How To Season Cast Iron Cookware?
If you're an active cook or a culinary enthusiast, you've likely heard the buzz about cast iron cookware. Its durability, versatility, and ability to retain heat make it a kitchen essential. But, to truly unlock its potential, you need to know the secret handshake of seasoned cast iron. In this guide, we'll dive into the art and science of seasoning your cast iron cookware to ensure it not only stands the test of time but also becomes a flavorful sidekick in your culinary adventures.
While all Avias Cast Iron Cookware comes pre-seasoned, it is always better to understand the process of seasoning cast iron utensils just to flaunt the knowledge with friends and family, if not for anything else!
Before we embark on the journey of seasoning, let's demystify what it really means. Seasoning is the process of treating cast iron with oil and heat to create a natural, non-stick surface. This not only enhances the cookware's non-stick ability and performance but also prevents rusting and improves its longevity.
While your Avias cast iron cookware comes pre-seasoned, let’s still dive into the art of seasoning your utensils through the step-by-step guide below.
Ingredients for Success
1. Cast Iron Cookware: Choose from Avias's premium selection, ranging from cast iron Skillets, Dosa Pans, and Kadai/ Woks to even Kuzhi Paniyaram pans. Each piece is crafted with precision and built to last.
2. Cooking Oil: Opt for oils with high smoke points, such as vegetable oil, peanut oil, or sunflower oil.
3. Aluminum Foil or Baking Sheet: To catch any oil drips during the seasoning process.
4. Paper Towels or Cotton Cloth: For wiping excess oil.
Step-by-Step Guide to Seasoning
Keep your cooking buddy ready, for it is about to go through a process that helps it stay with you for an eternity!
Step 1: Preheat in the Oven/ Gas Stove
Before diving into the seasoning process, ensure your oven is preheated to 190°C (375°F) or you can preheat the cast iron cookware on a gas stove. Consistent heat is crucial for the oil to polymerize effectively, creating that coveted non-stick surface. If you’re going to season your cast iron tawa or skillet on a stovetop, you can conveniently skip this step.
Step 2: Clean the Cast Iron Cookware
Start with a clean slate. Wash your cast iron pan with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Just a gentle wash would be more than enough.
Step 3: Dry Thoroughly
Patience is critical; we said it is an art, remember? After washing, dry the cookware completely using a kitchen towel.
Pro Tip: You can even place it on a low flame for a few minutes to ensure all moisture evaporates.
Step 4: Apply Oil
Using a paper towel or cloth, apply a thin layer of your chosen oil to all surfaces of the cast iron. Don't forget the handles and underside. The oil acts as a protective shield, preventing corrosion and enhancing the non-stick properties.
Step 5: Wipe Excess Oil
Less is more in this case. Wipe off any excess oil with a clean cloth or paper towel. The goal is a thin, even layer that will polymerize during the heating process.
Step 6: Bake It
If you’re using an oven, Place the oiled cast iron pot upside down on the oven rack with a sheet of aluminum foil or a baking sheet on the rack below to catch any drips. Bake for an hour at 375°F (190°C). This intense heat will bond the oil to the cast iron, creating a slick surface.
If you’re using a stovetop: Place the oiled cast iron kitchen essential on the stove and let the cookware heat up. Once the utensil is warm enough, pop in a few chopped onions and let them turn dark brown. All this should be done in about 15 minutes.
Pro Tip: You can practice your tossing skills while the onions get charred; it is not just practice time for you but also a test run on how well the cookware is getting seasoned.
Step 7: Cool Down
Turn off the oven or stovetop and let the cookware cool inside. Don't rush this step. Allowing the cast iron to cool gradually helps in the formation of an unbreakable seasoning layer.
Tips and Tricks
We are sure that your Avias premium cast iron cookware is now a seasoned pro, ready to face any experiment or challenge in your kitchen. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your Avias pre-seasoned cast iron cookware lasts an eternity or even better and can be passed on from generation to generation.
Regular Use is Key
The more you use your cast iron cookware, the better it performs. Cooking with oils and fats contributes to the ongoing seasoning process, resulting in a naturally non-stick surface.
Keep It Simple
Unlike most types of cookware in the market, cast iron cookware requires the bare minimum of effort to clean and maintain. Just using warm water, a soft brush, and a gentle rinse would do the trick.
Store with Care
Store your cast iron cookware with a paper towel or cloth between pieces to prevent scratching. A well-maintained storage space ensures the longevity of the seasoning.
Oiling
Every six months or so, adding a thin layer of oil and giving it a mini-seasoning could elongate the seasoning abilities of your premium cast iron cookware. It is like your utensil’s spa day.
All right then! You've now learned to season your cast iron cookware to perfection, unleashing its full potential in the kitchen. While your Avias cookware comes pre-seasoned, it is always better to learn the tricks of the trade, especially with art like cooking.
While trying out new recipes and experimenting with new cuisines is a mark of a good cook, their ability to choose the right cookware that not only lasts an eternity but also adds to the visual appeal of the kitchen space is essential.
Avias is proud to have been a small part of big celebrations of millions of homes across the globe. As you embark on cooking adventures with your beautifully seasoned cast iron, remember that love and care are an investment in your cookware that shall pay dividends with every flavorful dish.
Happy cooking!
