The cast iron skillets that are seasoned last a lifetime.A layer of oil is baked into the skillet's surface in order to give it a non-stick coating.You can learn how to season a brand new skillet, rescue a rusty old one, and maintain a skillet so it doesn't lose its seasoning.
Step 1: The oven should be 450 oF.
Since the process can be affected by steam created by cooking other food, don't plan on cooking anything else in the oven while you season the cast iron.
Step 2: The skillet needs to be washed and dried.
To clean it, use soap and a scrub brush.The only time you'll be using these items to clean your skillet is after it's been seasoned.
Step 3: The skillet should be coated with vegetable shortening or olive oil.
Rub it in with a paper towel and make sure it is completely coated.
Step 4: The skillet should be placed in the oven.
Allow the fat or oil to bake for 30 minutes.Allow the skillet to cool before removing it from the oven.
Step 5: This process can be repeated 2 or 3 times.
It takes more than one coat of oil to season cast iron cookware.Give your food another coat of fat or oil, cook it, let it cool, and repeat the process once or twice more to make sure you have a good surface to cook on.
Step 6: The oven should be 450 degrees.
Don't cook anything else in the oven while you cook the skillet.
Step 7: You can make a solution of water and white vinegar.
If you have a large container, you can submerge the entire skillet.The container should be filled with a mixture of white and water.
Step 8: The skillet should be put in the solution.
It needs to be completely submerged to make sure.Allow it to sit for three hours.The rust will be dissolved by the vinegar.After it's finished soaking, remove the skillet.To remove rust from the skillet, use a scrub brush.At this point, it should come off easily.Make sure there is no rust.Don't put the skillet back in the solution.The cast iron will degrade if you let it sit for too long.
Step 9: Put the skillet in water and wipe it dry.
If you want it to be completely dry, preheat it over the stove or in the oven for a few minutes.
Step 10: A layer of fat or oil is used to coat the skillet.
It needs to be completely covered.Rub the fat or oil into the skillet with a paper towel.
Step 11: The skillet should be in the oven for 30 minutes.
For 30 minutes, cook the skillet at a temperature of 450 oF.Allow the skillet to cool before removing it from the oven.
Step 12: The seasoning process can be repeated 2 or 3 more times.
To build a good coating, coat the skillet with oil, bake it, allow it to cool, and repeat the process again.The seasoning process can be followed a total of 3 or 4 times.
Step 13: Right away, wash it.
The easiest way to clean cast iron is after cooking.If it is cool enough to touch, wipe out the food remnants with a towel and then rinse it with hot water.If there's a layer of caked-on food at the bottom of the pan, use a mixture of kosher salt and vinegar to scrub it off with a paper towel.You need to rinse the skillet with hot water to get rid of the vinegar.It is possible to burn caked-on food.Place your skillet in the oven.Once the skillet has cooled down, the food will turn to ash, which can be brushed off.The seasoning will get burned off if you use this method.Don't use soap on cast iron.It will remove the seasoning and allow the metal to oxidize and create rust.
Step 14: The skillet needs to get completely dry.
The skillet should be dry after you rinse out the food.Take care not to miss any crevices and make sure the back gets dried off, too, by using a dry dishcloth to wipe it off.If the burner is still a little warm, you can place the pan upside down over it.The pan will dry faster with this.If you want to make sure the pan is dry, heat it up in the oven for a few minutes.
Step 15: The pan should be re-seasond occasionally.
When cooking with a cast iron skillet, the oil you use helps keep it seasoned.You can help the process along by using the full seasoning process from time to time, especially if you had to use salt and vinegar to clean your skillet.
Step 16: The skillet should be kept in a dry place.
Water from other kitchen supplies should not trickle onto the pan.To protect the surface of the cast iron, line it with a dry dishcloth or paper towel.