We suggest that you re-season your grids every four months, or once at the beginning and once at the end of grilling season. This will maintain the finish on your cast iron cooking grids and prevent corrosion.
It is important to periodically season your cast iron cooking grids. This will prevent food from sticking, prevent rusting and increase the life of your grids for many years to come. Seasoning your cast iron grids is quick and easy to do.
I like to run my main users through a few rounds of seasoning every 6 months, give or take. If you notice your cooking surface looks uneven or splotchy, or the seasoning on the handle is wearing down- you can run it through a few rounds of seasoning.
You should only need to fully re-season your cast-iron cookware one to two times a year, but you may also want to give it some extra seasoning love anytime you cook something that requires a heavy-duty cleaning.
Canola or Vegetable Oil: Canola oil or vegetable oil is another good choice for seasoning cast iron. With a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, it provides a really good surface on your cast iron. Both oil's availability and affordability make it a practical option for many cooks.
Oil, especially canola oil (bad, unhealthy oil), should not be used. If a quick oiling (not seasoning) in between is desired, it's best to use a high temperature oil like avocado. A quick rub can do the trick, if your pan looks a bit dry. I have one pan that is about 100 years old!
For long-term care, it is best practice to oil an iron skillet after each use. A well-seasoned skillet has a distinct look to it. It is noticeably dark with a shiny, semi-gloss finish. Of course, if you rarely use your cast-iron skillet, oiling it only two to three times a year will work.
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.
Set your clean and dry skillet in a 200° F oven for 15 minutes. Heat opens the pores of cast iron, so that it will easily accept the seasoning. Cast iron retains heat and the entire pan (including the handles) will get hot- so don't forget to use an oven mitt or potholder when you take the pan out of the oven.
Heat up the surfaces
Allow for about 30 minutes to allow the heat to char any grease or remnant on the grill surface. Afterwards, use something like a stainless mesh scrubber brush immersed in warm, soapy water to wipe down every carbon deposit from the grates.
Because it can withstand high temperatures (up to 650˚ F, in fact!), it's a great option for almost any heat source. No matter where you like to cook, we've got tips and tricks for using cast iron on electric, induction, and gas cooktops, as well as gas grills, charcoal grills and campfires.
The wider, flat side of the cooking grates should be facing upwards for cast iron grates. The underside is more pointed like the top of a triangle. There are four small legs in each corner on the underside of the grate to ensure a level cooking surface. This will help stabilize the food.
Why Olive Oil Is Good for Skillet Seasoning. Olive oil is a great option for seasoning your cast iron skillet because it is affordable and easy to find. It also has a high smoke point, which means it can withstand high temperatures without burning.
Follow the steps below for more everyday grill cleaning. Brush the grates: Use a nylon brush to scrape off any food particles or debris that are stuck to the grates. This should also be done while the grates are still hot, as it will be easier to remove any residue before it hardens.
Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.
Does cooking in cast iron have health benefits? Cooking in cast iron cookware can offer potential health benefits. Cast iron leaches small amounts of iron into food during cooking, which can contribute to meeting dietary iron needs, especially for individuals at risk of iron deficiency.
Cast iron cookware makes food taste better.
Thanks to cast iron's incredible heat retention, there's no better way to get crispy fried chicken, flavorful roasted veggies, or a perfect loaf of bread.
If you're just swiping a layer of oil onto the surface of your skillet, you're not seasoning your cast-iron correctly.
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.
You may not need to repeat the entire seasoning process as you did before initially using it, but after each use, rinse it and give your cast-iron skillet a quick season by oiling it. If used frequently and especially after any heavier cleaning, re-season your skillet.
But without seasoning before its first use and re-seasoning after subsequent uses, cast iron is susceptible to rust and corrosion. Thankfully, caring for cast iron grill grates is easy, and it only takes a few minutes of work.
Most grill manufacturers recommend canola or peanut oil because they have a smoke point over 450° F. You can also use vegetable oil, sunflower oil or avocado oil. The high smoke points of these oils ensure that the oil won't burn; which can ruin the seasoning process as well as the taste of your food.
Turn the grill to HIGH and close the lid. Leave it on for around 15 minutes and this should turn any remaining food debris to ash.