Top 5 Oils for Seasoning Cast Iron

We all have a cast iron pan in our homes that is passed on from generation to generation, holding extremely sacred value for the entire family. Well, while the concept may sound ridiculous to some, the iron actually has the capacity to last long enough which means you can easily clean it and keep it in up-to-date condition to be used for years. If you have been using a cast iron pan for your meals, then it is no secret that you need to season it properly before you impress everyone with your cooking skills.

Whenever you have to use the pan, you need to make sure that the pan is seasoned enough to give you the expected results. There has been a lot of debate among people and experts alike about the best oil for seasoning cast iron. You have numerous options for application but if your pan is new and requires some great maintenance, we understand your reluctance to experiment. You need the best oil for cast iron that can prevent the material from rusting so when you take it out for a new meal again, it feels as good as new.

Lots of people expect a very straightforward answer with this one but again, there are so many options in the market that makes it difficult to just pick one, in fact, most of those come with qualities of their own so it all comes down to what you want. Regardless, we have sorted out the list for you to make it easier to choose the best oil to season cast iron. All you have to do is read through the properties and see which one suits you the best to answer the ultimate question: what oil to season cast iron with?

What is Seasoning?

If you ask this question to someone who is passionate quicker, chances are that they will consider it a blasphemous remark as far as the cooking law is concerned. However, we are open to all newbies who want to learn. This is why before you pick the best oil for cast iron seasoning, you need to understand what the process is and how you carry it out. Before you put any type of cooking material in the pan, you have to apply a thin layer of any cooking oil on the surface. Once you do this, you will notice that the tiny pores that are present in pots and pans begin to fill with that oil, and raising the temperature causes them to heat up. This type of preparation is only needed for cast iron because you have to list food off of it when you are cooking. Non-stick and steel cookware doesn’t require any such thing because the material is sufficient enough. However, the taste that the food made in cast iron brings is obviously loved by everyone and so we go through all these efforts to prepare the best meal of the season.

Many companies claim that they already season the cast iron before selling the pots and skillets to you and while that may be true, we still recommend that you take matters into your hands and season the cookware. It ensures that the cast iron lasts for a long time and just like your parents and elders, you too can pass it down from generation to generation.

Why Does Cast Iron Require Seasoning?

We have already told you that you need to lift food off of the skillet and pans while you are cooking which means that seasoning makes the job easier. However, there is a lot more to the process. Scientifically speaking, you are polymerizing the cookware so that the oils are absorbed into the material, making it extremely easy to work with. The ultimate goal is to make it extremely slick so your food can glide on it. When kept away for a long time (because no one cooks in cast iron every day), the material tends to get rough, and even rusting might appear. You have to be careful while buying all cast iron cookware but when it comes to seasoning, you have to pick the best-cast iron seasoning oil and fill the pores that form on the surface. You leave it to simmer to an ideal temperature and after the surface looks visibly better and smoother, you get to work. Now, your food wouldn’t stick to the pan and you will be done with the work in far less time. Again, it is quite effective against rusting as well so if you use them without seasoning, be prepared to taste the worst food of your life.

Now that we have established why it is one of the most important kitchen hacks, let’s directly go to the list and see why you need to be quite vigilant about selecting the oil and which is the best option in the market right now. Our experts have chosen and compiled the list after testing them thoroughly so you won't have to go through the entire hassle. Just remember that whichever one you pick works great for the type of skillet and pan you have and can take care of the pores that accumulate in their overtime. We swear that after going through the list, your parents and grandparents would be impressed with your knowledge and the guests would love the food you prepare for them. It is time for summer, after all and only a month is left till the pool parties come back in full flow.

Our Top Picks for the Best Cast Iron Seasoning Oil