Are you going to cook with the cast iron skillet for the first time? Then you need to make sure it is sufficiently seasoned. In English, we also call this seasoning. This is done for creating a non-natural non-stick coating.
In addition, properly performing seasoning ensures that additional flavor formation is created, rust is eliminated and a pan can last several generations. Today I will take you in more detail along the process of seasoning a cast iron skillet.
Cast iron skillet burn-in: The steps
So you can buy a cast iron skillet pre-seasoned, but you can also buy one that still needs to be fired in. We see that many people are not averse to a chore and so they burn in the pan themselves. Here’s how to do it.
Proper cleaning
You start the frying process by first cleaning the pan properly. You do that by removing any residue or layers from the store. You do this with a soft sponge, hot water and a little bit of dish soap.
Note, however, that this is the first and immediately the last time you may clean a cast iron skillet with dish soap. After roasting, the idea is to prevent the dish soap from removing the natural non-stick coating. In fact, dishwashing detergent is fairly aggressive.
Dry well
After you have cleaned it, the pan must be dried well. For this you can use kitchen paper or a tea towel. When all the moisture has been removed, the oil layer that you will apply next can be better absorbed.
Grease the pan with natural oil
Now is the time to grease the pan with a thin layer of natural oil. No puddles of oil should be visible in the pan. Grease the cast iron skillet completely, including the bottom and the handle if it is also cast iron.
You can use groundnut, linseed or sunflower oil for this. It is very important that the oil you use can withstand high temperatures. That means it must have a high boiling point. So that’s why it’s better not to use olive oil.
Heat the pan on the hob / stove
After greasing, the idea is to let your pan get extremely hot on the stove top. The thin layer will then adhere to the cast iron. Then let pan stand for a while and then you can let the cast iron pan cool down. Be sure to remove any remaining oil by using kitchen paper. This should be a minimal amount.
Repeat at least five times
To ensure that you create a perfect non-stick coating, you need to fire the pan at least five times. So do not start cooking dishes without having repeated the firing process at least five times.
Roasting in the oven
Instead of heating the pan on a hob or gas stove, you can also burn it in the oven. This can only be done with pans made entirely of cast iron. Elements such as a wooden handle can be damaged in the oven.
The oven should be set to the maximum setting so that the oil will burn and adhere to the cast iron. Put it upside down in the oven and put a piece of aluminum foil under it so no grease remains in the oven. Heat the pan in the oven for an hour.
A new non-stick coating
Have you not used the pan for a long time? Or has moisture caused rust. You can reapply the non-stick coating. Make sure to thoroughly remove the damaged layer with a steel sponge. When the original cast iron can be seen again, you have done well. So after this, you need to re-fire it at least five times.
Color change cast iron skillet
A cast iron skillet may change color during the firing process. Do not be alarmed by this. Only when you get an even dark brown to black color, the firing has been successful and the color change is part of the process.
If you see caked-on residue the first time you cook, that’s no problem either. The non-stick coating only really comes into its own after cooking with the pan a number of times.