How to Season Cast Iron Pan or Dutch Oven

Learn how to season cast iron pan and/or Dutch oven, because my friends, a well-seasoned cast iron skillet or Dutch oven will be one of your most beloved and used homestead kitchen items ever. And when done right, truly produces a non-stick finish without the harmful chemicals or coatings of Teflon.

Because cast iron is iron, it will rust if  not properly taken care of. The seasoning along with proper care, will eliminate rust issues and give you many a delicious meal with easy clean-up.

Seasoning is when the oil (fat source) is applied to the surface and with the use of heat, the oil goes through two processes of polymerization and carbonization. The oil (when applied correctly) creates a polymer layer on the surface of the cast iron. When heat is applied just above the smoking point it creates a carbon layer that finishes our non-stick seasoning. The oil is baked down into the pores of the cast iron and sealed, making that smooth shiny black surface we all covet on our cast iron.

How do I season a brand new cast iron skillet?

I created a video for you below to walk you through it (make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel, I've got weekly homesteading videos coming your way!) but will also walk you through the process below with a bit more detail on why I use the temperature and oils I do.

Even if your new cast iron says it comes seasoned, it's not seasoned enough. Always do a seasoning, regardless if it has a factory seasoning.

The Best Way to Season Cast Iron

1. Before seasoning your cast iron pan, wash it with soap and hot water (one of the few times my pans ever see soap). Dry thoroughly with a lint free towel or you can dry your cast iron on top of the stove over low heat or place it in the oven for a few minutes on pre-heat.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (some people swear by 450 degrees but 425 works great for me)
3. Apply a THIN coating of oil all over the cast iron, inside, out and include the handles. The best way to season cast iron is thin layers and do it multiple times rather than once with a thick layer (that's you end up with gummy and sticky cast iron). You want a thin layer, if you go too heavy you'll end up with sticky areas on your cast iron. We don't use hydrogenated GMO oils in our house and you don't need Crisco, canola or shortening to get a good seasoning, trust me. People have been using cast iron way before any of these icky things came on the market or into our food supply. See my favorite best oils to season cast iron with below.
4. Wipe off any excess oil (I used about a Tablespoon of oil to season a cast iron Dutch Oven in the video).
5. Place the cast iron upside down (if you used the proper amount you don't need to worry about any oil dripping into your oven) inside the preheated oven.
6. Allow to bake for 1 hour. Use your oven fan if it starts to smoke at the end. After 1 hour, turn oven off and allow to cool down.
7. Repeat if necessary. Remember, the more you cook and use your cast iron, the better the seasoning will continue to develop.

What's the Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

Many people like to use flaxseed oil as they feel it creates a superior ploymerized layer (mainly due to the popularity of one blog post, but I've never used it and I can cook eggs over easy and scrambled eggs in my pan without issue, I think it's more the slow long process of doing 6 seasonings in a row but haven't tested it myself) however the pioneers and homesteaders of old were using well-seasoned cast iron for centuries without having access to flaxseed oil.

The best oils to use are unsaturated fats because they form bonds easier than saturated fats.

1. Flaxseed oil – I don't generally keep it on hand and it can be spendy but it's a great choice.
2. Avocado oil– vegetable oils are a great choice and I always have avocado on hand for baking and cooking due to it's healthy omega 3's and high smoke point.
3. Lard- we raise our own organic pasture raised pork and you better believe I'm putting that to use. Animal fats can go rancid but because I use my cast iron every single day all the time, I've never had that issue. It also creates a great seasoning.
4. Sunflower oil– I don't usually have this on hand but it's a good unsaturated vegetable oil.

How often to season cast iron

This depends on your use of the cast iron. When used regularly you'll rarely have to season it because you're using oil to cook with it so it's basically getting seasoned every time you cook with it.

If it develops gummy or sticky spots, wipe it clean, and place it in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. This will help any of the excess oil to polymerize.

If it's really sticky, gummy, or rusty, you'll need to strip it down and then season it again following the steps above.

If you go a long period of time without using your cast iron then you may need to season it when bringing it out of storage.

There you have it, how to season cast iron pan and a new lodge Dutch oven. Do you have any favorite cast iron seasoning tips?

Check out my Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Outdoor Campfire Cooking

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