Food - Drink
The Absolute Best Type Of Oil For Seasoning Cast Iron
By LAUREN ROTHMAN
After being properly seasoned with oil, cast iron pans, which are initially gray in color, take on a beautiful black coating, and that coating of oil makes the pan nonstick. With the correct oil, seasoning a raw cast iron pan at home is as easy as pie.
Seasoning cast iron includes bonding fat to the metal's surface using high heat, typically in an oven. The raw cast iron skillet must first be thoroughly cleaned, dried, and coated with vegetable oil before being baked in a 350°F oven for an hour to season.
The ideal oil to use for seasoning is one with a high smoke point and a neutral flavor that won't flavor the food you're cooking. The best oils to choose from include safflower, rice bran, soybean, peanut, corn, sunflower, and canola oil.