Hey folks!

[ice cream ...]

Hey folks! I switched to cast iron because I wanted cookware that lasts forever. I look forward to getting ideas and tips from experts on how to properly maintain my pan.

 

[BubblyCat]

Welcome @ice cream ...! have you tried exploring the cleaning and maintenance?

 

[BigBob75]

I would season your cast iron and enjoy it. I wash my cast iron and carbon steel pans with soap and water in the kitchen sink, even the "pre seasoned" pans then season them myself. I use mostly new Lodge pans, but have some collector pans which I only display because they look nice on the kitchen wall. I coat the entire cleaned and dry pans including the handle with a light coat of Crisco (not heavy Crisco-just so they shine) , then put them in a cold oven upside down on H.D. aluminum foil. I don't have any iron with wood handles! I turn the heat up to 500 F and when the oven chime signals it's up to temp, I count 1 hour and shut the oven off and let the oven and pan cool naturally. I use aluminum foil to catch any drips on a lower shelf with the pan, upside down on a higher shelf. I do this 3 times, usually takes 2-3 days and then use the pan after storing it with a light coat of cooking oil. I only use Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil because I like the taste of it. I wash my pans with only hot water, never any soap, and I use a plastic Lodge scraper to scrape off any stuck bits of food and then use a stiff nylon brush to finish cleaning the pan. I rinse it in more hot water, wipe it dry with a kitchen towel and put it on the stove under low heat to finish drying it NOT TOO LONG-WATCH IT SO IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT AND WARP! .It must be dry! I then lightly coat the pan with Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and store it for the next use. ONLY DO THE SEASONING WHEN YOU CAN OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS AND TURN ON EXHAUST FANS. IT WILL SMOKE AND YOUR FIRE ALARMS WILL SOUND. ASK ME HOW I KNOW! Enjoy your iron! God Bless. Bob

Hey folks! I switched to cast iron because I wanted cookware that lasts forever. I look forward to getting ideas and tips from experts on how to properly maintain my pan.

Others may have a different method of seasoning their iron, this is how I season mine! It works for me!

 

[Alan]

Hello @ice cream ... welcome to the Cast Iron Forum!

Great tip @BigBob75

 

[BigBob75]

Alan,
Thank you! God Bless.
Bob