“Seasoning” is oil baked onto the iron at a high temperature: not a chemical non-stick coating. Seasoning creates the natural, easy-release properties. All Lodge cookware comes pre-seasoned from the foundry, but the more you cook, the better the seasoning gets.
- If the seasoning on your pan is sticky, this is a sign of excess oil building up and not fully converting to seasoning. To remedy this, place the cookware in the oven, upside down on the top rack and bake at 230-260°C for 1 hour. Allow to cool and repeat if necessary.
- To maintain your seasoning, it is a good idea to pre-heat your Lodge cookware gradually and on a similar-sized burner/element. Since cast iron holds heat, it is not necessary to use a heat setting above medium. Along with maintaining your seasoning, it will help prevent food from sticking.
- Occasionally when your seasoning works a little too hard with acidic foods or really high heat, you may notice some dark residue on your towel when cleaning. This is perfectly safe and normal, and will go away with regular use and care.
- Some new Lodge cookware can have a small 'bubble' on the tip of the handle or on the assist handle, that can chip away and reveal a brownish colour underneath. This is not rust. It is a result of our cookware being seasoned on a hanging conveyor, causing a small drip to form at the bottom. If the bubble makes it through our ovens, it is baked on, and the brown underneath is simply oil that has not fully carbonised. It is perfectly safe, and will disappear with regular use and care.
Because you can create, maintain, and even repair the “seasoning”, your cookware can last 100 years or more. Chemical non-stick coating cannot be repaired, limiting lifespan.
