How to season cast iron pan

[briannesmom]

I just bought a cast iron grill pan yesterday. I want to use it tonight but it says "must be seasoned before use" but no instructions on how to do it. I know it means something about putting oil on it and heating it up but I don't know exactly how to do it.

Anyone know?

Thanks,
Amy

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

Found these for you.

http://antiques.about.com/cs/miscellaneous/ht/CleanCastiron.htm

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/CastIronPans.htm

 

[motherhen17404]

Here is another link for you:

http://www.lodgemfg.com/usecare1.asp?menu=original

 

[briannesmom]

Thank You!

 

[jonestavern]

I like the Lodge site, thanks for posting it!
I liked the other site also, very helpful for restoring old, beat pans, those super yard sale deals!

After washing, my Mom always dried out her cast iron on the stove top burner.
As Lodge doesn't say anything about this method, I'd go with the Lodge advice.

However, I still do as Mom did & with the pans she once used, so they must be at least 40 years old & have the most smoothe, lovely patina. Sweet memories!
I like the fact cast iron can be used for cooking on an open fire in the outdoors or on the hearth.

The nutritionist told us the iron pans do impart some iron to the food, making it a very healthy way to cook.

Jean

 

[motherhen17404]

You are welcome for the link. I just bought a Lodge pre-seasoned pan and I love it. It was nice that it came already seasoned, so it had a good headstart. And the more you use it, the better it gets. I too dry mine on the stove. I have a gas stove, so I just turn it on low for a min or two. Then I wipe a little oil all over the pan to keep it from rusting.

I was watching Alton Brown's show and he was using his cast iron pan in some neat ways. He was cooking flattened meat and instead of cooking inside of the pan, he turned it over and used the bottom of the pan like a grill. He also used the pan as a heat defuser when he needed very even heat for making candy. I would have never thought to use it that way.