How To Season A Cast Iron Pan

When it comes to the best non-stick frying pans in NZ, it’s hard to look past cast iron. Thankfully, you can buy frying pans made from cast iron in all shapes and sizes at Briscoes. After a big frying pan? Deep dish frying pan? Saute pan? Or are you simply looking for one of the longest-lasting non-stick frying pans on the market? Your search ends with our extensive cast iron range.

Sure, a cast iron pan is great on its own. But, the way to unlock its true powers is by seasoning it. Seasoning your cast iron pan or cookware is essential to get the best out of it. We’ve spoken to frypan pros to compile a guide with everything you need to know about seasoning cast iron. Once all is said and done, you’ll be a seasoned expert in seasoning. Here’s what we’ll cover:

The benefits of choosing cast iron

What is seasoning a pan?

Why you should season your cast iron pan

When it’s best to season your cast iron pan

A step-by-step for seasoning cast iron

The range of cast iron cookware at Briscoes

Let’s get started!

The benefits of choosing cast iron

There are plenty of reasons to choose cast iron cookware. Like a fine wine, a frying pan made of cast iron often gets better with age if looked after properly. Here are the main benefits of choosing this durable cookware for your kitchen. 

Long-lasting

Speaking of durable, we’ll start with that. When you choose cast iron, you’re choosing a frying pan that’ll last the distance. You may see cast iron pans at garage sales. That’s because this cookware lasts for years if well seasoned and cared for. Iron itself is tough and hard-wearing compared to other alternatives.

Non-stick

There’s nothing worse than frying up a big meal that looks and smells amazing, only for the experience to be ruined as leftover food cakes onto the frying pan surface. Thankfully, once your cast iron pan is seasoned, it will have a sheen that makes it non-stick. This means less cooking oil or butter, which can improve your diet. 

Top tip: Most cast iron pans are chemical-free, unlike other non-stick cookware. 

Versatile

Cast iron is king when cooking amazing dishes like pies, as the pan can be used on the stovetop and in the oven. This is because iron can handle nearly any temperature in the kitchen. Just be sure to wear oven mitts when you are grabbing your pan’s handle!

Simple to clean

No one likes cleaning dishes. Luckily, given that cast iron is non-stick when seasoned, you won’t need to spend hours scraping away at caked-on food. Cleaning with a specialist paste or warm water is usually all it takes for your pan to be safe and ready to use again. As always, you want to keep food hygiene top of mind. Read our guide on how to clean a frying pan like a pro for more tips. 

Added iron

You may know someone that has an iron deficiency. Maybe you do yourself. Cast iron, whether in the form of a saute pan, deep dish frying pan or frying pan with a lid could be a good option. Believe it or not, every time you cook on a cast iron pan, it adds a wee bit of iron to your food.

What is seasoning a pan?

Right, so what actually is seasoning a pan? No, it’s not generously applying salt and pepper. Instead, seasoning cast iron cookware involves baking oil or fat onto your pan’s surface. Technically speaking, this process is called polymerisation. It’s essentially the process of fat or oil converting into a kind of plastic layer on your pan. 

Why you should season your cast iron pan

Most of the benefits of cast iron that we’ve already discussed are only possible with the help of proper seasoning. This layer of oil helps your cast iron pan in many ways, including: 

• Preventing rust
• Helping your pan to be non-stick
• In general, helping cookware to last longer

In a general sense, seasoning is a no-brainer. You’ve spent money to own this incredible cookware, and you’ll get the best out of it with seasoning. Cast iron only has the reputation of being one of the best non-stick frying pans in NZ, thanks to seasoning. 

When it’s best to season your cast iron pan

Firstly, we’ll address the elephant in the room. Some cast-iron pans do come pre-seasoned. However, it’s still important that you learn how to season a pan yourself. When you first buy a cast iron pan, you’ll need to season it if isn’t already pre-seasoned. After that, it’s recommended that you season your cast iron cookware about two to three times a year, depending on how often you use it and what you regularly cook. For example, acidic foods like lemon may break down your pans sheen quicker than a cheese sauce. Other than regular servicing, it’s a good idea to give your frying pan a season if you see signs of rust or a loss of sheen. 

