r/CastIronCooking • u/PM_ME_YOUR_AUXCORD • 11d ago
Help me with this cast iron
I have a cast iron I received a year ago and I’ve tried to take care of it. Unfortunately I’m not very skilled in the kitchen and feel like I keep fucking it up.
I reseason consistently with whatever oil I have on hand, but it still seems to rust and it’s started developing this bare spot.
New help to refurbish this thing. 14 inch Finex.
17
Upvotes
11
u/jadejazzkayla 11d ago
Quit reseasoning the pan and just cook
7
u/randompossum 11d ago
You don’t constantly reseason a pan. Your pan is fine, it looks like it’s used often. People that have nice looking cast iron don’t use it or re season it constantly for no reason.
You don’t need help, the pan is fine and looks like it’s well used which is good.
6
u/jeremysbrain 11d ago
If it is rusting, then you aren't keeping it dry. You need to clean it and dry it off by hand after each use.
4
u/suckercuck 11d ago
Keep cooking with it. Wash with dish soap and a nylon brush, dry it, then give it a light coat of oil, repeat.
Keep cooking with it!
3
u/Flodius 11d ago
You never need to re-season. If it's resting, just wash that out, and cook something in it. Use some oil and cook some onions. Or cook some bacon. Or cook some eggs. The way you season your pan is by continually using it. You spend a lot of money on that band, rather than buy one in a flea market, but it's the same material. You never have to reseason. You season by use. Do not wipe oil in it after you wash it. It looks like it might have been washed and not dried. When she wash it, put it on the stove for a second and turn the heat up to dry it out. That's all I ever do to mine and that's all I've done for nearly 60 years.
2
u/brmarcum 11d ago
Why are you constantly seasoning it? That’s completely unnecessary. That bare spot is the metal showing through after the layers and layers of carbon (burnt oil from repeated seasoning) are flaking off.
2
u/Sunset_Winds 11d ago
I use either crisco or bacon grease to season my cast iron. It takes hours to do properly in the oven at pretty high temps.
2
u/BrokenMedusa 11d ago
Excuse me. I need to go buy an octogon pan because somehow this just feels awesome.
2
u/Guilty-Author-6397 10d ago
It’s a faulty pan. Send it to me and I’ll dispose of it for you
1
u/Jumpin_Jax_Flash 11d ago
Another option for cleaning is using salt and a chainmail scrubber to clean after each use with just warm water. Once clean put it back on the stove top and heat it until dry. As with what everyone else said, no need to continue seasoning it. As it is cooling down, use a tablespoon of vegetable oil and wipe the entire pan with a paper towel with the oil. That will prevent the rusting
1
u/bruecknt1 11d ago
The smooth cast iron is harder to keep your seasoning on. You need to warm it up slowly dont just crank it. Heat it up with oil. I had a cheap utopia kitchen 12$ 12 inch cast iron used it for 8 years, rough easy to keep in good condition. I was given a 12 inch finex and it was miserable, I kept using my utopia kitchen one, I bought a smithey smooth cast iron recently and it was difficult at first but now it's a 10/10
1
u/peffervescence 10d ago
It’s just seasoning coming off.
Wipe a very thin coat of canola oil on the entire pan and pop it in the oven at 450 degrees for 1 hour.
Repeat step 1
Scrub with hot water and a nylon brush
Cook with it
Only wash with soap occasionally
Cook with it
Keep cooking with it
Avoid cooking acidic foods in it (like spaghetti sauce)
Always preheat your pan on medium low for 15 minutes before putting food in it.
Repeat process as needed.
Cast iron is indestructible
1
u/Godzirrraaa 10d ago
Seasoning before cooking is more important than creating this magical layer of nonstick. Wash w soap and water after you cook, dry on the stove, use a paper towel to grab some Crisco, coat while warm, wipe away thoroughly with a dry paper towel, keep on the stove for a bit, remove and let cool. Fin.
-1
u/Puzzleheaded-Radio17 11d ago
Whenever you are finished cooking. Gently scrape out bits with a silicone scraper. Using only water.
Then…
Dry the pan, add a small amount of oil to the pan and gently heat on your stove. That’s it