Why season cookware?

When purchasing items such as a steel wok, paella pan, crepe pan or a cast iron grill it may be covered in a protective coating. It will need a thorough clean with warm soapy water to remove this oily residue before seasoning the cooking surface to render it non-stick.

1. Once cooking surface is washed and the cooking surface is dry, very thinly coat the  surface of your equipment with vegetable oil. Use a piece of absorbent kitchen paper to spread oil out evenly., this assists salt to stick to surface.
2. Place a generous amount of cheap table or cooking salt onto the oil-coated surface. Spread salt out, until the entire cooking surface is covered with about half a centimeter in thickness.
3. Place the equipment on the stove over a high heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Move the salt around using a large metal spoon. It will smoke so turn on an extraction fan.
4. Switch off heat and allow equipment to cool down for a few minutes.
5. Tip salt into a non-melting container. Don’t tip into the bin as salt can melt the plastic bin liner and possibly the bin itself! The cooking surface should now be blackened.
6. Carefully, wipe the surface with a soft cloth – it will still be very hot.
7.  Cool for a couple of minutes, then whilst still warm rub surface with vegetable oil. Using clean absorbent paper remove any excess oil. Store as usual.

Now the surface has been seasoned it should be easier to cook with. Should you find food is still sticking after a few uses, you may need to scrub clean and re-season as per the above method.

This process may have to be repeated periodically if when food starts to stick on the surface. This all depends on how often the equipment is used. The more it is used, the less it will stick.

Wash thoroughly with hot soapy water after every use and wipe dry. Using a piece of absorbent kitchen paper wipe a thin film of cooking oil over the surface to avoid any rust appearing. Then wipe again with clean piece of absorbent paper. After a while we have found oiling after use is not necessary.

Enjoy using your ‘like new’ piece of equipment.