Simple instructions for a simple task.
So you found an old skillet at a flea market.
Or you put one in the dishwasher.
Alison Conklin
Or you accidentally carbonized a block of tofu.
In any case, now the skillet looks like something brought up fromTitanicwreckage.
Can you save it?
Alison Conklin
If I can do it, it’s possible for you to.
And you should be able to pull it off without spending hours researching on the internet.
That’s where this simple guide comes in.
Alison Conklin
This is a seasoning how-to for people who don’t want to do a deep dive.
It’ll probably tell you on the packaging.
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Alison Conklin
Scour the skillets rusty spots with dry steel wool or a metal scrubby.
(If your skillet is new, it shouldn’t have any rust.)
Youll wind up spreading the loosened rust particles around, and it might not look like youre making headway.
Alison Conklin
If you wipe away the rusty dust with a paper towel, youll see that you are.
Wash the skillet in warm water, scrubbing it with a stiff brush or scouring pad.
If you see rough, rusty spots repeat steps 2 and 3.
Use a lint-free rag or paper towel.
Dont be skimpy, but dont slather it, eitherthat can give your seasoning a sticky residue.
Lay a sheet of foil underneath to catch any drips.
Bake the skillet for 1 hour.
Once the cast iron has cooled, examine it.
Repeat steps 5 to 6, if needed.
If the situation still looks grim, its time for drastic measures (see below).
Stripping Cast Iron That’s a Total Disaster (It’s Possible!)
Very few pieces of cast iron or carbon steel cookware are beyond repair.
Build a robust campfire and let the coals calm down so they’re glowing and plentiful.
Just leave it in there overnight until the whole fire dies down.
One the cast iron is cool, wash it well and go about seasoning it.
Be warned: your house will smell.
Let the cycle run and allow the skillet to cool before removing and washing it.
In lieu of describing it, I’ll just refer you to this post onThe Cast Iron Collector.
What Is Seasoning, Anyway?
Seasoning is what makes cast iron black.
The blacker a skillet, the better it is seasoned.
Seasoning refers to a finish, and also to the process of applying that finish.
Generally speaking, Oil + Metal + Heat = Seasoning.
So, when you season cast iron, youre making a do-it-yourself, nontoxic nonstick coating.
So-called neutral oils like soybean oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil work fine.
Routine seasoning isnt hard, and it doesnt take a lot of time.
To do it, set your clean cast iron pan on the stove over high heat until its dry.
Take it off the burner.
If it looks especially greasy still, wipe it out again.
The seasoning on your skillet isnt permanent.
It can ebb and flow, depending on what you cook.
Frying and sauteing, which involve heating oil, build the seasoning up.
But after simmering liquids in your skillet, the seasoning will be duller and more vulnerable to rust.
Dry-searing in your skilletas well as unintentionally burning foodcan also wear down the seasoning.
Think of it as its stint at the Skillet Spa.
Treat it well and it’ll work wonders for you.
