How to Maintain Cast Iron Cookware

Jun 26, 2016 VA Outdoors Recipes 0

For some, cooking with cast iron is the only way to go. However, many people are intimidated with cast iron – both in proper cooking temperatures, and how to maintain cast iron cookware. But truthfully, cast iron is simple and easy to deal with. We have assembled a list of steps for how to maintain cast iron cookware. We encourage you to try cast iron both in the deer camp and at home.

How to season cast iron skillets and dutch ovens

Build a large enough fire to produce a large bed of coals, or fire up your oven to 350.
For a brand new cast iron skillet , or dutch oven, use warm soapy water and a stiff brush to clean the inside of the pot. Never, ever use steel wool. Normally you would never use soap, but since this is the first time and we are going to season it, it is ok.
Rinse thoroughly and ensure the cast iron is completely dry.
Add a small amount of vegetable oil, or shortening, into the bottom of the pan – enough to do a decent coat on all interior surfaces of the cast iron.
Rub the oil in with a clean paper towel or cloth.
Once the interior is wiped down, coat the outside of the pan – this will keep the exterior from rusting as well.
If using a fire, spread the coals out evenly, and place your pan upside down over the coals roughly 12 inches above the coals. To do this, use a grate to keep the pan elevated. In an oven, place foil below the pan to catch any excess oil.
Let the pan sit for at least an hour, this may require additional coals to maintain a high temperature for seasoning. Do this by adding coals from a side fire.
After an hour, allow your cast iron cookware to fully cool down, once cool apply an additional thin coat of oil to the pan. This coat should not be heavy enough to cause pooling of oil inside the pan etc.

Once your cast iron is seasoned, cast iron is very easy to maintain.

Once done cooking, simply fill with water and bring to a boil.
Utilize a wooden spoon, or other non-metal utensil and use it to scrape the sides and bottom clean. If you heavily burn food to the sides or bottom this may take a little longer. But do not use steel wool or soap. You may need to utilize a synthetic scrubbing bad to clean the surface.
Continue to rinse with fresh water until fully clean.
Once clean, place back over heat for at least 10-15 minutes to ensure all water is gone.
Let cool, and coat with a cost of oil. again be sure to not use too much oil to where it pools int he bottom of the pan.