Should I use the pre-seasoned coating on a cast iron skillet?
I just bought a Lodge cast iron skillet, pre-seasoned. From what I’ve read, you’re traditionally supposed to season a piece of cast iron cookware yourself by coating it in oil and baking it.
Lodge seems to be a pretty reputable brand, but do I need to worry about the quality of the seasoning the skillet has on it? Should I just use it as-is and follow the care instructions, or attempt to scour off the seasoning and season it myself?
Great stuff to cook in ~ love it! I agree with you that Lodge is a good brand (I have a few pieces, but most of mine have been inherited from family cooks ~ lucky me!).
Seasoning is crucial, and think you understand that. I would not purchase anything new and not reseason it prior to using. However, I would not recommend taking off any seasoning it presently has, but just reseason it (you could cause rusting if you damage the surface).
It is a slow method, and I totally dispute the prior poster in that you coat it and cook on high heat. Quite the contrary, according to every “chef” I’ve known in my life.
The method is to coat with oil, LOW oven heat, and for a few hours. I have the exact instructions, and will post tomorrow. If you do it right, you may never cook with anything else (other than eggs ~ only thing I cook in the one non-stick pan I own) ~ cast is amazing cookware, and I do compare to pieces I have that cost well over $100 a pan!
lodge cast iron cookware