Should I season my paellera?
I bought a carbon steel paella pan. I've looked up if people season it (link) but on Wikipedia I've read:
As with other cast iron vessels, a seasoned pan or dutch oven should not regularly be used to cook foods containing tomatoes, vinegar or other acidic ingredients, as these foods will eventually remove the protective layer created during the seasoning process.
I think paella is pretty acidic food, so is it a good idea to season the pan?
Best Answer
It's not a matter of "should". It's just not really possible to keep a paella pan seasoned the way one imagines seasoning on a carbon steel or cast iron pan.
Two properties of cooking kills seasoning:
- Long braising.
- Acidic liquid.
Paella is long braising in acidic liquid. :( Additionally the logistical inconvenience of getting out the large paella pan to cook other greasy things means it doesn't build up seasoning that could be sacrificed during paella cooking.
All the paella (i.e. the pan) manufacturer's videos on youtube don't show a seasoning process, they just clean the pan, dry the pan, and apply a little oil after use.
EDIT: I guess you could season the pan after every cooking session. That sounds quite inconvenient to me.
Pictures about "Should I season my paellera?"
Quick Answer about "Should I season my paellera?"
Your carbon-steel paella pan may look bright and shiny, but if you want this fine piece of cookware to serve you for a lifetime, you gotta season it before you use it. Properly seasoning your paellera before you use it will jump start the patina you want it to develop.How do you season a Spanish paella pan?
To season, coat the pan with a little cooking oil and heat on medium heat until the pan turns a golden brown. Now, it's ready to go.Do you oil a paella pan?
If you are cooking straight away, then you are ready to go. However, if not, the pan now needs to be sealed with a coating of oil. Simply pour a little cooking oil in the pan and wipe all over with a piece of kitchen roll.Do you need to season an enamel paella pan?
Enameled pans don't require any special care or maintenance. Wash them before the first use and you're ready to go. Do be gentle when you're storing them.How to Season Carbon Steel Paella Pan
More answers regarding should I season my paellera?
Answer 2
You certainly should season it, else cooking in it will make it rust. Also, your iron intake will rise rapidly if it's not seasoned, which can become a problem if you're eating too frequently from it.
What Wikipedia is telling you is to not use reactive metal vessels (cast iron or carbon steel) for acidic dishes at all. Not to use them unseasoned.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Kristina Nor, EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA