How To Prep Cast Iron Skillet

Table of Contents

How To Season Your Cast-Iron Skillet: Scrub skillet well in hot soapy water. Dry thoroughly. Spread a thin layer of melted shortening or vegetable oil over the skillet. Place it upside down on a middle oven rack at 375°. (Place foil on a lower rack to catch drips.) Bake 1 hour; let cool in the oven.

How do you prepare a cast iron skillet for the first time?

How to Season a New Cast Iron Pan Step 1: Wash and Dry Your Pan. Step 2: Rub It All Over With Oil and Buff Well. Step 3: Heat It in the Oven. Step 4: Repeat 3 to 4 Times.

Do you need to oil a cast iron skillet before cooking?

Oil your food: whereas with other pans, like stainless steel or non-stick, you’ll squirt a little oil into the base of the pan before you cook, with cast iron (especially griddled cast iron), you’re much better off brushing oil onto your meat or veggies before you cook them.

Do you have to season a cast iron skillet?

Cast iron pans need seasoning. Seasoning will develop layer by layer, every time use your skillet. If you put cast iron under a microscope, you’ll see that its surface is bumpy and porous, and those bumps and pores expand once the pan is heated.

How many times should I season a cast iron skillet?

Remember there’s no need to use your best premium brand for seasoning! How often should I season my skillet? — To get the best out of your cast iron skillet, it’s recommended that you oil it after each use. However, depending on how frequently you use it, 2-3 times a year is sufficient.

What is the best oil to season cast iron?

All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

Should I oil my cast iron skillet after each use?

There are two ways to maintain the seasoning on your cast iron skillet. The easiest way is to cook with it. That’s why our simple cleaning steps have you rub oil into your pan after each use to ensure the seasoning remains for quality cooking. You can also season your cast iron cookware in the oven.

Do you put oil on cast iron after cleaning?

Dry thoroughly right after you clean—do not let your cast iron air dry. Thoroughly coat with vegetable oil inside and out. Use a little more oil than you would for seasoning after cleaning.

Can you leave oil in cast iron?

Don’t leave cooking oil in your cast iron skillet or Dutch oven after you’re done frying in it. Animal and vegetable fats can go rancid when exposed to heat, light, and air for prolonged periods of time. When a cooking oil or fat turns rancid, it reacts to the elements and bacteria in its surrounding environment.

Can you ruin a cast iron skillet?

While your cast-iron skillet might be tough, it isn’t indestructible. There are a few surefire ways to ruin the seasoning, or worse, destroy your cookware entirely. Avoid these pitfalls to keep your pan in tip-top cooking condition.

What should you not cook in cast iron?

4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron: Smelly foods. Garlic, peppers, some fish, stinky cheeses and more tend to leave aromatic memories with your pan that will turn up in the next couple of things you cook in it. Eggs and other sticky things (for a while) Delicate fish. Acidic things—maybe.

Can you use PAM on cast iron?

Do not try to use nonstick sprays like Pam to season your cast iron skillet, as they contain other ingredients that aren’t good for your pan. No more trying to pour oil into the pan and pouring too much. And goodbye to excess oil that gets sticky if stored too long on the pan.

How do I clean pre-seasoned cast iron before first use?

Both the natural, classic finish and pre-seasoned pans are seasoned in the same way. First wash with hot, soapy water and a stiff, nonmetallic scouring pad or brush. Then rinse and dry completely. NOTE: Never soak or let soapy water sit in the pan for any length of time.

How can you tell if cast iron is pre-seasoned?

That being said, not all preseasoned pans are created equal. When you first get your new cast-iron skillet, test its nonstick capabilities by frying an egg in it in some oil. If you can get the egg out easily with only a little sticking, then your pan is ready to cook with.

How do you season a new cast iron pan?

Is Crisco good for seasoning cast iron?

Jeff uses Crisco vegetable shortening to season cast iron, which produces a durable finish. He recommends heating the cast iron to no more than 400° (40° to 50° higher than the smoke point for Crisco). If you use a different fat, with a higher smoke point, you should adjust the oven temperature accordingly.

Why is my cast iron sticky after seasoning?

If the seasoning in your pan is sticky, this is a sign of excess oil built up on the cookware. The Fix: To remedy stickiness, place the cookware upside down on the top rack of the oven and bake at 450-500 degrees F for one hour. Allow to cool and repeat if necessary.

Can I use olive oil on cast iron?

Do not use olive oil or butter to season your cast-iron pan — they’re great to cook with, just not for initial seasoning. For a seasoning bonus, cook bacon, thick pork chops or a steak in the pan for its first go-round. The natural fats in these meats will work wonders on its finish.

Does olive oil go rancid on cast iron?

Olive oil is particularly good for Dutch ovens. Usually folks aren’t using their ovens as much as skillets and some seasoning can become rancid. Olive oil won’t do that because it’s like the old timers used to say to me, “Olive oil will keep that cast iron sweet.”.