Let's Talk BBQ
Other Cooking Equipment => Cast Iron & Campfire Cooking => Topic started by: Ericd3043 on April 25, 2017, 11:06:46 PM
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My dad passed away about 5 years ago. At that time, he had a set of cast iron skillets that were in great shape. Recently, my step mom came out and surprised me with his skillets. Turns out, she never used them and they have been gathering dust and drying out over the years. There is a little rust, but mainly around the handle (outside the cooking area)
Question for everyone - is there a definitive best way to season them? I have some Lodge pieces that I bought as a set for inside cooking. I have been using Crisco most of the time, but did buy a cast iron seasoning that I have had some success with. The problem is that I am not seeing the seasoning as well as I would like.
I have seen multiple sites talk about different ways and I have seen the pros and cons of the different options. I mainly will boil most of the crud off, then scrape and wipe out. I then dry it in the oven at 500 degrees before adding a coat of oil. These pieces (and one that I ruined when I forgot it was on the stove during the boiling stage) need a little more than that.
Any suggestions? I will get some pictures this week and post them as I know not all of them are Lodge pieces (one was significantly lighter than the Lodge pcs)
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Serious Eats guide to restoring vintage cast iron, and then their how to season cast iron. Also a link to the Cooks Illustrated method. I'm a fan of the flax seed oil for seasoning of cast iron and steel pans. I also used flax seed oil on my Blackstone griddle top recently. Works great.
http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/12/how-to-restore-vintage-cast-iron-cookware.html (http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/12/how-to-restore-vintage-cast-iron-cookware.html)
http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/09/how-to-season-cast-iron-pans-skillets-cookware.html (http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/09/how-to-season-cast-iron-pans-skillets-cookware.html)
https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5820-the-ultimate-way-to-season-cast-iron (https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5820-the-ultimate-way-to-season-cast-iron)
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Eric I posted this a few years ago for a 6 step method and worked well. http://www.letstalkbbq.com/index.php?topic=11216.msg152409;topicseen#msg152409
I recently bought a Stargazer Skillet and used a product called Crisbee and it did not do well. I ran it through my self cleaning oven and started over. I now believe just 3 steps are needed for a good seasoning and I used Crisco.
1. Heat oven and skillet in a 500 deg. oven when it gets to 200 deg. add oil and wipe clean, back in the oven and at 300 deg. wipe it again. When it gets to 500 deg. let set 1/2 hour then turn off. When you wipe it you want it to look like you wiped all the oil off, I use Scotch Blue shop towels.
Repeat this 2 more times but oven only needs to be 400 deg. Don
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Good advice here but the most important is this line..... (When you wipe it you want it to look like you wiped all the oil off). You will get a perfect seasoning if you do this.
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Get that cast iron re-seasoned and and you'll be passing it down to yet another generation.
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I do this with coconut oil..come out perfect..the secret is to wipe off all the oil, no pools..perfectly seasoned my de Buyers with it. .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
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I would recommend reading over this article. She goes a little into the science of behind seasoning cast iron.. and I really found the information on what happens when you over heat oil and it smokes, what's really going on.
I think for most people, most methods of seasoning will work, but I like that I now feel I have an understanding of what is really going on when I season CI.
http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/
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Gotten great advice. I think it is really special to have your Pops cast iron.....your food is going to taste so much better knowing it was cooked on them :)
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Thanks guys - I think this will be a project this weekend to work on in between mowing and , apparently, smoking some ribs. Calling for the 80's this weekend and the wife has put in a request for some.
I will try and get some before/ after pics as this goes through the process!