How to Season Cast Iron Without Oven

Cast iron is usually seasoned with an oven, and many people are used to this process. It’s a straightforward process that only involves washing the cast iron, drying it with a napkin, applying any type of oil suitable for seasoning a cast iron, and placing it in an oven at a temperature of 375°.

After this, you leave it to cool for about an hour and remove it from the oven. You then allow it to cool for a few minutes, and then you have your seasoned cast iron.

However, you can also season cast iron without oven and it is easier than you can ever imagine. This article is a must-read if you want to learn how to season cast iron without oven.

What does seasoning a pan mean?

Contrary to the name, seasoning a pan doesn’t have to do with adding spices. Of course, it’s not food. Instead, seasoning a pan means coating the surface of a cooking utensil such as pots and kettles with bioplastics (plastic material produced from renewable biomass sources) to prevent the pot or kettle from rusting.

The seasoning must be done appropriately to prevent the utensil from rusting. There are procedures to follow, which will be discussed later in this article. Seasoning is mainly done on cast iron and steel utensils; utensils that rust rapidly in use. Seasoning makes them resistant to rust.

Some utensils are seasoned by the manufacturer, while most are seasoned by the user. However, it’s recommended that you season your cast iron yourself, even if the manufacturer has seasoned it.

What is the best way to season a cast-iron skillet?

As you read earlier, most people use the oven to season their pans. It is the best way to season cast iron.

To season cast iron with an oven, you must follow these steps. Firstly, you scrub the surface with hot soapy water, dry thoroughly, spread some vegetable oil over the pan’s surface, and put it inside an oven at a temperature of 375° for an hour. After this is done, you leave the pan in the oven to cool, and that’s it. Your pan has been seasoned.

However, if you don’t have an oven, there are other ways to season cast iron without oven, and those ways will also prevent it from rusting. Those methods will be discussed later in this article.

How often should I season my iron skillet?

Seasoning your iron skillet is dependent on how frequently you use it. You should season your iron skillet 2-3 times a year. However, you can divide it by doing it every quarter of the year.

It’s also important to wash and dry thoroughly after use. This is done to observe the necessary hygiene. You can do many things to get the best out of your iron skillet and increase its durability. One of which is to apply oil to the surface after each use.

How to Season Cast iron without oven

As you read earlier, it’s effortless to season cast iron without oven. To do that, you have to follow these procedures;

1# Wash the iron pan neatly and dry it thoroughly

It’s essential to wash the iron if you want to season a cast iron. This isn’t only done because of the seasoning process; it’s also done to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene. After washing, the pan should be dried thoroughly with a clean napkin.

2# Rub the pan with oil

After washing and drying thoroughly, the next thing to do is rub every part of the pan with oil. It’s important to note that you have to wait until the pan’s oil has been absorbed, and it should no longer look greasy before proceeding to the next step.

3# Put the pan on a stove or burner

The next step is to put the pan into an oven. But if you don’t have an oven, there are other ways to season cast iron without oven. For example, you can light up your stove or gas cooker and gently place the pan on it.

It’s essential to keep an eye on the pan during this process because it might begin to smoke up quickly. You should be careful with it to prevent any issue in case of emergency. Also, it’s important to note that once you’ve seasoned the cast iron with or without an oven, you should use it frequently. If you leave it for too long, it could turn filthy.

How to Season a cast iron pan on the stove

Step one: Wash the iron pan with soap, sponge, and clean water
Step two: Dry the iron pan thoroughly with a clean napkin

Step three: Rub every part of the pan with oil.
Step four: Wait for the oil to be absorbed by the pan, so it doesn’t look greasy
Step five: Light your stove and place the pan gently on it. Make sure you pay rapt attention to the pan to prevent household accidents.

How to Season a Cast Iron Griddle

A cast iron griddle is a kitchen utensil with a flat cooking surface and a slightly raised edge, which helps prevent oil and other ingredients from spilling or pouring since the surface is flat. It’s primarily used to make pancakes, French toast, fried eggs, and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Seasoning a cast iron griddle is relatively easy. All you need to do is follow the following steps:

Step one: Wash the cast iron griddle with soap and water and scrub with a sponge to make it clean.

Step two: Dry thoroughly with a napkin. Remember that the washing and drying are done not only for the seasoning but also for good hygiene.
Step three: Apply oil on the cast iron griddle to coat the entire part of the utensil
Step four: Put in an oven at a temperature of 375°, but if you don’t have an oven, you can also season cast iron without oven. You need to light your stove or gas cooker and gently place the cast iron griddle on it.

