Well seasoned skillet

Well seasoned skillet

• blombo 16 years ago
  I am new to cast iron. While I enjoy the new flavor of my cooking, I wonder what is meant when people talk about their old 'well seasoned' skillets. Does the pan just absorb things over time, or is this the layer of carbon that is starting to build up on my pan? Should I be scrubbing that completely off everytime or what?
  Thanks for any comments
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• grandmacooks 16 years ago said:
  Don't scrub it off! A well seasoned skillet will be black. Cajunspices has great directions for seasoning and maintaining your iron skillets. It's the last recipe in this group, on page 17 (because it was the first one I added when I started the group). Check it out at http://www.grouprecipes.com/43325/seasoning-cast-iron-skillet.html
  See the group picture? That's my mother's iron skillet that she's has since before I was born (I'm in my mid-50s). It's always been dark like that, in my memory. When I bought my first cast iron when I first got married, I couldn't figure why it was the wrong color! That's when I learned about seasoning! Good luck with your cast iron! It takes some time and a little care, but it's worth it.
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• itsjustjuwah 16 years ago said:
  One of my skillets, a "Wagner's 1891 Original Cast Iron Cookware" 10 1/2" J skillet... (which probably means nothing since you can buy these skillets anywhere) also has directions for seasoning stamped right on the back of the skillet.
  
  SEASONING INSTRUCTIONS
  1-Scour thoroughly
  2-Coat with cooking oil
  3-Heat in 300 degree oven-1 hour
  4-Remove excess oil
  Ready for use-Reseason as necessary.
  
  Seems to me, these would be the instructions to follow for a new skillet. I remember my Momma talking about throwing her skillet in the fire when Daddy was burning leaves! I never actually witnessed this, mind you. When I feel my skillet needs a touch up, what I do is heat about a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over high heat, with the exhaust fan on, until it starts to get hot and start moving in the pan, then I wipe the skillet with a paper towel to spread the oil around, continue to heat till it begins to smoke. Then I (using an oven mit, of course) put the pan in the oven till it cools, wipe it again and put it away till I'm ready to use it. I hope this helps.
  
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