How to Season a Dutch Oven

When you buy a Dutch oven, it is not ready to be used. To prepare it you need to season it so that you can make it last and be ready for proper cleaning. The instructions that come with a Dutch Oven are not sufficient.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• Shortening

1. Line oven by placing aluminum foil on the bottom rack of oven.

2. Move the oven racks so that there is room on the rack to set the Dutch Oven

3. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (this is hotter than the instructions that come with it, but it works much better at this temp)

4. Coat the entire Dutch oven with a layer of shortening, inside and out. I use a paper towel to wipe it down and rub it in.

5. Set the lid of the Dutch oven on the rack with the handle up.

6. Set the Dutch oven on the lid.

7. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off. Let the Dutch oven cool in the oven overnight.

8. The Dutch oven will have a shiny coating and is ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• After each use, the Dutch oven should be warmed and rub in a light coat of shortening so that it is ready for the next use.
• The seasoning process will create a lot of smoke; make sure you have fans running.
• After each use, do not use soap to clean. Use a plastic scraper to remove most of the food and then use soap and a vinegar solution to clean. See How to Clean a Dutch oven for more details.
• This will create a lot of smoke. You will need to keep doors open and keep a fan running.
• The Dutch oven and home oven will be hot. Do not touch anything or you will get burned.