Seasoning Cast Iron Cookware

The reason for cast iron being the most preferred cookware is its superlative heat retaining and diffusing ability. Another reason behind the wide preference for cast iron is the low grade of technology that is used in preparing it. One more quality of cast iron over other cookwares is that the food while being cooked in cast iron, acquires some amount of iron from it which is helpful for people suffering from anemia (Anemia is a disease caused due to the deficiency of iron in the body.)

Seasoning is actually a protective activity done to cast iron. Seasoning is done in order to prevent cast iron from rusting and it also helps in creating a non-stick surface on the pan. Seasoning is a necessary process, but you might be wondering of how to season cast iron cookware. So here is the answer.

Cast Iron Seasoning Instructions

Material Required
Seasoning cast iron cookware requires some amount of warm water, an oven, a soap, one scrubbing pad, bacon grease and a towel.

How to Season Cast Iron Cookware

1. Before beginning the procedure, it is necessary to heat the oven to around a temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Now, with the help of a scrubbing pad, some warm water and soap, scrub out the cast iron cookware. Newly purchased cast iron cookware consist of rust-preventing coating on it. It is therefore necessary to remove the coating from the cast iron cookware, before starting the seasoning process.
3. After having done the washing part, dry the equipment completely. A towel can be used for this purpose.
4. After ensuring that the cookware is completely dried, take the bacon grease and apply it thoroughly from the interior as well as the exterior of the equipment. The lid also needs to be properly coated.
5. Once the coating procedure is done, put the cookware and its lid in the preheated oven in an upside down position for baking purpose. Let them bake for about 60 minutes. With this procedure, a stick proof seasoning would be created. This would further prevent rusting and sticking of food.
6. Take out the cookware; if you think that the seasoning is strong enough, stop the process of baking. If not repeat the process, until the seasoning becomes strong enough.

Some Tips for Using and Washing the Cast Iron Cookware

There are some precautions that need to be taken while using cast iron cookware as well as cooking food in it.

• It is suggested to wash the cookware gently, as washing it hard with too much of aggression would cause the seasoning to come out.
• Seasoning done in a proper manner would last for a long time, but in case if rusting is noticed, it is suggested to re-season the cookware.
• Moisture might lead to rusting, therefore it is suggested to keep the cookware and its lid separately. Covering the cookware with its lid would cause the creation of moisture.
• Soap and the scrubbing pad are to be used only while seasoning. This is because using soap and the scrubbing pad for washing purpose would cause the seasoning to come out. The washing procedure could be done with the help of hot water while the cookware is still hot.
• Too much acidic foods like tomato, should not be cooked in the cookware unless it is well-seasoned.

Seasoning cast iron cookware with the right procedure, taking the right precautionary measures while seasoning it, using it and then washing it with care, would make the seasoning of the cookware to last for a long time.