How to properly cure a cast iron skillet?!
How to properly cure a cast iron skillet?
I have a small cast iron skillet that I got at a yard sale. It is not rusted, but it does not have a proper cure. How can I cure it???
Answers:
Warm the pan up slightly, and apply a coat of oil or melted shortning to the inside and outside.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and put your cookware in upside right, on a foil-covered cooking sheet, to catch any drips. If you use a non-covered baking sheet, it will require a good scrub afterwards - the foil saves on the cleanup.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes. If it starts to smoke, reduce the temperature by 10-15 degrees until it stops. This may increase the time by a few minutes, but will not hurt the cure.
Drain off any excess grease, and put the pan back in the oven, this time upside down, for 1 to 3 hours. A re-seasoning may only require half of that time.
Turn the oven off, and let the pan cool down naturally before removing it.
Thoroughly wash the pan. Then make sure you dry it very well (to prevent rust). Afterwards, never, ever use water to clean the pan.
Coat with cooking oil, inside, very well. Lard is best. Put frying pan into 350 degree oven and roast for 10 to 20 minutes. Apply another layer of oil. It's now ready.
After using the pan to cook, always use a salt rub to get it cleaned out, and reapply oil.
Good luck.
Place about 4 tablespoons oil in the bottom of the pan and put the pan in an oven that has been preheated to 400°F.
Use an oil without much flavor, like canola oil.
After about 3 minutes reduce the temperature to 300°F and leave the pan in the oven for 45 minutes.
Turn the oven off and let the pan cool inside the oven.
When the pan is cool enough to touch wipe the excess oil out with a paper towel.
Sread crisco on it with paper towel or sandwich bag. All over the inside of it till moist. Bake at low temp 200 for 2-3 hours. That's the way to do it. do not wash with DISH SOAP! However gross it may be, this ruins the cure.
go to lodgemfg.com, and look at the faq's and care sections, they make great cast wear and have all the answers you need. gotta love cast iron cookin'
Curing/Seasoning Process
Prepare your pan by scrubbing it with hot soapy water, ensuring there is no food residue or rust, and dry it completely.
Warm the pan up slightly, and apply a coat of melted shortening to the inside and outside. Liquid cooking oils are not recommended.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and put your cookware in upside right, on a foil-covered cooking sheet, to catch any drips. If you use a non-covered baking sheet, it will require a good scrub afterwards - the foil saves on the cleanup.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes. If it starts to smoke, reduce the temperature by 10-15 degrees until it stops. This may increase the time by a few minutes, but will not hurt the cure.
Drain off any excess grease, and put the pan back in the oven, this time upside down, for 1 to 3 hours. A re-seasoning may only require half of that time.
Turn the oven off, and let the pan cool down naturally before removing it.
You now have a seasoned cast iron nonstick cooking utensil that will last a lifetime with proper care.
Go to wikipedia.com and look up cast iron cookware. They give several methods and tips.
I keep a folded paper towel in the ( almost ) empty shortening can. To season or re season I warm up the skillet and rub a thin layer of shortening then cure in a 300 DegF. oven for about an hour. Actually turn the oven off after 1/2 hr leaving the pan in. After each cleaning I warm and re-coat with the paper towel before storing. May have to wipe it out before use but keeps it seasoned.
Rub a good vegetable oil in it, and heat it up until it gets hot, then turn off the heat and let it cool down naturally.
hi my name is billie i,m female i,m 21 yrs old. what i would do wash your skillet. every time you use it use pam spray pam makes everything taste yummier use pam spray your skillet will be cured & broke in. any more advice e-mail me billiegotmail@yahoo.com bye billie
i personally prefer oil (of any kind) and salt and ur favorite seasoning.. butter works best.. heat it up till it burns basically
I've tried different methods and found the best to be,put the skillet in an open fire andlet it heat up for about 20 minutes(providing there is no build up on the insides) if there is leave it in a little longer. Take it out with tounges or what have you and let it cool down natrally. When it is teppid smear a thin coat of olive oil in it and return to the fire for about 5-10 min. Again take it out and let it cool. When it's cooled and you can touch it,coat it with the oil and it will be or soon will bo like looking into a black mirror and will always stay that way if yyou coat with oil after each use. If you can't use fire, use the oven on hi heat. You'll love cooking in it. Trust me.
Maia's right. Rub with oil and bake it at 400 for an hour. This will only get you started. The more you use it, the better it will get. Mine is six years old now, still working on it.