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Farm Kitchen:  Seasoning cast iron pans  |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 06 2006 : 6:01:47 PM
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I'm sure you have gone over this before, but I was wondering about how you get your cast iron pans well seasoned and how you take care of them. I have some really nice ones and would like to use them more.
Can't wait to get your ideas! Cindy
If life gives you scraps, make quilts! |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2006 : 6:20:28 PM
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hey miz cindy .. i'm sure you'll get lots of ideas .. but just wanted to let you and all the farmgirls know that my upcoming MERCANTILE GATHERINGS MAGAZINE article is about "these things do please me well" .. and i feature some photos of some of the antique cast iron pans from my collection. Magazine will be out about February 2007 i think. If you haven't subscribed already .. dooooooo soooooooo! you will love this great magazine! xo, frannie
True Friends, Frannie
CABIN CREEK FARM
KENTUCKY
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2006 : 8:02:46 PM
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I put my pans in an oven on the self clean cycle. This usually removes all the old seasoning (you will have to wash them after the temp goes down). This is good if you want to get a "fresh start" with a garage sale find or some such or if a bad oil was used.
Then I usually oil mine with veggie oil like Crisco and put it in the oven. If you google "Seasoning Cast Iron Pan" you can get lots of different methods. |
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vintagechica
True Blue Farmgirl
438 Posts
Eren
Poolville
TX
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - Dec 06 2006 : 8:34:16 PM
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As far as care...I dont ever put mine in the dishwasher and I dont leave them in the sink with water in them. Other than that, I wash them with warm soapy water rinse them off put them back on the stove to dry (or dry them off with a dishtowel). A little oil in the bottom keeps them always ready to use. Love my iron skillets and wouldnt trade them for the world.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 04:57:52 AM
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What's with so many of the new ones having those little faint ridges on the surface??? Seems like those would be a problem getting clean. I had one that was my grandmother's, and it was so used it was smooth as a baby's bottom. I had to give it to my daughter though, because in the eighty years of cooking the bottom got a bit rounded, and it won't sit well on my glass top stove. *sniff*
That one was so well used, I'd just hand wash and air dry, and put it away. It never needed the seasoning renewed. |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 07:07:36 AM
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Cindy,
After it is well cleaned, put a little oil in the bottom and use a paper towel to coat the inside really well. Make sure you get the oil up on the sides too. Then put it is a low oven, probably around 250 will do, and leave it in there for at least three or four hours. The first few times you use it, you may have to add some oil before putting in the food.
Never use detergent or scrubbies on it unless you really have to. After I use mine, I can usually just use a paper towel to wipe out the food. The more you use it, the less the food will stick. Now mine is just like a nonstick pan, I can cook eggs in it without any oil at all. It took a few years to get it like that but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Blessed are those who love the soil,
Patsy
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 12:00:37 PM
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Under this kitchen forum there is a 5 page topic Cast Iron Cooking w/ initial author Nicol. Hope that helps, there is alot of good info there, and even some if you have to do it over!
with a happy heart |
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tziporra
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Robin
Seattle
WA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 2:11:20 PM
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Just wanted to say that cast iron is the BEST!!!!! It's super-cheap, heats completely evenly, can be moved directly from stovetop to oven, and with use (as noted here) becomes non-stick, without having to worry about your utensils scraping off an expensive coating into your food
The only drawback is that it takes forever to cool down. I LOVE CAST IRON!!!!
Anyway, the best way to season your cast iron is to use it lots and lots and lots. The more it is used the better it gets.
Best,
Robin |
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Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 6:08:46 PM
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Wow! Thanks guys. My frying pan seems to be very well seasoned and I have used it some. The dutch oven and the muffin pan will need some work. Thanks SOOO much for the info. Sounds like with a bit of work, I will be in love with the pans!
Thanks again.....Cindy
If life gives you scraps, make quilts! |
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 8:26:24 PM
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Cindy,
Have you learned any more than I already told you? Remember, I am old enough to be your mother and have been cooking since I was 8, which was 52 long years ago:)
What I haven't seen posted, but might be in the long thread on this forum, is that tomato based foods aren't best cooked in cast iron. Too much acid and it sometimes interacts with the iron and can give an off taste to the food. Also can be too harsh on the well seasoned surface you've taken so much time and care to attain.
When you get to where you love using cast iron, I'll add to your collection with the sizes you don't already have. I must have 2 or 3 of most sizes and can't resist if they're Wagner or Griswold at a good thrift shop price. I'll pass on Lodge any day unless it's really vintage, like the two cornstick pans I found last week. They've been used a lot and have that dark non stick patina.
Ronna |
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Farm Kitchen: Seasoning cast iron pans |
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Seasoning cast iron pans
