To season a cast iron skillet, the recommended temperatures vary slightly among different sources. Here are the temperature recommendations from various sources:
- Field Company suggests seasoning the cast iron skillet at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lodge Cast Iron recommends baking at 450-500 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.
- Serious Eats advises putting the oiled pan in a preheated 450°F oven and leaving it there for 30 minutes.
- A member on the Cast Iron Collector Forums shared a technique of preheating the oven at 200 degrees, then putting the cast iron in for 15 minutes, followed by coating with Crisco and wiping excess off, and putting it back in the oven for 15 more minutes at 300 degrees, and finally cooking for 2 hours at 400 degrees.
- A Reddit post mentions that the internet is unclear about the temperature to season cast iron, with a range from 200-500 degrees Fahrenheit, and that at 450 degrees, the oven begins to smoke.
Based on these recommendations, it seems that the temperature for seasoning a cast iron skillet can range from 200 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Its important to note that the choice of temperature may depend on the specific type of oil or fat being used for seasoning, as well as personal preferences and experiences. When seasoning a cast iron skillet, its essential to ensure proper ventilation in the kitchen, as the process may produce some smoke at higher temperatures.