From my time visiting friends' and families houses to cook for them I have learned that many people do not season their cast iron skillet. There are many reasons for this such as they don't know what seasoning a skillet is is, they don't know how to it, or they simply don't want to take the time to do it. Seasoning a cast iron skillet is quite simple but it definitely does take a good amount of time to do it properly. Doing this can be extremely beneficial if you find yourself cooking very frequently. I personally take some time right when I purchase the skillet and then once every month after, usually after cooking, to properly season my skillet. This keeps the skillet in good condition and is what creates all the benefits that a cast iron skillet offers. A properly seasoned cast iron skillet is a piece of quality cooking equipment that everyone who cooks or caters should be using consistently. In this article I will be informing you on the benefits of seasoning a cast iron skillet as well as how to season it properly.
To start off I will tell you why you should start seasoning your cast iron skillet. One reason that it is extremely important to season your skillet is because without a proper seasoning it can lead to the skillet rusting overtime. A rusted skillet is not only a waste of your money but is a health risk to everyone that eats food made on that dish. Rust from the skillet can give people tetanus which can be life threatening. A benefit of properly seasoning your skillet is that it creates a natural non-stick coating that does not allow food to stick to it. This makes cooking food much easier since you do not have to worry about food breaking apart after a part of it gets stuck to the pan. Not having food stick to the pan also makes the cleaning process much simpler and less tedious. Seasoning a cast iron skillet also negates the use of soap. Since food will not stick to it, and the heat from cooking kills bacteria, there is no need to use any cleaning agent. All you have to do it run hot water on it after you are finished cooking to get off any crumbs leftover. An additional benefit that others do not think of is that you do not need to use butter or non-stick spray on a skillet. This saves you time since it takes out the need to spray a non-stick coating or melt butter before cooking. This is also a way to save money because you are no longer spending money on the non-stick spray or butter. Seasoning the cast iron skillet can also cause it to last for hundreds of years. The use of cleaning agents or abrasive scrub pads to clean dishes will cause them to deteriorate overtime. Cast iron skillets do not need either of those to be cleaned so they will maintain their quality as long as you up keep with seasoning them.
To clean a cast iron skillet you will need a few things. Everything you need is listed below.
1. The cast iron skillet you will be seasoning.
2. A roll of paper towels.
3. Cooking oil such as a vegetable, canola, or corn oil.
4. An oven.
5. Hot water.
6. A few hours of time.
There are two different sets of steps to seasoning your cast iron skillet. The first set of steps is when you initially buy it and the second is when you are maintaining the seasoning. The second step should be done about every month but will vary depending on what food you cook and how much you cook. Below I will list the steps for both.
Steps for initially seasoning your cast iron skillet:
1. Rinse under hot water and scrub with paper towels. This will help clean off any potential chemicals from manufacturing and any imperfections that would get stuck under the coat of seasoning.
2. Wipe off with paper towels until it is completely dry. If you are unsure if it is dry or not you can put it over a flame such as a stove top and evaporate the water with heat. If there is any water residue it can lead to the pan rusting so take time making sure it is dry.
3. Rub all over the cast iron skillet with a small amount of the oil of your choosing. This should create a thin, even layer of oil on the skillet. Ensure you rub the entire skillet top to bottom including the handle. A common misconception is that you only need to season where the food goes and that is not true. Any place not seasoned can leave a weak spot that rust is able to affect.
4. Bake the cast iron skillet in the oven for an hour at 400 degrees
Fahrenheit.
5. Take the pan out and apply more of the oil of your choice.
6. Put the skillet back into the oven for an hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 one more time.
8. Look at the pan. If the finish is smooth then you are done. If the finish still looks rough repeat steps 5 and 6 until the finish looks smooth and shiny.
Steps for maintaining your seasoning on the cast iron skillet.
1. Clean the skillet by rinsing under hot water and scrubbing it with paper towels.
2. Dry it off completely with paper towels. If you are unsure you can again use a flame to evaporate water like mentioned in step 2 of the skillets initial seasoning.
3. Rub all over the cast iron with a thin layer of the oil of your choosing.
4. Bake the skillet for an hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
At the end of this you should have a beautifully seasoned skillet. This is a far superior way to cook when compared to a typical frying pan. Cast iron skillets cook evenly across the entire pan, add extra iron into your meals, and hold heat better. These benefits should allow you to have a much better time cooking. The cast iron skillet is a piece of quality cooking equipment that you now know how to maintain.
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