I've used EVOO, shortening, lard and bacon fat in the past with ok but not really great results. I think the trick to the flax oil is that it's the only edible "hardening" oil. With other oils, you have to essentially cook out everything but the carbon, which then sticks to the metal. Flax oil seems to work pretty much the same way, but from what I've read it contains more of the stuff that stays behind (carbon? The article said it had six times the fatty acids of other oils) and the coating actually bonds with the metal better.
That's awesome. I've re-seasoned a few cast iron tools before. It never ceases to impress me how well it cleans up if you do it right.
I've used EVOO to season mine. There's a fair amount of dispute of whether it's better to use animal fats or vegetable fats for re-seasoning. All I know is that after one coat re-seasoning with EVOO, every dutch oven I've done comes back looking better than it did when it was new. I should probably just use vegetable oil because it's cheaper.
Great work. This is why I keep an eye out for cheap, beat up cast iron cookware at garage sales, thrift stores, etc... A little TLC and you've got basically brand new stuff.
I think I need a maid now too!! I just spoke to the in-laws and told them about the progress. I may have shot myself in the foot. I was "invited" to give the same treatment to an entire cupboard of cast iron cookware at their cabin. I see a long weekend of flax oil fun in my future!
This entire thing has reminded me that I need a maid. And that I need to scour more. And that you are amazing! Fantastic doings! BRAVO! Your wife's family should be quite proud!!!! Cheers! - Leah
I was just thinking the same thing Foam. I'm probably gonna be rather fussy about the finish for a while, but I think I'll get over it before too long. Coat #6 is about halfway done in the oven...
You realize if you get it looking too good, you'll not want to use them and get them dirty. You''ll have to start storing them in paper bags and build a special DO locker to keep 'em safe!
Lookin good Md.
Remarkable! Cant believe how you brought that pan back. I'd give it a test run for Sunday breakfast.
Ok, we're getting to the home stretch here. I did 4 coats yesterday then it was requested that I stop monopolizing the oven so we could prepare dinner.
The first 2 photos are after coat #4
You can sort of see the brown and splotchy finish I was talking about.
These next 2 are after coat #5 which I just finished. It's getting a good bit more glossy and evening out, as well as getting blacker.