I’m getting a lot of questions about cast iron. Looks like lots of you got a cast iron skillet as a gift this year! I’m so excited for you. It’s by far my most used and favorite pan. There’s lots of info on the interwebs & handed down by grannies who know what’s up with cast iron. I’ll share here what I do and hope that helps.
Before 1st use: most new pans come “pre seasoned” so this isn’t necessary but I do like to get my pans clean and as non stick and ready to use as possible.
🧽 Wash with warm soapy water.
🧻 Dry well.
🥥 Rub down with a cloth and a little flaxseed oil. Oils like coconut can work too but flaxseed seems to make a nice hard “shell” for the foundation that helps make this nice and slick and nonstick.
⏲ Bake upside down at 325° for an hour with a pan under to catch any drippings. Let cool completely before removing.
You can repeat this a few times to get a really great initial “seasoning” on your pan.
To use:
🔥 Low to medium heat for most things.
🍅 Acidic ingredients like tomato can leech excess iron from the pan so it may be best to use stainless for those.
👩🏼🍳 Use often
💧 Clean and store properly
To clean:
⚠️ Rust is your enemy. Make sure the pan is completely dried after use and before storing.
⚠️ Do not use soap. Soap will erode the precious layers of oils you’ve been working so hard to form and what make your pan amazing and non stick. Here’s what I do👇🏼
🍳 After use, wipe out your pan with a cloth or paper towel. Dry thoroughly and store in a cool dry place.
🍳 For caked on gunk, use coarse salt or hot water and a sponge/brush or a stainless steel chainmail. Rinse. Heat the pan on the stove for a couple minutes. Rub on a very light coating of coconut oil. Let cool. Store in a cool, dry place.
It’s the easiest pan I have to cook in and to clean. There’s a bit of a learning curve but it’s so well worth getting over that. I have a couple from Lodge and they’re great and so affordable. My favorite is this Field Co one on top. It’s smooooth and more nonstick to start because of the unique way it’s manufactured.
✨ The best skillet is the one that’s used often and the one that feeds the people. Have fun! I have a highlight on “pans” too ✨