How to season and care for cast iron

Let's get one thing out of the way. Not all cast iron pans require seasoning. Some cast iron pans, for example, Le Creuset and Chasseur are coated with enamel, which essentially doesn't require seasoning. The enamel coating acts as a protective layer to the cast iron and already has non-stick properties. Unlike raw cast iron, however, these types of cast iron are not meant to be used on all heat sources including an open flame or high heats.

Raw cast iron is one of the toughest cooking materials around. Some people consider it as THE toughest. It can be used on an open campfire flame or indoors on an induction or gas cooktop. If you haven't already heard, Lodge (manufactured in the US) is one of the most popular cast iron brands in the country and in recent years has been a popular cast iron brand in Australia too.

All Lodge products arrive pre-seasoned out of the box, and in order to keep your pans, skillets or Dutch Oven in prime condition, it needs to be regularly seasoned to maintain the natural non-stick properties over time.

When you hear the word seasoning, people instantly think it is high maintenance and how dirty or messy it can get. Truthfully, it is easier to care than most people think. Essentially, seasoning is the process of baking oil onto the cast iron to give a natural low-tox and non-stick finish.

Here's how to season and care for your cast iron:

And YES, it really is that simple. Watch this great video by Lodge on how to season and restore your cast iron:

Tip: Use any food safe cooking oil to season your raw cast iron. Lodge recommends vegetable oil or canola oil for seasoning. Another great way to maintain your seasoning is to keep using your pan regularly. If your pan becomes dull, rusty or splotchy overtime, don’t be so quick to throw it away because all it needs is a refresher.

Above all else, if you expect rich flavours from cooking with your cast iron cookware,  everything we mentioned in this guide really means a lot of tender loving and care.

Looking for a cast iron cookware? Shop our entire Lodge collection here:

Next Read: What's the difference between a frypan & a sauté pan