Cast Iron Beckerheads, Sound Off!

[Bladite]

mmmmmmmm lard

 

[NathanJ]

Hi guys and gals, just got my first cast iron skillet, it says it is pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, but I am reluctant to use it because I am not totally trusting the pre-seasoning. Should I scrub it out and re season it (thinking mineral oil maybe, because it doesn't go rancid) or just heat it up and go for it?

 

[1066vik]

mineral oil won't work as seasoning -- too low a flash point.
rinse the pan with warm water, wipe it out with a paper towel, and toss it on the stove to dry it out.
while still on the stove, put a teaspoon (5mL) of food oil, bacon grease, or lard in it and wipe that round with a paper towel - if it starts to smoke, turn off the stove and set the pan on a cold burner to cool down - or go ahead and fry something in it.

 

[edh3007]

Yeap - fry with it - just don't wash off the seasoning - and NEVER put it in the dish washer!

I just found this thread. We've owned Lodge cast iron since before we were married 40 years ago. This past weekend (vendor days at SMKW) after visiting with Ethan Becker at the Ka-Bar booth (and paying for the knives and other stuff) we walked across the street to the Lodge Outlet. Bought two skillets for Christmas presents (we have plenty of skillets, dutch ovens, etc, to include the Sportsman's Grill). Got some other things for ourselves.

My daughter cooked supper for us tonight - in our HUGE Lodge cast iron skillet.

Cheers, Ed
edh3007 - because 30.06 was taken.

 

[NathanJ]

Thanks for the info gents!

 

[Bladite]

Hi guys and gals, just got my first cast iron skillet, it says it is pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, but I am reluctant to use it because I am not totally trusting the pre-seasoning. Should I scrub it out and re season it (thinking mineral oil maybe, because it doesn't go rancid) or just heat it up and go for it?

wash and dry and use the effing thing

if you don't like the results, google, strip, and season. it's cast iron.

i cannot believe how many people don't trust the "from factory", mod stuff, and waste time.

use it. you have nothing to lose.

 

[tjswarbrick]

Use it. Fry something. Or saute something with a little extra oil.
Just no tomatoes, vinegar, or other acidic food until it's good and used. Unless you WANT to re-season it.
Enjoy!

 

[NathanJ]

wash and dry and use the effing thing

if you don't like the results, google, strip, and season. it's cast iron.

i cannot believe how many people don't trust the "from factory", mod stuff, and waste time.

use it. you have nothing to lose.

Well, took your advice and used it. Fried an egg on the skillet and it cooked beautifully, no sticking and no bad taste. I'll take some pics the first time I do a proper cook up in it.

 

[GSO1962]

Still in El Paso and cooking with the skillet I bought the first week I got here in September. Really poor cooking gear in the hotel...

Marinated some chicken with Mrs Dash Lime Garlic Marinade, sautéed in olive oil and added slices onion and chopped vine tomatoes just before it was finished. Put it on a bed of quinoa cooked in chicken stock with curry powder and paprika. Add corn on the cob and an Angry Orchard Traditional Dry for a tasty meal.

 

[Jerry D.]

I have a bit of a follow-up to this post.

Just got a few pictures of my father's most recent cast iron purchase and restoration.

Before:

After:

Here's the old stove in my folk's place plumbed in and fired up.

 

[DunkEm]

I have a bit of a follow-up to this post.


Here's the old stove in my folk's place plumbed in and fired up.

Is there a thread on how you did the restoration? That's really great work.

 

[Greebe]

Hi guys and gals, just got my first cast iron skillet, it says it is pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, but I am reluctant to use it because I am not totally trusting the pre-seasoning. Should I scrub it out and re season it (thinking mineral oil maybe, because it doesn't go rancid) or just heat it up and go for it?

Best thing you can ever do for your cast iron is to use flaxseed oil (raw linseed oil) on it. (NOT BLO) This is a slow hardening oil that does not go rancid and makes a "real" non stick coating.

For twenty or so years I used Crisco or veg oil and it worked but nothing like using linseed oil. You start wiping down your cast iron with that and in a short matter of time you will have a non stick coating better then any of those teflon pans out there.

Also never wash your pans with soap, just wipe out with hot water. Use only soft non scratch scrubbies on your pans if you need to scrub them. Use wood, or bamboo utensils when cooking and never metal.

Follow these simple things and you should be good to go.

Greebe

 

[Guyon]

Best thing you can ever do for your cast iron is to use flaxseed oil (raw linseed oil) on it. (NOT BLO) This is a slow hardening oil that does not go rancid and makes a "real" non stick coating.

For twenty or so years I used Crisco or veg oil and it worked but nothing like using linseed oil. You start wiping down your cast iron with that and in a short matter of time you will have a non stick coating better then any of those teflon pans out there.

Also never wash your pans with soap, just wipe out with hot water. Use only soft non scratch scrubbies on your pans if you need to scrub them. Use wood, or bamboo utensils when cooking and never metal.

Follow these simple things and you should be good to go.

Greebe

You're going to fit right in here.

 

[LostViking]

Man, I miss this place!

Love this thread,

Trade with the Bic under the hotdog still cracks me up.

 

[tanglediver]

I picked up a round ten inch griddle and a long rectangular one from Lodge. I have yet to use them, but it shall be very soon, probably this weekend.
But, being a metal junkie, I had to improve the finish on the round unit. I broke out the angle grinder and had at it. Too many "Tool Time" episodes from back when have spoiled me. :adoration:


I guess it's off to factory cast iron seasoning jail with me......:tiger:

 

[BenchmadeBoy]

Just picked up a Lodge 12" skillet. Have yet to cook anything with it yet but it will join my other cast-iron pans in short order. Have a 10" Lodge that has been my go-to pan for a long time . . .

 

[Greebe]

I picked up a round ten inch griddle and a long rectangular one from Lodge. I have yet to use them, but it shall be very soon, probably this weekend.
But, being a metal junkie, I had to improve the finish on the round unit. I broke out the angle grinder and had at it. Too many "Tool Time" episodes from back when have spoiled me. :adoration:

I did that to several of my Lodge cast iron skillets nearly 10 years ago. Man it made a big difference. The old Griswalds were ground like this, but Lodge is lazy and leaves them as cast.

 

[Greebe]

We might have to do some cast iron family pic's.

 

[Dexwithers]

Looking good Tanglediver!

I did that to several of my Lodge cast iron skillets nearly 10 years ago. Man it made a big difference. The old Griswalds were ground like this, but Lodge is lazy and leaves them as cast.

Actually from my research, Lodge makes them rough now so that their Pre seasoning process will stick to the metal better since they do so many at a time. Not as a cost saver or laziness.

I have a bunch of old lodge from the late 70's before they started pre seasoning their pans, in the 90's I believe, and they are as smooth as any of the old Griswalds.

However, I am planning on sanding all my newer lodge cast iron down to a super smooth surface cause the rough stuff really bothers my OCD and is nicer to cook on.

 

[1066vik]

late breakfast -- too cold & windy to grill outside, soooo.....

note the side of second hand veggies? gotta eat those veggies to stay healthy!