When it comes to cooking,
a lot of it depends on the tools you use. The cast iron pan is probably
one of the oldest and most needed utensils in the kitchen. You could
use it for just about everything – from frying an omelette for breakfast to
sautéing veggies for dinner. It’s truly a prized possession known for
its versatility and ease of use passed on by grandmothers in many
households. You heard us. The strong and sturdy pan is built to last for
years, but just like any other cooking equipment, it needs to be taken
care of.
The trick of maintaining a cast iron pan and making it last a lifetime lies in ‘seasoning’
or ‘curing’ it. Cast iron is a delicate material that may rust or chip
off and therefore you need to pamper it time and again. If your food
sticks to the pan, it’s probably because your cast iron pan is not
seasoned right. Seasoning makes for a non-stick cooking surface
naturally. It is a process of adding a protective coating that can help
you use the pan better. Not only this, a well-seasoned pan can give you
the crispiest pancakes or the best fried chicken without using too much
oil. Moreover, the cast iron will not rust if it is properly seasoned.
If
you’ve never done it before or have just bought a new pan, it is well
worth your time. Here’s how to season a cast iron pan. Learn it once and
you’ll have it for life.
Things You Will Need:
Cast iron pan
Paper towel
Vegetable oil or butter
Sponge
Oven
Instructions:
Step 1:
One of the simplest ways to season a cast iron pan is to rub some oil.
You can use plant-based oils like sunflower or canola, but a lot of
people swear by flaxseed oil.
Pour in some oil and rub all over evenly, then use a paper towel to
clean off the excess oil. A cast-iron pan is porous and the pores tend
to soak in all oil creating a non-stick surface. Flaxseed oil gets more
preference because it dries the hardest and creates a more long-lasting
coating but it can also be a bit heavy on your wallet. Canola oil works
as well. You can even try using butter or coconut oil; these may not be the best options though.
Step 2:
Next, place the pan upside down in the oven and heat it to the highest.
The heat allows the oil to break down and bond with the pan while
forming a firm layer. Leave it in the oven for an hour after which you
can turn off and remove the pan when it is completely cool.
More Tips:
Finally, here are the two most important things that you should bookmark. First, a cast iron pan that is seasoned well is used well. Second, every time you cook in your cast iron pan, you are actually seasoning it, which helps in filling up the pores that may have been exposed over the time. So, the simple rule is that the more you cook the smoother the surface will turn out to be.
A cast iron pan is also a very dependable cookware in your kitchen. Now that you have brushed up the basics, grab your pan and get cooking. Just promise us that you will keep it well-seasoned and cleaned.