How to Season Cast Iron Cookware on a Fire
Cast iron cookware was a favorite cooking item way before the invention of aluminum cookware. With iron's heat-conducting features, homeowners are able to enjoy roasting and baking using their cast iron cookware. Not only does cast iron provide a convenient way to serve fire-cooked meals, using such pans is also ideal for cooking foods that stick to the pan such as eggs and meat. Seasoning your cast iron cookware provides an additional layer of coating that prevents food from sticking on your cast iron pan. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Steel wool
- Hot water
- Dish detergent
- Dry cloth
- 2 logs of wood
- Tinder
- Scraps of paper
- Lighter
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
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1
Scrape off the crusty build-ups on your cookware using steel wool. Remove any hint of rust or dirt from the pan. This may take longer if your pan is in poor condition.
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2
Wash the pan by hand using hot water and dish detergent. Make sure you have scrubbed off all gunk and rust. Do not just leave the cookware in your dishwasher or soak it in wash water, as this may only create more rust on your pan. Vigorously scrub the pan with your own hands to make sure that it is squeaky clean.
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3
Dry the pan immediately in order to prevent it from rusting. Wipe the cookware with a dry piece of cloth.
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4
Start building your fire by assembling two logs in a parallel position. Leave at least a foot of space in between the logs. Place your tinder in between the logs to serve as your fire starter. Light a few strips of paper with a lighter and throw them into the tinder.
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5
Apply vegetable oil onto the pan’s surface. Place the pan upside down on top of the fire. This will allow the oil to drip freely from the pan while it’s being seasoned. Keep the iron pan at least an inch above the tips of the fire as you lightly sway it with your hand. The movement will allow the heat to spread evenly across the pan’s surface. Do this for 40 minutes and set aside the pan to cool.
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6
Wash the cookware with detergent and hot water. Wipe it dry with a dry cloth and remove all grease or residue.
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