It is very good for the service life of your cast iron and carbon steel pan to season it again regularly. You can do this by putting your pan in the oven. By heating and cooling slowly and heating the pan in the oven for a long time, the cast iron becomes more rust-resistant and the non-stick coating burns in more evenly. Don't have an oven, or in a hurry? Then you can also season the pan on the stove. This is slightly faster, but less resistant. In any case, follow the 6 steps below and at step 7, choose whether you are an oven person or a stove type.
If there is rust on your pan, remove it first with a scouring pad, fine sandpaper or steel wool. You can also soak an old cloth in vinegar and rub it over the rust spots.
Wash the pan in very hot water and a dishwashing brush or scouring pad. Since you are going to season it again, it's okay to use some washing-up liquid now. Just do some really vigorous scrubbing. And then dry your pan. You know: rubbing it with a tea towel.
Now heat the pan on the stove on a low setting for a few minutes. This opens the pores of the pan, and ensures that the pan is really completely dry.
Drizzle oil on a lint-free cloth and rub the pan thoroughly. Don't hold back: the outside of the pan should also be included. Don't put oil on the handle, it may brown. You can use almost all natural oil varieties, but it is better not to use cold-pressed olive oil. And not nut oil either because there's bound to be an eater with a nut allergy (clever, aren't we?). Boiled linseed oil is also better left alone. The best oil is our Skottsberg seasoning oil.
An important step. Grab a clean, lint-free rag and remove the oil from the pan again. Strange, you'll think, because that's why you would rub some on first and then rub it off again? Well, you don't rub away everything, a thin layer of oil remains on the pan. And that is exactly what we want. Besides world peace, of course.
Turn on the extractor fan or open a window: this process can be quite smelly. It is not toxic, mind you, but not everyone likes the smell.
Now you are going to burn that layer of oil left in the pan.
In the oven
Place your pan upside down on the rack in the oven and set your oven to 350°C, or gas setting 8/9. After an hour, switch off the oven and let the pan cool in the oven. Once the pan has cooled completely, you can store it in a dry place. Still not quite clear? Then take a look at the video below.
On the stove
Put your pan on the stove. Heat the pan until the oil starts to smoke. So that's the idea. Wait a few more minutes and turn off the stove. Again, we have made an instructional video for you. Check it out quickly.
Once the pan has cooled completely, you can store it in a dry place. Your pan has now regained its beautiful black appearance. You could repeat this treatment again, as the more you season the pan, the better the natural non-stick coating becomes. You can also just use it a lot, which also works like a charm.
Restoring the handle of your pan
With the steps above, you'll bring back the attractive look of your pan. If the handle still looks discolored after following these steps, just apply a bit of dish soap and a sponge to return the handle to its former glory.