A step-by-step for seasoning cast iron

Seasoning a cast iron pan isn’t too difficult for home chefs and professional cooks worldwide. In saying that, you will need to put aside a fair chunk of time. To help you get the job done, we’ve broken down the process into an easy-to-follow guide. 

Step 1: Wash your pan

The first step in seasoning your cast iron frying pan is giving it a good scrub. Having a clean pan is especially important if you’ve just bought a new pan, as you don’t know where it’s been. Although you wouldn’t normally want to use dish soap for cleaning cast iron as it ruins the season, it doesn’t matter in this instance as you’re about to re-season anyway. Cast iron pans are tough, so they can often handle steel wool or microfibre cloths. Don’t forget to wash the handle as well. 

Step 2: Dry your pan

Once you’ve finished cleaning, give your cast iron pan a thorough dry. Start by using a tea towel. Then it can be a good idea to heat up the pan on the stovetop afterwards. This way, you’ll evaporate any remaining moisture.   

Step 3: Rub on oil or fat

Now it’s time to get your hands dirty. Or, oily we should say. For this step, we often prefer to use oil rather than fat. And, you don’t need to use an expensive oil at that. You can use just about any oil for seasoning cast iron. In saying that, oils like vegetable or canola are easier to work with. Rub oil over your whole frying pan, including the handle. 

Step 4: Give your pan a buff

Step 4 requires you to buff your cast iron pan. To do this, use a paper towel or something similar to rub oil into your cookware so it no longer looks excessively greasy. You don’t want to leave big puddles of oil behind, as this may harden and turn sticky. 

Step 5: Heat your pan

Now things are getting really heated. Although some prefer to heat their cast iron on the stovetop, we think it’s best in the oven as the heat distributes more evenly. Start by preheating your oven to about 230 degrees. Then, place your frying pan inside. You’ll want to leave it to heat for about 30 minutes, but keep an eye on it.

Top tip: The pan may smoke a bit, but don’t worry! This is normal. Just ensure your range hood fan is on and kitchen windows are open. 

Step 6: Repeat the process

Finally, do it all again. When seasoning cast iron cookware, you want to create several layers of seasoning. To do this, you’ll need to repeat our first five steps about three times. You’ll know it’s seasoned when your frying pan has a smooth and shiny appearance. Plus, it’s non-stick. Once your pan looks good to go, simply leave it to cool. 

And there you have it. Once you’ve finished seasoning and go to cook, you’ll understand why so many people consider cast iron one of the longest-lasting non-stick frying pan options.

Buy a cast iron frying pan at Briscoes

You best believe we have an extensive selection of cast iron cookware at Briscoes. Each product comes with our famous Price Promise and fast delivery to your door. Or, you can view our range at your local Briscoes store. We only stock cast iron cookware from the world’s leading suppliers.

Simon Gault

Simon Gault is a famous New Zealand chef and food writer. You may have seen him on Masterchef NZ. You may not know that he also has a fantastic selection of cookware, including cast iron. Top chefs choose Simon Gault cast iron pans, given their outstanding heat distribution for an excellent end product. 

Stanley Rogers

Stanley Rogers has a fantastic selection of cast iron cookware. Like other cast iron pans, Stanley Rogers supplies durable options that help you cook up masterpieces. One of the popular Stanley Rogers products is the Stanley Rogers Light Weight Cast Iron Frypan 30cm.

Looking to upgrade your cookware?

Some cast iron pans are handed down from generation to generation. They’re just that fantastic. In saying that, a cast iron pan is sometimes only as good as its season. By following our simple step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to season your cast iron cookware like a pro. Just be careful not to burn yourself and to ensure adequate ventilation. View our entire range of cookware, including cast iron frying pans, saute pans, and frying pans with lids online or at your local Briscoes store.