articlesforchristians

Top Tips for Caring for Cast Iron Cookware

How to Season your cast Iron Cookware:

1. Wash was soapy water using a mild non-detergent soap (a little bit of Dawn Dish washing liquid works great).
2. Now dry your cast iron.
3. Spray your cast iron with cooking oil or rub a layer of shortening over the cast iron.
   • If your cast iron is new or pans that have not been used for a while, oil both sides.
   • A thin layer is best.
   • It is best to do thin layers and repeat the process a few times to get the desired finish.
   • Another reason for the thin layer is that the high cooking may produce a small amount of smoke in the process and a thin layer minimizes that aspect of seasoning your cookware.
   • Using an excessive amount of seasoning oil may produce more smoke and is not desirable.
4. Place foil on a lower rack to catch drips
5. Heat the oven 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Place the cast iron, upside down for the 1st time, on the upper rack.
7. Bake for 45 minutes, let cool in the oven.
   • This process produces a chemical reaction with the oil and the iron called polymerization which creates a smooth non-stick finish on the surface. Once this process takes place the oils have been transformed to polymers on the surface of the pan which is also the season on the pan’s surface
8. Some people prefer to bake for 50 minutes but at 375 degrees, so either method should provide good results

How to care for your Cast iron

• Wash as needed with mild non-detergent soap (a little bit of Dawn Dish washing liquid works great).
  • Sometimes you can just wipe out the cast iron with a dry cloth. For example, after cooking:
    • fried eggs
    • scrambled eggs (if it is plain egg)
    • neatly cooked omelets (no stray cheese or other ingredients)
    • pancakes
• Always dry the cast iron immediately after washing.
• Spray with oil or rub with shortening immediately after drying.
• I like to spray my frequently used cast iron with oil, just the inside, and bake it right side up in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees about once per month to maintain its seasoning.
  • My cast iron is frequently used and washed. Over washing can wash away the seasoning.
  • The seasoning helps it not to stick the food.
• It is best practice to clean the cast iron as soon as possible after use. However, with good frequently maintenance, you can get away with leaving the food in there for a while.
  • Remember it is better to leave the cast iron unwashed until you have time to wash, dry, and oil than to ruin the cast iron by not taking the time to dry and oil.