A cast-iron skillet can withstand heats of up to 1500°F, which is much hotter than your oven could ever be. The seasoning will only burn off at about 800°F, so don't worry that you will damage your pan by cooking with high heat. Cast iron can, however, easily get too hot for the dish that you're trying to cook.
Granted, only a very high temperature could physically damage this durable tool. Lodge, a popular brand that makes cast iron products, says its pans can safely heat up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, while some Staub-brand cast iron skills can handle up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
Use it to broil, braise, bake, or roast in the oven up to 500° F, and sauté, simmer, or fry on any stovetop.
The iron will likely be fine, unless there is already a void or flaw. Your seasoning is toast at those temps, anything north of 550 will start breaking down the polymer. If you want that heat level, go for heavy stainless.
Put the oiled pan in a preheated 450°F (230°C) oven, and leave it there for 30 minutes. It may get a little smoky, so keep your kitchen well ventilated. It's during this time that the oil will polymerize and form the first of several hard, plastic-like coatings you'll be laying down.
The most common seasoning technique is the oven method. To season a cast-iron skillet in the oven, wipe the interior and exterior of the pan with a thin layer of oil and bake it at a high temperature (somewhere between 450 and 500 F) for about one hour.
The best pan for a high quality sear is a cast iron pan. Our favorite deep-frying vessel is an enamel-coated cast iron dutch oven for its ability to maintain a steady temperature through the cooking process. The surface temperature range to aim for when searing is 400-450°F (204-232°C).
Avoid acidic foods and super high heat
Your cast iron can withstand heat - a lot of heat. A cast-iron skillet can withstand heats of up to 1500°F, which is much hotter than your oven could ever be. The seasoning will only burn off at about 800°F, so don't worry that you will damage your pan by cooking with high heat.
Oil Residue & Splotchy Seasoning
This sticky situation can occur when you season your pan with a little too much oil, or if some oil hasn't fully polymerized and turned into seasoning yet. Unwanted oil residue is an easy thing to tackle: if these spots are sticky, heat your pan over medium heat for a few minutes.
Common cooking oils like olive oil will gradually produce seasoning, but won't be as effective as grapeseed oil. Canola, other vegetable oils, and shortening are a little better.
Oven use. The maximum oven temperature for use is 260°C/500°F or 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7 if the pan is used with a Le Creuset Toughened Non-stick heat-resistant glass lid.
Cast iron pans can leach a sizeable amount of iron into your food, exceeding dietary intake in some cases. Acidic foods will contribute to much more leaching while an old, heavily-seasoned pan will leach much less iron than a newer one.
The reddish color you see on the pan above isn't just rust: it's heat damage to the metal that is irreversible, and it's difficult to build good seasoning on top of it. Some people like to clean their cast iron in an oven set to the cleaning cycle.
Quality cast iron should have an even surface without any pits, bumps, or irregularities. This uniformity ensures even cooking and heat distribution. High-end cast iron is often cast in sand molds, which contributes to the cookware's even surface and heat distribution capabilities.
Some cast iron, however, can likely withstand higher temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit before becoming substantially damaged. This would take a lot of effort, however — even cooking directly over a flame on your outdoor charcoal grill would only heat your skillet to about 700 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cast iron is one of the only pieces of cookware that you can easily take from kitchen to campfire. And that's a big part of why we love it! Because it can withstand high temperatures (up to 650˚ F, in fact!), it's a great option for almost any heat source.
That's why our simple cleaning steps have you rub oil into your pan after each use to ensure the seasoning remains for quality cooking. You can also season your cast iron cookware in the oven. This method adds a more thorough layer of seasoning onto the entire pan, strengthening the bond to the iron.
The most important thing is to choose an oil or fat with a high smoke point, which just means that the oil can withstand a very high temperature without smoking or breaking down. Common oils and fats used for seasoning cast iron are: Vegetable oil: smoking point 400-450°F (204-232°C).
You let your skillet soak.
Soaking your cast iron skillet in your sink is a recipe for rust, as is washing it in the dishwasher. Instead, clean it ASAP, even using simple soap and water if you must.
And now, onto the thing I was most skeptical about: the seasoning spray. To be perfectly clear — this is a spray can of pure canola oil. Do not try to use nonstick sprays like Pam to season your cast iron skillet, as they contain other ingredients that aren't good for your pan.
Once your pan is pre-heated, add a little oil or fat. Then simply add your food! (Note: if you want to use butter, start with oil, and then add butter right before you add your food.)