How To Season A Lodge Cast Iron Skillet: A Step-by-Step Guide

lodge cast iron cookware

In this article, we will be discussing how to season a Lodge cast iron skillet.

But, first, let’s talk a little bit about the history of Lodge.

Lodge Manufacturing is located in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and was founded by Joseph Lodge in 1896.

The foundry was called Blacklock initially but later changed to Lodge Cast Iron in May of 1910 after a fire had destroyed the original foundry.

Today, Lodge is still going strong and is the oldest remaining manufacturer of American-made cast iron still in existence.

But do we need to season a new Lodge cast iron skillet? And if so, how do we do it?

Do you have to season a cast iron skillet?

In the following video, we discuss what we feel is the answer to this question that you may have wondered about regarding seasoning cast iron.

Since Lodge Cast Iron is the manufacturer, I feel it is wise to follow their recommendations for seasoning their cast iron products.

The video below shows my version of how I season new cast iron skillets.

Should I season my Lodge cast iron before first use?

Lodge cast iron comes from the foundry in a preseasoned condition.

Preseasoning is a process where a very thin layer of soy-based vegetable oil is sprayed onto the cast iron.

It is then baked at a very high temperature giving it a base coat of protective seasoning.

Lodge Manufacturing is the first manufacturer of cast iron to preseason all their cookware before leaving the foundry.

Because of this industry standard, now nearly all manufacturers of cast iron preseason their cookware before shipping to the retail stores or consumers.

how to season a cast iron skillet for the first time

Although Lodge cast iron comes preseasoned from the factory, you might want to add your own layers of seasoning.

Some users of cast iron feel a new cast iron skillet needs to be stripped down to the bare metal and seasoning applied from that state.

Then others follow Lodge’s recommendation to use the new cast iron right out of the box.

Whichever option you choose doesn’t really matter.

Whether applying an additional layer or two of seasoning to new cast iron or stripping it and starting fresh, the seasoning processes are the same.

But, suppose you are working on an older pan that may have old oil that has become rancid.

In that case, you want to remove it before adding more seasoning layers.

• The first step to seasoning cast iron is to clean the cast iron.
• Start by thoroughly washing the cast iron skillet with hot soapy water to remove dirt and debris.
• You may want to clean pans like this afterward.
• Rinse the cast iron to remove any remaining soap and dry it thoroughly.
• Heat the cast iron on the stovetop to ensure all the moisture is gone, and then add a very thin layer of the oil of your choice.
• Rub the oil into every nook and cranny of the cast iron. Be sure to cover the top and bottom of the skillet and the handle with a thin coat of oil.
• Next, take a cloth towel and wipe ALL the excess oil off the cast iron. You want to wipe it completely off as if you didn’t want any left on it.
• The reason for this step is to ensure there is no buildup. The excess oil buildup causes the cast iron pan to be sticky, and we don’t want sticky cast iron!
• Next, we place the cast iron skillet (upside down on the middle rack) into a 350-450 degree preheated oven and bake it for one hour.
• Place a cookie sheet or a piece of aluminum foil underneath to catch any drippings as it bakes.
• After the hour is up, turn the oven off and let the cast iron fully cool in the oven before removing it.
• Repeat the oiling and baking processes two to three more times, and that’s how to season a Lodge cast iron skillet!

How to season cast iron in The oven

Although you can season cast iron in many ways, the oven usually is what you will use.

Although, I have seasoned some of my cast iron on a gas grill.

I like to use an outdoor gas grill when I don’t want to heat up the oven in the kitchen for long periods.

I have done maintenance seasoning on an open fire, too, but it’s not the same as using a conventional oven.

Below is a video demonstrating the cast iron seasoning steps and instructions.

How to season cast iron without An oven

You can season cast iron on the stovetop without using an oven.

This is considered more of a maintenance process of seasoning the cast iron because we are not baking it in the oven.

Stovetop seasoning is done after washing and cleaning the cast iron.

So, to be clear, seasoning is a baking process. In contrast, routine oiling is simply maintenance to prevent rust from forming.

The video below is a complete demonstration of how to season a cast iron skillet on the stovetop.

The best oil to season cast iron

One of the biggest questions regarding seasoning cast iron cookware is what oil should be used.

Actually, any oil can be used to season cast iron.

But, you want an easily obtainable oil. You want to use something readily available, not something that is hard to find.

Affordability is a factor when choosing an oil to season with. You want an oil that is reasonably priced.

Another thing to consider is how effective the oil is. Does it do a good job in the process?

The last thing when choosing which oil to use is the smoke-point. You want an oil that has a relatively high smoke point.

The smoke point is the point at which oil, when heated, starts to smoke. So, whatever that degree is, it determines what the smoke point is.

You want to choose a high smoke point oil because the seasoning stays intact and doesn’t break down as bad when heated to higher temperatures.

What temperature is best to season cast iron?

The best temperature setting is based on the smoke point of the specific oil you choose.

What is the best oil to season cast iron?

What is the best oil to season cast iron is one of those subjects where everyone has their own opinions on what is best.

But, Lodge has recommendations and a chart to help you gather information on which oils have the highest smoke points and which are the lowest.

Here are a few I use and one I do not use.

Bacon Grease

• Bacon grease, although an animal fat, is something I regularly use to season my cast iron with.

• Bacon grease is a form of lard. It is flavored lard since bacon is usually smoke-cured with hickory or some other hardwood.

• I love bacon, and one thing among many is that it produces its own oil.

• I know some feel bacon is not good for you or is not suitable for you to use as a seasoning oil, but I do.

• Long before these processed oils came to be, lard and bacon grease was the primary way of seasoning cast iron.

Avocado Oil

• Avocado oil is a nut oil.

• And in my opinion, avocado oil is one of the best oils to season your cast iron cookware.

• It has a very high smoke point at around 520 degrees, making it very good for seasoning cast iron.

• And it has a pleasant flavor too.

Crisco

• Crisco is a vegetable shortening that came about in the early 1900s.

• It has a neutral flavor and doesn’t make the kitchen smell while baking the cast iron in the oven.

• The smoke point for Crisco is around 490 degrees making it another excellent choice for seasoning cast iron.

• Crisco is my go-to choice for seasoning and re-seasoning cast iron.

Flaxseed Oil

• Flaxseed oil has been touted as one of the best oils to season cast iron, but I wholeheartedly disagree.

• Although I agree it can quickly give cast iron that pretty black patina look and make it shine, it has the lowest smoke point of all the oils to choose from.

• Flaxseed oil smoke point comes in at around only 225 degrees, making it a bad choice, in my opinion.

• Plus, it is expensive and has a strong smell when heated in the oven.

Below is a video we created discussing many other oils than what we have listed above.

Frequently Asked Questions:

In Conclusion:

Lodge Cast Iron is a great company, and they make an excellent piece of cast iron cookware.

Cast iron needs to be seasoned to protect it from rusting. And helps in developing a non-stick coating.

We hope this article has been helpful and given you some tips and tricks to help you determine how to season a Lodge cast iron skillet!

Leave us a comment and let us know what you season with!