anyone ever seasoned a pan?
Sep 11, 2009 at 3:24 AM Post #16 of 27
Quote:

Originally Posted by catachresis /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It was something like this (can't find the article): Heat pan for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F. Take out of the oven hot. Pour a layer of thick Kosher salt over the bottom.


and then, what - you gotta call the mohel in??

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Sep 11, 2009 at 4:43 AM Post #17 of 27
We have a few pans around here that need seasoned every now and then. There shouldn't be enough coating to chip off. It's just a light oil coating that prevents rust. We just used our stovetop and it works like a charm.

A little bit of oil on a seasoned pan means nothing has a chance of sticking to it. Better than any non-stick pan I've used anyway. Good stuff.
 
Sep 13, 2009 at 2:52 AM Post #20 of 27
I think I'm going to go with a no season stainless pan cause I've been feeling better since not using my seasoned wok. So in the spirit of gear-fi, which do you think would be the better wok between these two? (or recomend a better one!
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Amazon.com: Chinese Wok, 16'', 1.2 mm thick, welded joint, mirror finish, stainless steel: Everything Else

Amazon.com: Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry with Helper Handle and Glass Cover: Home & Garden

The first is bigger, but doesn't seem to be as high tech, with various heat conducting layers and such, which who knows makes a difference or not...
 
Sep 14, 2009 at 8:24 PM Post #22 of 27
rd

Stainless steel will still need to be seasoned or **** will stick like crazy. It just won't rust if you don't season it right.
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Wash the old carbon steel wok really good. Use 90% alcohol to remove all the oil residue and use a Brillo pad. Put your elbow into it man!

Then on the burner, use peanut oil or lard to season the wok. You heat the oil on high until it just starts to smoke, then let it cool and wipe it with a peanut oil soaked towel. Repeat the oiling, heating, cooling, oiling process 5-6 times. It will eventually take on the nice dark brown caramelized color.

Then when you cook in it, you heat it on high until it just starts to smoke again, dump the oil in and cook.

When done, you just wipe it out, then use hot water to rinse it out, a mild plastic bristle brush like a potato scrubber if you have tough stains, then put it back on the burner on high to dry it. If has areas that are shiny, wipe them with oil, then heat it again and let it cool. Then put it away. I have a carbon steel flat bottom wok and a carbon steel round bottom wok for the grill's gas burner. Both work great (though I use the flat bottom on the most powerful Jenn-air burner) and I've never had a problem with feeling sick or chipping seasoning.

It sounds like a lot of work or a PITA, but it's really not, it's quick and and easy clean-up once it's seasoned. In the summer the round bottom gets used about twice a month as we eat mostly raw veggies and cold dinners, but I the fall and winter, the flat bottom is used 2-3 times a week. Mine are stored in the basement too and rust has never been an issue.

I only use bamboo utensils in mine.

EDIT: The initial "seasoning" is just to get it prepped for cooking the first time, it takes years of use to really become a seasoned wok. My flat bottom wok is just starting look like a restaurant wok in color if that helps.
 
Sep 15, 2009 at 9:08 PM Post #23 of 27
good insight! Thanks!

The stainless cuisinart brand wok went down in price again (???? are kitchen appliances in higher demand on the weekends?) so I bought it, killer deal it seems.

When my digestion isn't so sensitive I'll go back to the carbon steel. It is really nice to cook on, esspecially things like potatos, which are impossible on stainless steel.

Do you notice a flavor that your wok gives the food? Last time I made "home fries" in the seasoned wok they tasted nothing like the stainless steel ones I made with all the same ingredients...
 
Sep 15, 2009 at 11:47 PM Post #25 of 27
Quote:

Originally Posted by rhythmdevils /img/forum/go_quote.gif
good insight! Thanks!

The stainless cuisinart brand wok went down in price again (???? are kitchen appliances in higher demand on the weekends?) so I bought it, killer deal it seems.

When my digestion isn't so sensitive I'll go back to the carbon steel. It is really nice to cook on, esspecially things like potatos, which are impossible on stainless steel.

Do you notice a flavor that your wok gives the food? Last time I made "home fries" in the seasoned wok they tasted nothing like the stainless steel ones I made with all the same ingredients...



I would imagine that stainless steel fries would be sort of hard to digest, let alone chew and they probably wouldn't taste too good either.
 
Sep 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM Post #26 of 27
My parents have an old cast iron pan they tried to give me but I didn't see any use for it. Now it's sitting in a pile of scrap metal to be taken to a scrapyard at their house. Should I rescue this thing?
 
Sep 16, 2009 at 9:19 PM Post #27 of 27
Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarman19853 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
My parents have an old cast iron pan they tried to give me but I didn't see any use for it. Now it's sitting in a pile of scrap metal to be taken to a scrapyard at their house. Should I rescue this thing?


Depends on your cooking style. If there is anything that can take a bit of rough treatment it is cast iron. Teflon must be handled carefully to not destroy the coating, and aluminium too, unless you want aluminium poisoning. Keeping it from rusting isn't isn't too much work either. Only thing to remember is to not use soap when washing it (and by all means, no dishwasher). Over time it will get a nice shiny hydrophobic coating.
 

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