cast iron cookware care

[gsganzer]

I recently started seasoning my cast iron with coconut oil. I think it might be just the ticket. My pans continue to get better and better with each use.

 

[tcreeley]

We have cooked on cast iron all of my life. Some of the frying pans have been in steady use since we got them 40 years ago. Our large frying pan I grew with my mother using it. We have always cooked on gas. As for seasoning- I fry with butter, olive oil. and bacon when we have it. Generally I just wipe it out between uses, but my wife loves to soak the pans, put them into the dishwasher. I worried about the seasoning - but not anymore. I just add oil/butter and fry. They work great.
I have a dutch oven I use for bread. My wife leaves that one alone and I season it with butter. I'll wipe crumbs out with a damp cloth and rub with a little butter if it needs it, prior to baking.

I don't think that these pans are as "delicate" as we fear they are!

 

[TomSeller]

Flaxseed will turn into a polymer, flax also goes by linseed oil, the flax was grown for the fiber, linseed for the oil. Its used in oil paints and I use it on all my wooden wares to provide a great protection. I recommend it over mineral oil, since mineral oil never completely dries out.

i have a number of kitchen knives with wood handles that I noticed are drying out a bit. Have you used flaxseed oil on handles? I do not put them in the dishwasher.

 

[forgeblast]

Tom I use flax on them(knife handles) when they are drying out too, my cutting boards, wooden bowls, spoons, etc. Its great!
what is the best oil for treating wood? - Robin Wood

 

[wolftree]

I have started passing along the magic of cast iron cookware by giving a cast iron griddle as wedding, anniversary and other occasion gifts. I counted the number of times I used a griddle, skillet or pan for a week and it was the griddle that was the most used by far. I purchased my griddle two wives and forty years ago. Both wives tried latch onto MY griddle without success.

 

[tcreeley]

I've been reading lately that pure neatsfoot oil (made from cows' shin bones and feet) is good for wood (besides leather). The non-pure stuff has petroleum based stuff added (that rots the thread in harness and boots). I am using Fiebings pure neatsfoot oil on my canes. When I did some research online, its use on cutting boards and handles was recommended. Another use was as a moisturizer for human use!
It is an all-animal product.

 

[SPIKER]

I had used bacon grease and or other greases & oils over time including ghe sprays out of a can. Best seems to be pure old lard... wash clean anything and add a small half tea spoon full after washing during heat drying and leave it on... It has gotten better since I took over the cast iron care, now not even fried taters stick...

M

 

[sseelhoff]

Gotta try the coconut oil for seasoning. Up to now, I have been using Canola oil. Thanks for the tip.

 

[TomSeller]

Gotta try the coconut oil for seasoning. Up to now, I have been using Canola oil. Thanks for the tip.

The best oil for seasoning is flaxseed oil. I use coconut oil to store the pans with since it is anti fungal, anti bacterial and anti septic.

 

[TomSeller]

Tom I use flax on them(knife handles) when they are drying out too, my cutting boards, wooden bowls, spoons, etc. Its great!
what is the best oil for treating wood? - Robin Wood

Thank you. I will give it a try.