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Seasoning a Cast Iron Pan, Properly
The five-minute routine that stops a pan ever going back to the shop-bought, slightly-sticky state. Do it once properly, then just maintain it.
5 min hands-on, 1 hour in the oven
Easy
Repeat every few months
What you'll need
A neutral, high smoke-point oil
Paper towel or a clean cloth
An oven that reaches 220°C
The pan itself, washed and dry
The steps
01
Wash and dry it thoroughly
Warm water and a stiff brush is fine — a small amount of soap won't ruin a well-seasoned pan, despite what you may have heard. Dry it completely, including the handle and underside.
02
Rub a thin layer of oil over the whole pan
Inside, outside, and the handle. Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point — grapeseed or flaxseed both work well. Skip olive oil here; it burns at a lower temperature and can turn gummy.
03
Wipe off the excess
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that matters most. The pan should look almost dry when you're done — a thick layer of oil is what causes the sticky, tacky finish people complain about.
04
Bake it upside down for an hour
220°C, pan upside down, with a tray or foil underneath to catch any drips. Upside down keeps oil from pooling in the base as it heats.
05
Let it cool in the oven
Turn the oven off and leave the pan inside until it's cool enough to handle. It should come out with a faint sheen and a darker, more even colour than when it went in.
Common mistakes
Too much oil
A thick coat doesn't season faster — it just goes sticky. Wipe until it looks almost bare.
The wrong oil
Olive oil and butter both burn at low temperatures and can leave a gummy residue instead of a hard finish.
Expecting it done in one round
A pan builds seasoning over several rounds and regular cooking. The first bake is a start, not a finish line.
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