How to treat a cast iron pan that only gets occasional use
I have a small cast-iron pan that I use a few times a month, sometimes more, sometimes less. Most advice about how to season a cast-iron pan involves lightly oiling and wiping it down, after it's been cleaned, before putting it away. This seems to assume that the pan gets used every few days. Since I don't use it very often, my concern is that any oil that remains on the pan might go rancid before I use it the next time, and that it will affect the flavour of whatever I cook. Is this something I should actually worry about? How do other people treat a cast-iron pan that only gets occasional use?
Best Answer
My (carbon steel) wok is used with that sort of frequency and doesn't go rancid. What I do is (you may want to modify a little for the fact you're on cast iron):
- Rinse and dry it.
- Get it fairly warm.
- Pour in a little oil (sunflower as that's what I mainly use).
- Swirl/wipe the oil over the surface.
- Heat until I think it starts to smoke; turn off the gas.
- After a few seconds wipe of the excess with a paper towel.
- After a few minutes wipe it off again as some oil will have magically appeared
- Heat until it just starts to smoke again (fairly slowly to allow the heat to even out).
- Allow to cool before putting away.
Now this isn't a very hard seasoning, but it does a good job of stopping the pan from rusting and stopping food from sticking next time it's used. The final amount of oil is very small, which helps.
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Quick Answer about "How to treat a cast iron pan that only gets occasional use"
If your pan has stuck-on bits Occasionally small patches of the cast iron's seasoning will wear down and become thin, causing food to stick to the pan. If you're struggling to remove stuck-on food, next time, while the pan is warm (not hot), add ΒΌ cup kosher salt and a few drops of warm water.Do you have to season a cast iron pan after every use?
Remember there's no need to use your best premium brand for seasoning! How often should I season my skillet? \u2014 To get the best out of your cast iron skillet, it's recommended that you oil it after each use. However, depending on how frequently you use it, 2-3 times a year is sufficient.How do you maintain cast iron after use?
Cast Iron UpkeepHow do I stop my cast iron skillet from ruining?
Cast Iron cooking - beginner tipsThe Best Way To Clean and Season a Cast Iron Skillet | Epicurious
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Answer 2
I've been using the same cast iron skillet since 1989 (yep, that long). After I cook in it, I do a thorough rinse with hot water and a scrubby of some sort. No dish soap. No scouring pad. I typically have a film of oil remaining. I put the skillet in the oven (center rack, upside down) and set the oven to 350F. Once it is preheated, I turn the oven off and let the skillet dry in the oven overnight. This routine has kept my skillet in good condition for decades. I'm sure someone will say that I'm not doing it "right", but the method is simple and it has worked for me over and over again.
Answer 3
I use my cast iron with about the same frequency as you, about once a month.
- Rinse it with hot water to remove dust
- Cook (possibly adding oil)
- Scrape food off under hot water with spatula, fork, knife, Lodge scraper, etc.
- Scour with stainless steel scrubber (no S.O.S. or detergent)
- Heat on stove for 5m until all water evaporates
- Pour kosher salt (rough) in center and rub a minute with a paper towel or napkin
- Rinse with hot water
- Heat on stove for 5m until all water evaporates
- Add a dab of coconut oil and rub with a paper towel
- Store
- Repeat
The coconut oil doesn't get sticky like canola oil does. You could skip the salt rub if it's not that dirty or you don't care about old food.
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Images: Milan, Engin Akyurt, Andrea Piacquadio, Karolina Grabowska