Be watchful to prevent accidents and allow the cast iron griddle to cool after putting off the stove or gas cooker.

How to Season Cast iron with Lard

Lard is the fat you get from the abdomen of a pig. You can also use it to season cast iron. Here’s how:

Step one: Wash the pan with soap, sponge, and water to make it clean enough for use

Step two: Dry the pan thoroughly with a napkin
Step three: After drying, apply the Lard to the pan to cover the entire part
Step four: Place it in an oven or the top of your stove gently and wait for about an hour so it can be well heated

How to Season Cast iron with vegetable oil

Step one: Wash the pan thoroughly with soap, sponge, and water to make it clean enough for use
Step two: Dry the pan thoroughly with a napkin
Step three: After drying, apply the vegetable oil to the surface of the pan and make sure it covers the entire part

Step four: Place it in an oven or the top of your stove gently and wait for about an hour so it can be well heated

What Are the Best oils for seasoning cast iron?

There are a variety of oils you can use to season cast iron without oven. Some of these oils are:

Grapeseed oil (It is considered to be the best oil for seasoning cast iron

Vegetable oil
Flaxseed oil
Avocado oil

Canola oil
Olive oil
Lard

Coconut oil
Peanut oil

How to maintain a cast iron skillet

You definitely appreciate durability in all your purchases. No one wants to spend money on a product and then have it develop faults almost immediately afterward. We get that.

But it is not enough to simply buy a quality product with cast iron skillets. You also have to play your part by maintaining what you have bought. To help you with this, we have curated a list of ways you can maintain a cast iron skillet:

Wash

It’s essential to wash your cast iron skillet before and after use. This is one of the factors that contributes to the durability of your cast iron skillet.

Dry

It’s expedient that your cast iron skillet is dried thoroughly and adequately with a napkin after you wash it. This might also be before or after use.

Oil

You should apply oil before and after use to maintain your cast iron skillet. Ensure to rub a light layer of oil on the surface before and after use.

What is the right temperature to season cast iron?

It’s imperative to note which temperature is best suited and would facilitate adequate seasoning. Although, this is only applied when seasoning cast iron with an oven. We generally leave the temperature at 375°C.

However, when you season cast iron without oven, you have to make sure it’s dried and heated enough before turning off your stove or gas cooker.

Can you season cast iron with olive oil?

Yes, you can season cast iron with olive oil. Olive oil is a fantastic option for seasoning cast iron.

All you need to do is to follow the usual seasoning procedures. Then, wash the cast iron with soap, sponge, and water; dry thoroughly with a napkin, and apply the olive oil to the surface and every part of the cast iron.

After that, you place it in your oven, or if you want to season cast iron without oven, place it on your stove or gas cooker and light it.

Can you season cast iron with coconut oil?

Yes, coconut oil can be used to season cast iron. However, the cast iron must have been washed and dried before applying the coconut oil.

After rubbing the coconut oil, it’s then placed gently in an oven, or if you want to season cast iron without oven, it’s placed on a stove or gas cooker.

Can cast iron go from fridge to oven?

You should never transfer cast iron directly from a fridge to an oven. It is never a good idea. This is because it might end up causing the iron to crack or break.

You shouldn’t even put it on a stove or gas cooker immediately. Instead, allow the cast iron to cool for some time and let it sit for an hour at room temperature. You should also remove the lid to prevent condensation inside the pot.

After that, you can now place the cast iron in an oven or place it on a stove or gas cooker.

Can I Season a Cast Iron with an Avocado oil?

Yes, absolutely! Avocado oil is one of the best oils for seasoning cast iron. If you want to season a cast iron with avocado oil, you can do so simply by following these steps:

Step one: Wash the pan thoroughly with soap, sponge, and water to make it clean enough for use.
Step two: Dry the pan thoroughly with a napkin.
Step three: After drying, apply the avocado oil to the pan’s surface and make sure it covers the entire part.

Step four: Place it in an oven or the top of your stove gently and wait for about an hour so it can be well heated.

Can a cast-iron skillet go into the oven?

Yes, a cast-iron skillet can go into the oven for seasoning. After it has been washed, dried, and rubbed with oil, it can be placed in the oven for about an hour to be well seasoned before use.

Can you use metal on cast iron?

Yes, you can use metal on cast iron. It’s a common misconception that you aren’t allowed to use metals on cast iron. But in reality, cast iron is the most durable metal you can ever cook with.