that were completely crusted) by soaking them in a 5 gal bucket of one can of lye and water to cover!. Then I rub the completely clean pan with Crisco and put in the oven at about 350 for an hour or two!. This is a good method for cleaning yard sale and flea market finds!. I strongly urge you to buy VINTAGE cast iron and try it!. You can find some of the most amazing cookware that way!. Vintage cast iron (that is properly seasoned) has a smooth feel on the inside that most new cast iron can not match!. I have a large collection (if you could call three chicken fryers large LOL) of about 25-35 pieces!. Some of them are flea market finds and some are family pieces (hence the three fryers), and I love to use them!. Nothing makes your biscuits better than cooking them on a cast iron griddle!. Hope this helps someWww@FoodAQ@Com
To season a new cast iron pan you can do it in the oven or on a grill!. Heat your oven to about 400 then coat your pan with a light coating of lard!. Oils will not work well for this!. Put the pan in the oven for 1-2 hours turn off your oven and leave the pan in till it is completely cool!. If done in the oven in the house open the windows it will smoke!. If done on the grill same instructions as oven!. Do not wash with soap!. Reseason once a year or sooner as neededWww@FoodAQ@Com
For a new pan, heat the oven to about 300 degrees!.
Put some oil, lard or grease in the pan (edible only, of course) and wipe it around to cover the insides!. You want a nice coating, not a pool!. (Some people say veggie oil makes it sticky!. I've not had that problem!.)
Pop it in the oven for anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours!.
Initially, I'd do this frequently!. As the pain gets well worn, you can do it much less frequently or you can start doing a stove-top version!. Everyone once in a while after washing my cast-iron pans, I'll dry it and put it on a burner to heat up!. Once hot, I'll cut the heat, pour in a little oil and wipe it around!. Then I let it sit to soak it up!. Once cool, I wipe it once more with a dry paper towel and put it a way, with a paper towel between pans to prevent any oil on the bottom of other pans!.
So-called experts will tell you can't use soap on a cast iron pan!. You can once it's seasoned and if you treat it right!. Water, not soap, is your pan's enemy so make sure you always dry it well; don't let it sit in water!.
My family hands cast-iron pans down from generation to generation!. We always use soap and heat-and-oil as needed!.
One more hint: Hot pan, cool oil!. That's a rule of thumb for any cooking with cast iron!. If you let the metal heat up before adding the room-temperature lubricant, nothing will stick!. My omelets slide out of cast iron pans as though they were Teflon thanks to that rule!. This will save you scrubbing too because food won't stick!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Put some oil, lard or grease in the pan (edible only, of course) and wipe it around to cover the insides!. You want a nice coating, not a pool!. (Some people say veggie oil makes it sticky!. I've not had that problem!.)
Pop it in the oven for anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours!.
Initially, I'd do this frequently!. As the pain gets well worn, you can do it much less frequently or you can start doing a stove-top version!. Everyone once in a while after washing my cast-iron pans, I'll dry it and put it on a burner to heat up!. Once hot, I'll cut the heat, pour in a little oil and wipe it around!. Then I let it sit to soak it up!. Once cool, I wipe it once more with a dry paper towel and put it a way, with a paper towel between pans to prevent any oil on the bottom of other pans!.
So-called experts will tell you can't use soap on a cast iron pan!. You can once it's seasoned and if you treat it right!. Water, not soap, is your pan's enemy so make sure you always dry it well; don't let it sit in water!.
My family hands cast-iron pans down from generation to generation!. We always use soap and heat-and-oil as needed!.
One more hint: Hot pan, cool oil!. That's a rule of thumb for any cooking with cast iron!. If you let the metal heat up before adding the room-temperature lubricant, nothing will stick!. My omelets slide out of cast iron pans as though they were Teflon thanks to that rule!. This will save you scrubbing too because food won't stick!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
don't wash it with soap and water!. Just boil water in it and scrape it with spatula then wipe it out with paper towels!. As far as seasoning it, just put a few tablespoons of oil in it and wipe it in real good!. Some people say to put it in the oven for about 30 minutes at around 350 degrees!.
I would also suggest that after it is used for a while that you burn it off in a campfire if possible and start the process over!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I would also suggest that after it is used for a while that you burn it off in a campfire if possible and start the process over!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
when you first get the pan put some oil in it and wipe it around with a paper towel then put it in an 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes!.!.!.!.then you are ready just never ever wash it with soap you can rinse it and scrape off the bits and pieces but never hand wash with soap or put in the dishwasher!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Start by taking a S!.O!.S!. pad to it!. Scrub the skillet inside and out making sure there is no food particles on it!. Put it on top of the stove and turn on the eye on high!. Watch it until it dries!. It won't take it to long!. When it dries (careful it will be HOT) take a paper towel and wipe the whole thing with LARD! LARD is the best but you could use Crisco or oil!. You do not want to see the lard or to allow it to be dripping off!. Rub it in!. You just want it to be good and coated!. Warm your oven to 200 degrees and then bake the skillet over night!. I do not suggest "not washing your skillet" because this can cause bacteria and germs!. When you use your skillet wash it with warm water and dish soap and towel dry!. Make sure you dry good!. Do NOT put in dishwasher!!! Do NOT leave in the drainer to dry!. If your skillet stays wet it can cause rust and then you should go through the whole process again!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Wash it dry it really well and then put oil on it and spread all over the pot!. Make sure the outside is dry too!. We have many and we keep them oiled all the time!. When i cook with them, i wash right away but not with soap, just a rough sponge and then dry, leaving with a residue of the oil used for the cooking!. PeaceWww@FoodAQ@Com
rub a few tablespoons of canola or vegetable oil all over the inside of the pan!. dump out any excess oil!. put in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes!. there are many opinions but i try to wash my cast iron with hot water and a washcloth only and try to dry it very well to avoid rust!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
What they mean by "season" is to apply a small amount of cooking oil inside the pan!. Take a paper towel and apply it all over the inner cooking surface!. You only need a light coat!. I believe this helps keep it from rusting!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Never wash it, and when you use it, always leave it oiled!. Just wipe with a paper towelWww@FoodAQ@Com