My Dutch Oven Seasoning update....

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daveomak

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Omak,Washington,U.S.A.
In July of 2012, I purchased this DO using the advice of the members here.....  Seasoning is a very important step in having a great

cooking utensil...  there were many folks that contributed, including using oil with a  high iodine number....

Flax Oil has one of the highest iodine numbers of all the oils....  Also known as "Linseed Oil".....  

The flax oil I used was the "for human consumption" type that you can get at health food stores..... 

We take it for it health benefits.... and add it to the dog's food.... 

Anyway......   It has a very low smoke point and it polymerizes into a very hard coating.....   

Really hard coating....    

The pic below was taken after the first cook....  Beans and ham shanks....  Cleaned up with

water only and a stiff brush.....  dried and put away....

Since this picture was taken...  pinto beans for "re fried beans"... Spaghetti sauce.....

deep fried foods.... etc. and a few days ago chili.....    


After each use and cleaning, a very thin coat of flax oil and a stay in a 450 deg oven to cure followed...

The chili sat in the DO for 3 days, stored outside in 20 deg weather, and portions reheated for meals...

I thought for sure the acid in the tomato sauce would have raised holy h#ll with the coating... 

No such thing.....  the chili rinsed out with warm water and a brush.... wipe with a paper towel

and re seasoned with flax oil........

Here is the DO and lid after 7 months and at least a dozen uses....   

Soap never touched it..... no scraping etc.... hot water and a brush was it.....  


The lid took a beating on a couple occasions....  the coating came off from the steam and what

ever else volatilizes when cooking .....  maybe the hot stuff in chili's attacked it....  

The biggest reason for the failure was I paid more attention to the pot than the lid.....  

Well now the lid is seasoned very well.....  


I wish I knew all this when I was younger.....  Some folks know all this, and are probably chuckling to themselves now...

For all you folks that need to learn something today, here it is.....

Cast iron, properly seasoned, is better than any non-stick cookware in the market today...

If you can get "raw linseed oil" it should work well.... I can't recommend "boiled linseed oil" (DO NOT USE) as I do not know what properties have

changed in the processing....  or..... stick with edible flax oil from the health food store.... Seasoning the entire DO probably can

be done with 2 Tbs. of oil....
 
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I had one...brother took it. Want it back! But....I have been looking at them for a while now. Even been looking at the enameled ones. On my birthday list! Yours looks great!
 
Cast iron is the only cookware that sell for a higher price used than when new. When I buy a new cast iron pan,I cure it by wash & dry then a good coat of vegetable oil. Place it over a high flame and leave it till it stops smoking. It works for me because i have a commercial stove and hood in my kitchen.
 
I wish I knew all this when I was younger.....  Some folks know all this, and are probably chuckling to themselves now...

For all you folks that need to learn something today, here it is.....

Cast iron, properly seasoned, is better than any non-stick cookware in the market today...

If you can get "raw linseed oil" it should work well.... I can't recommend "boiled linseed oil" as I do not know what properties have

changed in the processing....  or..... stick with edible flax oil from the health food store.... Seasoning the entire DO probably can

be done with 2 Tbs. of oil....
Cast iron is the only way to go. We also use Flax seed oil (Linseed Oil) for seasoning and use the same procedure that you mention. Typically with new, we'll do 3-4 coats prior to using. We do this even with the pre-seasoned store bought cast iron.

DO NOT use BOILED LINSEED OIL. It is not safe for human consumption. Most products labeled as "boiled linseed oil" are a combination of raw linseed oil, petroleum-based solvent, and metallic dryers (catalysts to accelerate drying). I do use boiled linseed oil sometimes on my boats that I build, but it is not safe for cooking applications.
 
dirtsailor quote....

DO NOT  use BOILED LINSEED OIL. It is not safe for human consumption. Most products labeled as "boiled linseed oil" are a combination of raw linseed oil, petroleum-based solvent, and metallic dryers (catalysts to accelerate drying). I do use boiled linseed oil sometimes on my boats that I build, but it is not safe for cooking applications.

++++++++++++++++

Thanks for finding that info.....  I used BLO on tool handles that are wood....  keeps them young and alive..HAHAHA ....

Dave
 
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Thanks for that great info Dave I just love my D/O and want to keep it in great shape , your info will surely help. gonna get some of that flax seed oil Thanks
You are welcome....  Someone on here led me to the "iodine number" that produces the best glaze.... it's awesome.... and tough...
 
I'm doing a frying pan and DO tonight. I may have had the flax on to heavy. It got pretty thick in the kitchen when it got to 450. I moved everything to the gas grill.
 
Even a thin layer will smoke up the kitchen....  The grill is a good idea....   Keeps the bride happy....   
 
Flax oil is hands down the best way to season cast iron. The frying pan and DO never looked so good. I used vegetable oil for years and it was always a little sticky to the touch right after seasoning. This is like clear coating. Thanks and very good thread!
 
I'm doing 2 of my smaller DOs today and learned that 600 is too hot! My grill has a new tank and the temp climbed fast as everything was set to high. The DOs turned out good but the oil is gone from the 2 covers. Have to redo.

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I've found that if I can keep my grill between 400°-450° the seasoning goes rather well and the finish is harder. If the temps go above 500°. . .well, let's just say I've had to redo the seasoning process a time or twa~
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    But that was a long time ago
 
I too learned the cast iron seasoning with Flax Oil on here and have done all my cast iron as well as some for a friend. I put it on my gas grill and they turn out great. Even had a grilled ham and cheese "fly" off the griddle when I was flipping it, that's how slick the griddle is!!!!
 
So how doe's one "strip" a DO or frying pan that has been cured with vegetable oil to recure with flax oil?
I just scrubbed it good with a brush and hot water and probably flax oiled over the top in some places. It is just like giving another coat of oil as you are maintaining it. Or........ 600 degrees will strip it. lol
 
Way to go Dave! 

The wife and I have a dutch oven that is over 80 years old, and skillets too. Wouldn't part with them.  Skillets are used almost daily.    Yours looks great and will only get better.  Great job on the seasoning.

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Great info! I just purchased an old piece of cast iron and it is very sticky and smells like bad oil. Good to know about the linseed oil. Thanks for sharing the info!!! 
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I have several pieces of cast iron that need re-seasoned because I didn't do it properly the first time. I put too much oil in thinking it would speed the process up, Only created a thick layer that didn't adhere well and came off in places. Started cleaning it off by hand, slow, tiresome process. I think I'll try the 600* method, pick up some flax oil and try again. I love cooking on good cast iron and the food seams to taste better also.
 
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