7 Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

Everybody loves eating and some of them love cooking food! The ones who are fond of cooking, know exactly what type of cookware to use for different types of food! It is definitely not wrong to say that cooking is an art and hence, the artist needs to know about each minute detail of their kitchen items. If you are among one of those who use cast iron cookware, you must know that they need seasoning. For that, you would need the best oil to season cast iron!

Do not worry, as we are here to guide you on the matter of the best cast iron seasoning oil for the better use of your crockery and kitchenware! First, let us just get a glimpse of what seasoning actually means!

Product

Features

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil

  • High smoke point

  • Neutral aroma and flavor

  • Healthy oil

  • Makes the pan smoother and non-sticky

Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil

  • High smoke point

  • Health benefits

  • Neutral flavoured oil aroma

  • Best suited for professional cooking

Olive Oil

Olive Oil

  • Healthy oil

  • Good smell

  • Low smoke point

  • Long lasting effect

  • Makes the pan non-sticky

Lard or Tallow

Lard or Tallow

  • Low smoke point

  • Extracted from animal fat

  • Unique flavor

  • Pleasant aroma

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

  • Good smell and taste

  • Relatively lower smoke point

  • Cooking gets easier

  • Gives a shiny texture

  • Long lasting effect

Canola oil

Canola oil

  • Vegetable oil

  • High smoke point

  • Refined

  • Healthy oil

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed Oil

  • Strong and robust smell

  • Shiny and slick finish

  • Non-sticky pan

  • Excess oil dries naturally

  • Best suited for regular use

Contents

What does seasoning cast iron mean?

Cast iron is simply a kitchenware material. There are different kinds of frying pans and crockery that is been made up of cast iron. Seasoning the cast iron means applying oil to the cast iron items so that it becomes durable and long-lasting. This is been done with the help of the best oil for seasoning cast iron!

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron – Buying Guide

There is a variety of oils available in the market to season your cast iron cookware but you would be needing the best oil for cast iron, without a doubt!

Factors to look for while buying the best oil to season cast iron:

The list of factors is been mentioned below in a brief way:

  • Oils containing saturated fats- The best oil to season cast iron skillet is the one in which saturated fats are present. Saturated fats smoothen the seasoning process and as a result, you do not need to do the seasoning often. The cast iron skillet, making it good for use for a long time, absorbs the oil and thus, it helps in making the crockery long lasting.
  • Not all oils are the same- Not all oils are been created equal and hence, you should know the best oil to use to season cast iron. While some of the oils provide a lot smoother and non-sticky surface of your cast iron cookware, the others may just season it temporarily. Oils like bacon oil and grapeseed oil work best because of the ingredients present in them while flaxseed oil can harden the surface of your cast iron skillet or pan.
  • Long lasting oiling effect- No matter which best oil to season cast iron you buy, at some point or the other, your cookware would be needing a re-seasoning. Re-seasoning happens mainly because of the continuous use of the crockery and so, to keep using that properly, you need to buy oils that have a long lasting effect.

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron Reviews

The following list of the best oil to season cast iron that will not just make your iron skillet or pan smoother and shiny, but also provide a long lasting effect on them. Keeping in mind all these factors, here is a list for you:

1. Grapeseed oil

La Tourangelle Grapeseed Oil - best cast iron seasoning oil

If you want the best oil to use on cast iron, then you can simply go for the grapeseed oil! It is a popular oil, which is been used by many professionals and chefs to season their cookware.

The grapeseed oil has a high smoke point, which means it allows you to heat up the pan quickly using a high temperature. It creates a different bond between the oil and the pan, which makes your cooking easier and smoother! If you are thinking about the aroma of the oil, then let us tell you that grapeseed oil has a very neutral aroma and flavor, thus making it the best oil to season a cast iron skillet or the best oil to season cast iron pan! It is completely a healthy choice of oil and surely, you are not going to regret this buy!

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2. Avocado Oil

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

The avocado oil is known for being the best cast iron seasoning oil, without a doubt!

Like grapeseed oil, it has a high smoke point. Cooking anything after seasoning your crockery with avocado oil is the best that you can do! Known widely because of its health benefits and neutral flavored oil aroma, this is undoubtedly the best oil to season cast iron that is available for you! If you take cooking seriously and professionally, this oil is highly advisable for you.

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3. Olive oil

Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil - best oil for seasoning cast iron

The most common oil that is available in every household, had to be mentioned in the list of the best oil for seasoning cast iron!

