mwaites
NC
Full Member
Joined: 07/21/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
I bought a DO 2 years ago. I THOUGHT I seasoned it properly according to the directions using my oven. It came out sticky so I put it back in the box where its sat for 2 years. This weekend we're going camping & I wondered if I could "fix" it in the campfire. MY other fear is that I'm a fan of non stick pans so I'm having a hard time believing I can really cook using the DO without the food sticking. Please give me some advice. Thank you.
|
ruth_anne_b
Central Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 03/15/2004
View Profile
|
Cooks Illustrated had a podcast dealing with cast iron. One of the things that it showed was how to recondition cast iron that had been mistreated. This would probably be what you need. Also check out the Lodge site.
http://www.lodgemfg.com/usecare2.asp?menu=logic
Ruth anne Baker
ruth_anne_b@cfl.rr.com
|
mwaites
NC
Full Member
Joined: 07/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks Ruth!! I couldn't find the Cooks Ill. podcast but I did go to the other website but it didn't say anything about seasoning in campfire. I saw this done at a reinactment festival but just don't remember the details. Anyone know how?
|
YC 1
Yuba City Calif.
Senior Member
Joined: 01/11/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I like to put the DO in the fire and when it is hot but not red hot I like to carefully pour some water into it. Using a long stick or tool and some gloves I simply wipe it out with a rag and let the steam do the cleaning. I pull the DO out and carefully wipe it down while hot with cooking oil. Inside and out. Let it cool slowly.
Some things to keep in mind when cooking with cast iron is that you can't just drop certain things onto the hot skillet like you do in a non stick pan. You need to use ample cooking oil if frying things. I use olive oil for just about everything and always drain the food well before serving such as fried potatoes. I like a little tilt in my cooking surface or use a prop to tilt the skillet or pot when the food is done and a lot of the oil will puddle in the low corner.
When you are done cooking remove as much as possible and then place some water in it and bring it to a low boil. Use a spatula and rag to break loose anything that stuck. Don't use any scratchy things like sos or green pads. When you have it mostly clean then pour the water out. Then heat the pan and pour just a bit of water in so it becomes steam quickly. Use a clean rag and stick or spatula to finish the clean out. It will sparkle. I then wipe it down with olive oil and place some crumbled up newspapers inside.
|
juliev
Minnesota
Senior Member
Joined: 07/29/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
I've found that the best way to season a cast iron pan it to use it for deep frying something. I fill it with oil, then make french fries, or onion rings or donuts or something like that. I'll let the pan and oil sit overnight to cool, then in the morning dump out the cooled oil (not on the ground....) then wipe the inside of the pan with a wad of paper towels. It works every time!
If the inside gets gunky and occasionally needs a scrubbing with steel wool or something to get out a big mess, then I'll go back and make another batch of deep fried whatever and the pan is ready to go again.
Julie
_____________________________________________________________________
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
|
|
|
davidj54
South Alabama
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Yes, you can season it over the campfire but it requires an extra step. First clean it, then rub the outside with a thin coat of vegetable oil. rake a good mound of coals to one side of the fire and turn the DO upside down over the coals. Let it "cook" for about 2 hours keeping hot coals to it. let it cool. then clean the inside and coat it and the lid with oil. Place the DO right side up with the lid on it on top of a mound of coals and place a good amount of coals on the lid. keep it hot for 2 hours then rake the coals away and let it cool. clean it and you're ready to cook. Frying is a good way to enhance the seasoning.
Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab (Yeah, it's got a Cummins)
2006 Forest River Grand Surveyor GS-280
Prodigy Brake Controller
1000/10000lb Equal-i-zer with 4-way sway control
|