Olive oil has an excellent aroma and flavor that adds a unique taste to your food! Along with flavoring your food, it is covered with a plethora of health benefits. It has a low smoke point, which will not create any major problem while seasoning your crockery. It is a good oil for seasoning cast iron because it does not take much time for seasoning your pan. Also, it has a long lasting effect, so you do not have to worry about seasoning it often!

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4. Lard or Tallow

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

One of the most easily available sources of animal fat is lard and tallow, making it one of the best oil to use to season cast iron!

For getting the best seasoning result, all you need to do is allow the lard or tallow to melt in your hot pan! It has a low smoke point. Since it is been extracted from animal fat, it has a unique flavor that seasons your food as well. The aroma of the oil is pleasant that will make you enjoy your cooking!

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5. Coconut Oil

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

It is impossible to find a household without coconut oil in there for multiple purposes and surprisingly, it is one of the very best oil to use on cast iron!

Apart from famous for its health benefits, if you are a fan of coconut, you will find the smell and taste of the oil heavenly! Having a relatively lower smoke point, it acts as a good oil for seasoning cast iron. If you are comfortable with using coconut oil, no other oil will fit you! When the pan is been seasoned well, you will find the cooking process becoming much easier and the food tastier!

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6. Canola Oil

Best Oil to Season Cast Iron

If you are the one who does not believe in animal fat extracted oils, then this is the best option for you- Canola oil, a vegetable oil.

Having high smoke points, this is the leading vegetable oil that is the best oil to season cast iron with! Been pocket friendly, you can rest assured about this oil to be extremely refined. Along with being the best oil to season cast iron, it is also the healthiest oil you can use in your food!

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7. Flaxseed Oil

Barlean's Fresh Organic Flax Oil - best oil to use to season cast iron

There is no chance of missing flaxseed oil while naming the best oil for cast iron!

Having a strong and robust smell, seasoning your cookware with flaxseed oil will give you a shiny and slick finish to your food and in turn, make your skillet non-sticky. If you are a regular cast iron pan user, then flaxseed oil is the best suited for you! The leftover oil in the pan dries naturally – one of the reasons why people prefer using this over any other oils.

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These are the top 7 best oil to season cast iron cookware! Do not worry, as they are been tried and tested and surely, they are not going to disappoint you! Along with seasoning your skillets, add a delicious flavor and aroma to your food and enjoy every bite of it! Check out some more kitchen accessories reviews.

Also, checkout How to Dry Basil Leaves.

FAQs

1.Can you season cast iron with olive oil?

Yes, olive oil is the most popularly used oil for seasoning cast iron. Along with having multiple health benefits, it adds a good flavor to the food! Seasoning with olive oil makes sure that your pan gets non-sticky and a lot smoother.

2.Is grapeseed oil good for seasoning cast iron?

Grapeseed oil is considered to be the best for seasoning cast iron. This is because of its high smoke point and the neutral aroma and flavor that it adds to the food! It also makes your cookware shiny and non-sticky.

3.How much oil does it take to season cast iron?

It does not take much oil to season cast iron. Usually, it requires 1/8th teaspoon of oil to season one skillet or pan of cast iron. However, the measurement may vary from one oil to another depending on its smoke point.

4.Is peanut oil good for seasoning cast iron?

Peanut oil can be a good option for seasoning a cast iron, unless you do not have any allergy to peanuts. If making for the public, there is high risk of people being allergic to peanut. In that case, it is highly advisable to use some other oil for this purpose. However, without any allergy, peanut oil can work fine for seasoning.

5.Can I season my cast iron with coconut oil?

Seasoning with coconut oil can be great if you are a coconut lover because the smell and flavor of the oil tend to retain in the foods that you make. Apart from that, it has a lower smoke point, which can be a good source of seasoning your cast iron.

6.Why is my cast iron sticky after seasoning it?

If you find your cast iron to be sticky after seasoning, it means there is excess oils built up in the sides of your cookware. To get rid of the excess oil, you can keep your pan upside down after seasoning, in order to let the excess oil run out.

7.Does cast iron smoke seasoning?

Oils that have a low smoke point makes the cast iron smoke when seasoning, or even after seasoning. This happens because the pan retains heat and cooking makes the pan hotter. In case you want to reduce the smoke, you need to turn off the gas for a while or avoid using low smoke point oils.

Kelly Anne

Kelly Anne

Hey there, I am Kelly Anne. Thank you for being here. Hope you like the website and it was helpful. I am a working mother of 2. I love to cook and feed people. My hobbies include cooking (obviously), reading, and rock climbing.

With so many machines and accessories in the market to help you cook it become quite overwhelming to choose from. I own a lot of these kitchen equipments and tried out the others. I want the best for my kitchen and I am helping you find the best for yours.

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